Introduction to Hydroponic: What it is and How it Works

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.

There are many ways to design a hydroponic system, but in essence, the principles remain the same. Below are the 6 most popular ways to grow hydroponics: Deep Water Culture (DWC) Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) Aeroponics Ebb and Flow Wick system Drip system What do you need to grow in a hydroponic system? Water: We're talking about pure, filtered water with a balanced pH. Most plants like water that is close to neutral - around 6 or 7 on the pH scale. You can adjust the acidity of your water with an over-the-counter solution found Oxygen: Depending on the type of hydroponic setup you have, you either need to leave space between your plant and the water reservoir or oxygenate your container Nutrients: Nutrient for hydroponic is a liquid mixture containing all the essential elements plants need to grow. It is a mixture of different types of nutrients and can be made at home or purchased from a nursery. When you want to grow plants without soil, you need to include this “plant food” in the water that is feeding your plants. Root support: Your plant needs a little help in the roots department, otherwise they’ll just flop around and not get enough nutrients. Typically, people use some sort of material to provide a little support like vermiculite, perlite, peat moss, coconut fibre, and rock wool. Don’t use materials that are easily compacted (soil) or don’t retain any moisture (gravel). Light: If you want to grow plants indoors, you may have to invest in special lights. If you are planning to grow more than one type of plant at a time, each kind of plant will require different amounts and locations of light. There are many different types of crops that can be grown in hydroponics. Tomatoes Cucumbers Lettuce Strawberries Bell peppers Celery Basil Hydroponic created by the Agriplast team is a simpler and more sustainable way to grow your next venture in the future of agriculture. Get in touch with our team to know more. Thanks for reading. Get more updates about the future of hi-tech agriculture in our popular email newsletter. Each week, we share 5 articles related to hi-tech agriculture. Enter your email now and join us.