What You Need to Know Before You Get Started on Hydroponics Articles | Interior Design

By: Darren Williger

For those who are ignorant of the fact, hydroponics is the growing of plants in a solution of nutrient enriched water. Because hydroponic plants have access to a lot of nutrition and water, they tend to grow faster and much healthier than plants which are grown in soil.  Because of the rapid growth and the quality of the hydroponic plants, a lot of commercial growers have started using these hydroponic systems in their indoor gardens as well as greenhouses. Plants which are grown in gardens free of soil tend to possess the right balance of nutrients and water delivered straight to their roots. Crops aren’t made to spend their limited energy looking for water or food. They can grow much faster, larger and healthier and give the optimal level of vitamin content, flavor, yield as well as color.

Hydroponic crops also don’t have to combat fungi, diseases and pests which are typically found in soil and plants do not have to compete for resources with other organisms. Other than this, they also tend to be less susceptible to insect infestation and there is little or no need for toxic pesticides. Water and nutrient needs tend to be much simpler and provide a greater level of control over the life cycle of the crop. Rather than guessing what the plants need, it is clearly evident.  Because there is no complexity associated with doing the same thing in soil, certain quick measurements will easily show what the water and nutrient requirements of the plants are.      

Because soil free gardens are self-contained, you can find them anywhere and this includes places such as windows, rooftops and closets. One more advantage of most soil-free gardens is that they are usually raised. This practice eliminates the bending that is found in other types of gardens. Different plants require various chemical compounds for growth as well as reproduction. A lot of these minerals are available in the soil where they are absorbed by tiny root hairs, and conducted through a vascular system to all parts of the growing plant. With hydroponics, the right amounts of important minerals are already available in the prepared nutrient solutions that can be bought from hydroponics suppliers. Gardeners may develop their own solutions as well if they can handle the extra work. 

Plants obtain hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen from the air and water, but other essential elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, sulfur, iron, manganese, boron, copper, zinc, and chlorine must be taken up from the medium surrounding the roots. The elements used for building the compounds of plant tissues are called macronutrients and they are required in large amounts. The micronutrients are necessary only in small amounts and most are part of the enzymes or enzyme activators that catalyze all metabolic reactions. The growing medium must provide support to the plants. Different materials have been successful and include porous rock, pumice, perlite, gravel, vermiculite, and sand, all of which are good choices. Fired clay particles are also used. There are various types of containers and pumping arrangements for delivering nutrient solutions to the garden and draining it back to the storage tanks. 

Most common garden pests can’t get access to indoor plants. From time to time however, white floes may get inside the home and become quite a problem. Nymphs and adult white flies tend to suck plant juices from the leaves. Screens on doors and windows may do something to prevent the primary infection. Newcomers to hydroponic gardening may also ask as to which particular kinds of plants are best for hydroponic gardens. Peppers, cucumbers, lettuce and tomatoes are most suited for growing in hydroponic environments.