Are You Thinking of Trying Out Hydroponics?

People have different reasons for wanting to try out hydroponics: maybe someone recommended it, you don't want to handle soil, you are curious, the soil in your locality is not fertile, etc. Whatever your reasons are, it is important to have some idea of what hydroponics entails. This ensures you know what to expect and if you will benefit in any way.

What Is Hydroponics?

Simply put, hydroponics is when you grow plants without using soil. So, what do you use? A solution is usually used. This solution is comprised of water and mineral nutrients (these are the mineral nutrients found in soil or the nutrients required by plants).

Soil offers two main benefits to plants: support and nutrients. Since nutrients are already provided in the solution, what is lacking is support. This is why you see hydroponic plants hung or supported by either modified containers or hanging mechanisms.

Why Choose Hydroponics?

For a plant to grow well it needs sufficient water, minerals and sunshine. When you grow plants in soil, you might experience some disadvantages, which are remedied by hydroponics.

Soil can contain soil-based diseases and pests and also give room for weed growth. Plants also tend to compete for resources in the soil. This competition consumes energy that could be used for plant growth and yield increases. Competition can be either between plants or between plants and weeds. This is the reason why you can't fully utilise the space in a garden. You have to leave a particular distance between plants to minimise competition and allow for maximum intake of nutrients and water.

With hydroponics, you can control how much each plant consumes and eliminate competition, weeds and soil-based diseases and pests. This helps you make use of the space you have and ensure that all the plant's energy is spent on growth and yield.

Are There Any Downsides to Hydroponics?

Hydroponics can be expensive. It is advisable to contact a hydroponics specialist who has been in business for several years before you start. You want someone who has practically learnt how to successfully grow plants using hydroponics while saving costs.

If you try hydroponics without help, you might end up incurring high electric bills. You also need to ensure that if there is a power outage, your plants still get light. Your hydroponics setup can be installed to use both sunlight and electric power to help you save on costs. Absence of light can lead to plant death.  

For more information on hydroponics, visit a hydroponic shop in your area.