What is Hydroponics?
Hydroponics is the science of growing plants without the use of soil. It is also known as “Soil-less culture”. The term hydroponics comes from the Greek for growing plants in water; hydros means water and Ponos means work.
In traditional agriculture where plants are grown in soil, nutrients and water exist randomly, and often plants need to expend a great deal of energy to grow long roots to search for water and nutrients. By expending this energy, plants do not grow as fast as they could. However, because the nutrients are all around the roots in a hydroponic system, a plant doesn’t have to expand any energy growing long roots in search of it. This enables plants to grow much faster. In addition, growing plants in hydroponics requires less water, less space, and pests and diseases are more easily controlled and prevented.
It may sound like something out of science fiction, but hydroponics is a technological reality that can produce high quality, fresh, affordable food. Almost any plant will grow in a hydroponic system, but it is important to understand that plants grown in hydroponics are no different to plants grown in soil. They have an identical physiology, and look and taste exactly the same. With hydroponics, plants take up the same nutrients as those grown in soil, although the content can be more accurately controlled. Because plants absorb nutrients as ions in the water, they rely on the correct electrical conductivity (EC) and PH levels. If these levels are wrong, a plant will not grow. However, in a controlled hydroponic system, the alkalinity and acidity levels are easily controlled, which ensures growth.
In traditional agriculture where plants are grown in soil, nutrients and water exist randomly, and often plants need to expend a great deal of energy to grow long roots to search for water and nutrients. By expending this energy, plants do not grow as fast as they could. However, because the nutrients are all around the roots in a hydroponic system, a plant doesn’t have to expand any energy growing long roots in search of it. This enables plants to grow much faster. In addition, growing plants in hydroponics requires less water, less space, and pests and diseases are more easily controlled and prevented.
It may sound like something out of science fiction, but hydroponics is a technological reality that can produce high quality, fresh, affordable food. Almost any plant will grow in a hydroponic system, but it is important to understand that plants grown in hydroponics are no different to plants grown in soil. They have an identical physiology, and look and taste exactly the same. With hydroponics, plants take up the same nutrients as those grown in soil, although the content can be more accurately controlled. Because plants absorb nutrients as ions in the water, they rely on the correct electrical conductivity (EC) and PH levels. If these levels are wrong, a plant will not grow. However, in a controlled hydroponic system, the alkalinity and acidity levels are easily controlled, which ensures growth.
Hydroponic farming facts
- Uses 78% less water
- Less fertilizers
- Controls diseases
- Less pesticides
- Rapid growing cycle
- 30% more nutrients than traditional agriculture
- 30 days from seed to a full size iceberg lettuce
- Yields 1000% more produce from the same amount of land as traditional agriculture
- Locally produced
- Locally distributed
- Low labor costs
- Low water usage
