Hydroponics is another way of gardening and of cultivating plants. Even after several years the pollutants that are found in soil in which we are exposed do not go away. Because plants are in mediums that can carry factors which can contribute to the ill health of people researchers have looked for ways to minimize plant exposure to these mediums. In hydroponics soil is not the medium used for planting plants.

Soil Is Not Important

In hydroponic gardening, researchers have found out that soil is actually just a reservoir where nutrients are stored for the plant’s consumption. The plants food is stored in the reservoir. Therefore if the plant can get the nutrients it needs some other way, the reservoir is not essential. The nutrients found in soil dissolve in water to allow the plants to absorb them easier is what hydroponic research has found out. Some plants don’t need soil with hydroponics.

When plants receive the proper nutrients that are essential to their growth then even plants that are normally found in soil, called terrestrial plants, are able to survive without being in soil. Hydroponics also has some medium that may be more suitable for a healthy human life. These mediums include gravel, mineral wool, and perlite. These are just there to provide the roots something to hold on to for stability.

In hydroponics the mineral solution is the important factor that fills the plants’ nutritional need. As long as the nutrient based solution is given then nearly all plants can grow without soil. The growing plant is given a solution that is formulated to meet the needs of the plant and help it thrive but the solution is given in doses. Being exposed to water all the time is not tolerated by all plants so nutitional solutions
for hydroponic gardening are given in intervals.

Hydroponics has certain advantages such as cultivation in a clean environment with the fuss and mess of soil. Another advantage of hydroponics is the absence of many soil borne disease that target plants and produce. Hydroponics also opens the possibility to cultivate plants in places that are barren such as the desert. Greenhouses can be made to provide better crops that have nutrients provided to them directly without soil since most plants do not need soil to grow.

Tags: Hydroponic Gardening, Hydroponics