Understanding
Hydroponics
The word hydroponics technically means working water, stemming
from the Latin words "hydro" meaning water, and "ponos"
meaning labor.
It is a method of growing plants using nutrient Solution
(Minerals dissolved in water) without Soil.
The plants can be grown with their roots in the nutrient
solution or only in an inert medium such as Coco-peat, vermiculite, perlite,
expanded clay pellets, rock wool, etc
Advantages
- No requirement of Soil
- No Soil…..that means prevention from Soil borne diseases
- Water stays in the system thus labor for watering of plants can be avoided
- Water can be re-used, hence water conservation
- You can control nutrition, hence lower nutrient requirements
- Environment friendly as nutrition pollution is not released into the environment
- Easier to manage pests/diseases and prevention from pesticide damage
- Healthy plants, hence improved yields
- No weeds
- Can be setup anywhere as the only requirement is light and water
- Easier to harvest
- Better quality
Like all systems, this system too
is not ideal and has some disadvantages too…
One time setup cost is high- High moisture levels can invite plant pathogen issues
- Without Soil acting as a buffer, a failure to the system can lead to plant death
“If you give a plant exactly
what it needs (water and nutrients), when it needs it, in the amount that it
needs, the plant will be as healthy as genetically possible. With hydroponics, this is a lot more achievable and obtainable
than planting in soil.”
See you soon again......... :-)
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