What is hydroponic gardening? Grow Much Faster

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Hydroponic gardening is a plant-growing method that covers all their needs utilizing zero soil. As we all know, plants need sunlight, carbon dioxide, water, and nutrients to survive. Providing those nutrients through water and exposing them to air and light is enough to grow healthy.

That was the short answer to what hydroponic gardening is. Would you like to know more about it to create your home oasis? Read on as we unveil how and why you should join today’s hydroponic culture.

Where does hydroponic gardening originate?

Hydroponics can be traced back to ancient Egypt. Archeologists found hieroglyphs denoting backyard gardens with water ponds where the population grew their vegetables. But, as you might know, Egyptian soil is not the most fertile for growing food.

Fast forward a few thousand years, and we have the first published work regarding aquatic gardens. Francis Bacon laid the foundations in his post-mortem book Sylva Sylvarum (1627). After him, many others like John Woodward (1699) continued this research finding better ways of growing plants with no soil.

“It used to be hydroponics was just a nod, nod, wink, wink, word for pot growing. Now it is accepted by consumers as a preferred method of growing high-quality food.”

Michael R. Christian, Founder of American Hydroponics

Fast forward again, but to the present, the global hydroponics market valued at US$226.45 million in 2016 is expected to reach US$724.87 million in 2023. NASA is also considering making it part of its space program to grow food outside Earth.

Hydroponics is here to stay from ancient Egyptians to the dark side of the Moon.

What are the benefits of hydroponic gardening?

This sounds amazing, but why would we create a hydroponic garden instead of planting on the soil? First, let’s review some of the many benefits of hydroponic gardening.

Space & natural conditions needed for hydroponic gardening

The first and most named benefit is the space. You can create a hydroponic garden anywhere you like. For example, companies sell indoor solutions that allow you to grow vegetables in your living room. Can you imagine having a tomato plant next to your kitchen so you can make the freshest salad imaginable? Well, it can happen.

Moreover, on a larger scale, it is possible to grow food through hydroponics in places where natural conditions wouldn’t allow it.

In this regard, we are having a backyard hydroponic vegetable garden while living in a desert or the snow is now possible.

Growth rate & yields of hydroponic gardening

The growth rate for plants in hydroponic gardens is usually higher than in the soil. This rate can be from 25% to 50%. Some experts believe this is closely related to the fact that nutrients are easier to absorb when in the water.

This means plants do not have to develop complex and long root systems to find them in the soil. Thus, allowing the plant to use more energy in growing above the ground.

Also, to some experts, water can be oxygenated, making it easier for roots to find and hence have more energy available for growing.

Resources needed are fewer than expected in hydroponic gardening

As ironic as it might seem, hydroponic systems use as much as ten times less water than regular soil-based crops. There’s no runoff, drain, or evaporation; water is used, enriched, and re-used. Thus, only a small quantity is enough for the entire system to work.

Pesticide-free crops are possible with hydroponic gardening

Because most bugs and pests can be found in the soil, growing crops in water eliminates most of them.

Moreover, when creating a hydroponic system indoors, you preserve the plants from flying pests.

This spares the produce and the environment from using dangerous chemical pesticides.

Troubleshooting is made easy in hydroponic gardening

Plants living in a hydroponic system are easier to care for and troubleshoot because their roots are usually exposed. Also, you can control the kind and quantity of nutrients and water the plant receives. This makes it easier to troubleshoot and improve your produce crop after crop.

In some factors, plants grown through hydroponics can be considered healthier than soil-grown ones.

Hydroponic plants can be considered healthier than those grown in soil due to their lesser contact with soil-born pests and diseases (source). They are also more beneficial because they have a more balanced nutrient intake and are less affected by outside sources like droughts, storms, or soil-related problems.

Instead of searching for their needs and nutrients within the soil on a regular planting system, all their needs are handed to them through the hydroponic system, which, in turn, helps them flourish more.

How does hydroponic gardening work?

The previous parts covered all the benefits and history, but what exactly makes this system work and yield excellent results?

In the following few parts, we shall discuss the basic needs of this system, the space requirements, and the types that one can look into when planning to create a hydroponics garden.

