Gardening without soil is known as hydroponics. The word “hydroponics” comes from the Latin word “working water”. Water works to provide nutrients, moisture, and oxygen to plant life in the absence of soil. Plants thrive under the precise regimen of hydroponics, from watermelons to jalapenos to orchids. Hydroponic gardens generate gorgeous fruits and flowers in half the time by using little area, 90% less water than traditional agriculture, and innovative design.
Though the technology appears to be cutting-edge, hydroponics may be traced back to Babylon’s famous Hanging Gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Euphrates River was channeled into channels that ran the length of the extravagant garden walls.
Hydroponics
The growing of plants without the need of soil is known as hydroponics. Flowers, herbs, and vegetables grown hydroponically are planted in inert growing substrate and fed nutrient-rich solutions, oxygen, and water. This approach promotes quick expansion, higher yields, and higher quality.
When a plant is growing in soil, its roots are constantly looking for nutrients to keep the plant alive. When a plant’s root system is immediately exposed to water and nutrition, the plant does not need to expend any energy in order to survive. The energy used by the roots obtaining food and water can be diverted to the plant’s growth. As a result, leaf growth, as well as fruit and flower blooming, improves.
Photosynthesis is the process through which plants keep themselves alive. Chlorophyll is a substance found in plants that helps them absorb light (a green pigment present in their leaves). They divide water molecules absorbed through their root system using the light’s energy. The hydrogen molecules react with carbon dioxide to form carbohydrates, which are used by plants to survive. After that, oxygen is released into the atmosphere, which is critical for maintaining our planet’s habitability. Plants can photosynthesise without soil.
They are reliant on the soil for water and minerals. Direct exposure to nutrient-rich water, as demonstrated by hydroponic advances, is a more effective and versatile way of growth than traditional irrigation.
Working of Hydroponics
Hydroponic systems function by allowing for precise control of environmental parameters such as temperature and pH balance, as well as increased nutrient and water exposure. Hydroponics works on the basic premise of giving plants exactly what they need, when they need it.
Hydroponics uses fertiliser solutions that are specifically matched to the demands of the plant being cultivated. They allow you to precisely control how much and for how long the plants receive light. The pH of the water can be measured and altered. Plant growth is accelerated in a highly personalised and controlled environment.
Many risk factors are reduced by regulating the plant’s surroundings. Plants in gardens and fields are exposed to a variety of factors that have a negative impact on their health and growth. Plant diseases can be propagated by fungus in the soil.
Rabbits, for instance, can raid your garden for ripening veggies. Pests such as locusts can devastate crops in as little as an afternoon. The uncertainty of growing plants outdoors and in the ground is removed with hydroponic systems. Seedlings can mature faster without the mechanical barrier of the soil. Hydroponics produces much healthier and higher-quality fruits and vegetables by removing pesticides. Plants are free to develop strongly and quickly when there are no barriers in their way.
Benefits of Hydroponic
Due to its more sustainable approach to resource utilisation than traditional growing methods, hydroponic farming is quickly becoming a popular alternative for many gardeners throughout the world. Here are a few of its numerous advantages:
- When compared to traditional soil gardening, hydroponic farming completely eliminates the need for herbicides and pesticides, which is good for both the environment and the grown product
- Any water used in hydroponic farming remains in the system and can be reused, decreasing the requirement for a continuous supply of new water
- Arable land is frequently in low supply, and gardening areas are shrinking. Hydroponics is an excellent choice for indoor gardening if you don’t have a lot of yard area or a small balcony.
Conclusion
While practically anything can be grown in a hydroponic system, some crops do better than others. Cucumber, tomato, capsicum, strawberry, lettuce, and leafy greens are examples of plants that don’t hate dampness and don’t get too big for their space.
Also, based on the size, sturdiness, and root development of the plants to be cultivated, as well as the construction of the system, one must determine whether to use solely a solution culture or some form of growth media while building up a hydroponic garden.
In solution cultures, plants with shallow roots, such as leafy greens, thrive. Plants with deep roots, such as beets, and heavy vegetables, such as cucumbers, on the other hand, benefit from growth media.