Horticulturists and home gardeners are known to get grimy from rooting around in soil to eliminate weeds and apply pesticides and fertilizers. They are constantly planting, dividing, and replanting. They take these steps to enjoy the rewards of growing plants that are both beautiful and nutritious to eat or view. What if these values could be derived without having to ever touch soil?
Hydroponics is the science of growing healthy plants without the use of soil. The most common medium used for this is water. There are definitely definitions that are more technically accurate, but for the occasional teacher, home gardener, or hobbyist, this definition is fitting.
Many people wonder how this is even possible since they know that plants require soil for nutrition, support, heat, water, and all the other factors that are needed fro growth and reproduction. While that is what most people understand about gardening, its not necessarily true. Plants absolutely require water, but they don't have to get it from soil even though that is the most common method. In nature, there are plants that grow well in gravel, sand or underneath or on top of a body of water.
Plants definitely do need water. But they needn't get it from the soil, even though that's one of the most common methods. Even in nature, some plants grow in sand, gravel or even on the surface or underneath a body of water.
The majority of plants that interest the hobbyist or home gardener will require some physical support. One of the most common ways to achieve this support is planting them in soil. When this is done the stems become wind resistant and the roots will spread. These plants wouldn't be in existence is they hadn't evolved in this manner.
However, there artificial ways to support these plants that work very well. Some of these methods include using string or ice cream sticks that have been glued to the top of the container.
One of the most important factors to growing a healthy plant is undoubtedly nutrients. Potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, and a number of trace elements like iron, copper, and zinc are essential to plant growth. The usual way of obtaining these nutrients is by absorption from the surrounding soil. However, there are a variety of ways that the plants can receive the necessary nutrients.
Immersing the roots in a container of water that is periodically fed a liquid nutrient solution is one popular technique. There are others. Some hydroponically grown plants are housed in an enclosure that retains moisture well. The roots are then sprayed often with a mister that douses the roots with a nutrient solution. This crosses into the gray area known as aeroponics.
Hydroponics can be used to grow a wide variety of plants: strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce and many non-fruit or vegetable plants, such as orchids. The list is long. Thousands of species can thrive without soil, provided they're cared for properly. That effort can be fun and instructive. It can also produce beautiful or nutritious plants without many of the drawbacks of soil-grown plants.
Hydroponics is the science of growing healthy plants without the use of soil. The most common medium used for this is water. There are definitely definitions that are more technically accurate, but for the occasional teacher, home gardener, or hobbyist, this definition is fitting.
Many people wonder how this is even possible since they know that plants require soil for nutrition, support, heat, water, and all the other factors that are needed fro growth and reproduction. While that is what most people understand about gardening, its not necessarily true. Plants absolutely require water, but they don't have to get it from soil even though that is the most common method. In nature, there are plants that grow well in gravel, sand or underneath or on top of a body of water.
Plants definitely do need water. But they needn't get it from the soil, even though that's one of the most common methods. Even in nature, some plants grow in sand, gravel or even on the surface or underneath a body of water.
The majority of plants that interest the hobbyist or home gardener will require some physical support. One of the most common ways to achieve this support is planting them in soil. When this is done the stems become wind resistant and the roots will spread. These plants wouldn't be in existence is they hadn't evolved in this manner.
However, there artificial ways to support these plants that work very well. Some of these methods include using string or ice cream sticks that have been glued to the top of the container.
One of the most important factors to growing a healthy plant is undoubtedly nutrients. Potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, and a number of trace elements like iron, copper, and zinc are essential to plant growth. The usual way of obtaining these nutrients is by absorption from the surrounding soil. However, there are a variety of ways that the plants can receive the necessary nutrients.
Immersing the roots in a container of water that is periodically fed a liquid nutrient solution is one popular technique. There are others. Some hydroponically grown plants are housed in an enclosure that retains moisture well. The roots are then sprayed often with a mister that douses the roots with a nutrient solution. This crosses into the gray area known as aeroponics.
Hydroponics can be used to grow a wide variety of plants: strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce and many non-fruit or vegetable plants, such as orchids. The list is long. Thousands of species can thrive without soil, provided they're cared for properly. That effort can be fun and instructive. It can also produce beautiful or nutritious plants without many of the drawbacks of soil-grown plants.
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