Hydroponics: What It's All About

Most people, when they think of gardening, think of working outside in the sunshine, getting their hands in the soil. They dig, weed, mulch, and try to get rid of garden pests. The results of their hard work are a harvest of delicious vegetables, or perhaps a glorious array of flowers in bloom.

But some people are able to achieve both of those rewards without ever getting their hands dirty. They produce delicious produce and gorgeous flowers indoors with no soil required. The process is known as hydroponics. It's the art and science of producing plants completely without soil, and most frequently with water as the growth medium. Of course, there's a more scientific description behind the whole process, but for most people, that's really all they need to know about it.

But now that you know what it is, you're probably wondering how it works. Isn't soil essential so that plants get the nutrition, support, heat and water they need?

Well, plants certainly need water. But they don't have to get it from the ground, although that's frequently where it comes from. Plants can grow outdoors in all sorts of media such as gravel and sand. You've probably even seen them floating on or under the water, like the water lily.

Plants also need energy, which they typically get by way of the sun and the heat in the soil that surrounds them. But they don't need sun-warmed soil in order to get energy. They can absorb it directly from sunlight through their leaves. The process is known as photosynthesis. As long as the leaves are receiving sunlight, it doesn't matter about the roots; your plants will get the energy they need.

Of course, most plants do need to be supported physically. That's why they grow so well in soil, because it provides a stable base for their root system. It's the reason their roots spread out and their stems are able to resist strong winds. But there are all sorts of other ways to prop up a plant. You can make a string fence to support them, for example.

Nutrients are another vital component of healthy plant growth. They require nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, as well as a number of trace elements, including copper, iron and zinc. These nutrients are commonly available in the soil, and that's where plants usually absorb them from. But, similar to their other requirements, plants can get their nutrients by other means as well.

A common method of growing plants hydroponically involves submerging the roots of the plant in water and adding liquid nutrient solution occasionally. There are other ways as well. Some people grow their plants in an enclosed space that holds in moisture. They spray the roots frequently with a nutrient solution to give them the food they need.

There is a huge range of plants that can be grown hydroponically. Many species do just fine without the need for soil, as long as they get the nutrients and care they need. Many people enjoy doing their gardening indoors instead of out. They are able to produce the plants they want without the effort of digging in the dirt.

Since your hydroponic garden doesn't have any soil from which to draw nutrients, the responsibility rests completely on you to give your plants what they need. Most indoor gardens use water as the medium in which the plants are grown, so you have to add the correct nutrients to the water. There are a few different ways of doing this, depending on the complexity of your setup.

There are three types of solution processes that are commonly used: static solution culture or contained cultures; non-static solution or continuous flow culture; and aeroponics.

In the first two processes, nutrients are added to the water that surrounds the roots of the plants. You'll need to purchase products that are specially formulated for hydroponic gardening, and administer them in the correct dosages for your particular type of plant and the phase of growth that it's in. These pre-mixed solutions have just the right percentage of nutrients needed for optimum growth. Some people like to mix their own, but you need to be experienced in hydroponic gardening before you go that route.

The nutrient solution is typically comprised of essential nutrients such as calcium, potassium, nitrate, sulfate, hydrogen phosphate, and magnesium, along with other trace elements necessary for your plants to thrive. Because these nutrients are added to the water, they are very easily absorbed by the plant through its roots.

The aeroponics process uses the same nutrients, but the roots aren't actually growing in water. You must regularly saturate them with the nutrient rich water. This process is similar to misting a plant.