Hydroponics: Growing Plants Without Soil

Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil. It is sometimes called "soilless" or "water culture" gardening. In hydroponics, the roots of the plant are placed in a nutrient-rich water solution, rather than in dirt, so that the plant can grow faster and healthier. Soil is not needed for hydroponics, which means that it can be used in places where there is not enough good soil to grow plants. Hydroponic plants are not as susceptible to pests and diseases, and they can be grown year-round.

6 types of Hydroponics Deep Water Culture (DWC) Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) Aeroponics Ebb and Flow Wick system Drip system 6 varieties of crops grown using hydroponics Tomatoes Cucumbers Lettuce Strawberries Bell peppers Celery Basil 6 major types of Substrates used (Growing support materials) There are many different substrates that can be used in hydroponics. Their suitability is dependent on the type of plant or crop and the relative importance of the nutrient. Rock wool Lava rock Perlite Vermiculite Coconut coir Hydroton clay pebbles