Hydroponic gardening is a modern process for gardening without using the land and has been very popular in recent years. There are various hydroponic garden systems that you can use to install in your own garden. Hydroponic gardening has many advantages. In terms of health, environment and economy, the benefits of converting your garden from a rooted to a hydroponic garden are undeniable. If we compare hydroponics with the traditional soil method for growing garden plants, the list of benefits is endless.
If you've ever wondered what seeds work well for this type of gardening method, you can view this list from Weekend Gardener.
UNDERSTAND HYDROPONIC
Grow and hydroponics?
When people talk about growing plants like vegetables or flowers, they first think of the traditional way of growing plants. In this method, the soil plays an important role as a medium for the growth of the plants. The roots of the plants are tied to the ground so that they do not fall. Soil is also the place where plants get the nutrients they need to live and grow.
Hydroponic was invented as an alternative to a soil-based planting method. The concept of hydroponic gardening is how you supply your plants with nutrients. While when planting on the ground, the plants absorb the nutrients contained in the soil. So you fertilize the soil. This is not the case with hydroponics, where you feed your plants with water as a medium directly with the necessary nutrients to live well and healthy. Hydroponic cultivation is a closed system for the care of your plants. Ideally, the plants grow indoors. This system enables the gardener to maintain a constant environment for the plants, where water, temperature and light are carefully managed and monitored.
Important advantages of hydroponic cultivation
If you have a garden or a farm, you don't really need to convert your entire property into hydroponic horticulture. First, you cannot plant a tree with a hydroponic system. However, you will seriously benefit from installing a hydroponic system. Here are three key benefits for you.
# 1 ADVANTAGE: HYDROPONIC GARDEN REDUCE YOUR UTILITY BILLS – Only 10% of the water used for soil-based gardening comes from a hydroponic system.
Hydroponic uses water as a medium for growing plants instead of soil. Some people make the mistake of believing that the hydroponics system wastes an awful lot of water for this reason. On the contrary, water consumption is reduced exponentially with this system. You see, plants have to be watered constantly to grow. With soil-based growth, the soil dries out easily when the water is insufficient. When water is applied to the floor, only a handful of water remains and the excess is expelled. The water expelled is lost and is never used again to water your plants. As a farmer, water your plants continuously. The cycle begins and more water sinks to the bottom, is expelled and is lost forever.
A central nutrient reservoir or a water bank is set up with the hydroponics. This water bank is the main source of your water and nutrients. The water bank circulates the water into the pipes to hydrate your plants directly and provide them with nutrients. The excess water, which is not absorbed, flows back to the central reservoir, where it is pumped back to circulate again. No water is lost because the water circulates continuously and is recycled by the hydroponic system. Imagine how much you can save on your monthly bills with this system that never wastes water.
# 2 ADVANTAGE: HYDROPONIC GARDEN REDUCE or even completely eliminate the need to use pesticides and herbicides – Farmers typically need to use two types of sprays for agriculture. As you know, these sprays are herbicides and pesticides. Herbicides are deadly chemicals used to kill weeds and other unwanted plants. Pesticides are deadly chemicals that are used on plants to control pests and other types of plant enemies such as fungi and mold. Spraying pesticides and herbicides not only damages the environment, it also ruins your budget. Not only are they harmful, they are also extremely expensive. Billions of dollars are used only for pesticides and herbicides.
In hydroponics, do not use soil as a planting medium. The roots of your plants float freely on running water. This is the only way to reduce the likelihood that certain types of pests and weeds will grow out of the ground. There is no weed growth as it takes time for plants to grow into a hydroponic growth medium. The hydroponic growth medium does not work exactly like the soil. Second, as mentioned above, hydroponics is normally built in a closed system. Farmers usually use greenhouses. Greenhouses prevent the outside environment from affecting your plants. In this way, greenhouses can withstand insects that attack your plants if they ever contact your garden.
# 3 ADVANTAGE: HYDROPONIC GARDEN IS MORE PRODUCTIVE – Many people are not aware that hydroponic gardens actually achieve higher yields than gardens of a similar size. With hydroponic gardens, you can control the environment in which your plants grow. This way you can effectively shorten the growth cycle of your plants. This way, you can easily plant and harvest more often throughout the year than outdoors, where you depend on the length of the day and the temperature for the growth cycle of your plants. Some studies have found that plants grow twice faster in a hydroponic system than in a soil-based garden. It is also very important to remember that hydroponics in the garden ensures that your plants are healthier and have better nutritional value. One study found that vegetables grown hydroponically contain 50 percent more vitamins than vegetables grown using soil-based methods.