How to get started and the basic needs for hydroponic gardening

We said plants need water, oxygen, root support, and nutrients. So let’s see what happens with the basics in a hydroponic system and how much a regular planting system coincides and differs.

Freshwater is a need for hydroponic gardening.

Freshwater with a neutral PH is a must when thinking of hydroponic systems. You should always get a filter to ensure water is always fresh.

Consider oxygen needs and requirements in hydroponic gardening

Plants breathe, and they do it through their roots. When planted in the soil, they find it in small pockets formed in the dirt. So, it would help if you thought of an oxygenated container similar to bubbles in an aquarium.

Root support may be needed in hydroponic gardening

Although it is possible to have the roots dangling in the water, the best results often add a little root support. Some materials include vermiculite and coconut fiber, among many others.

Adding nutrients in hydroponic gardening

Besides breathing, plants need food. So what do they feed on? Nutrients are usually found in the soil they’re planted in. Thus, when in a hydroponic system, you need to feed those nutrients to it through the water. This means you should add minerals like phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium, among others, to the water in the system.

Light considerations for hydroponic gardening

Light is a definite must for any plant to do photosynthesis. Therefore, having a natural or artificial light source is part of the basics.

If you use artificial lighting for your hydroponics system, ensure you get a timer to go on and off, mimicking nature.

Furthermore, the need and placement recommendation is usually referred to as DLI (Daily Light Integral) and is specific to each plant, so make sure you know this info before starting.

Hydroponic systems can be as complex as you want them to be. Nowadays, much technology is available to automatize your crop and control the different variables (such as light and PH). That being said, the above items are essential to get started.

How much space do you need?

The space needed to install a hydroponic system depends on various factors. To begin with, you have to consider the number of plants you want to install. Second, settle on the available budget and, finally, the design.

Types of hydroponic systems

Let’s go through some of the most popular hydroponic system designs so you can make an informed decision about them.

Type of hydroponic system Functions and specifications

Wick Requires you to position your plant inside a medium and leave a wick hanging down the bottom. This wick should dangle in a nutrient-rich water reservoir from where the plant can feed.
Finally, there should be an air gap between medium and water for the plant to breathe.

RaftA floating surface (the so-called raft) holds the plants while their roots hang in nutrient-rich water. Beneath it all, a pump (like the one found in an aquarium) supplies the needed oxygen for them.
Air-gapThe roots of the plants are exposed to air with no medium and hangover nutrient-filled water.
Top feederRequires plants to have a medium that will allow air to reach the roots so the plant can breathe. Nutrient-filled water gets pumped on top of the medium and is allowed to percolate back to the bottom recipient, where the cycle starts again.
Ebb and flowRequires a medium for plants to grow in. They are held over a recipient, holding nutrient-filled water pumped into the root zone every thirty minutes. Water then percolates back to the bottom recipient.
AeroponicsRoots are suspended in the air and exposed to oxygen. Every thirty minutes, nutrient-filled water either run through them or is sprayed via a mist.

Any of these designs can be conceived in a small space. Whatever you decide must match your budget and the available light for the plant you choose. The explanations do not mention it, but sun exposure or artificial light is necessary for each.

Does hydroponic gardening take a lot of work?

The name hydroponic could be translated as “working water.” Indeed, the word Hydro stands for water, and ponos means work or labor. Why is this important? It accurately describes how hard it is to maintain a hydroponic garden. You have to let the water do all the work regardless of your design of choice.

Hydroponic gardens don’t require you to remove weeds or fight pests, or even remember to water them often.

Once you have automatized the design and created a cycle, you must ensure the cycle doesn’t break. If you can maintain it, your garden will grow big and beautiful with minimal effort.

Conclusion on hydroponics gardening

Hydroponic gardens offer many home-use benefits and potentially help change millions’ lives when applied to large-scale agriculture. Still, they are not so well-known worldwide, and most people prefer soil gardening instead.

Don’t be afraid of change; you can’t get a better return on investment than setting up a hydroponic garden in your home. So follow our instructions, pick the best design, and let those leaves shine proudly.

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