Soil Or Hydroponics: What Is Better?

by RightFit Gardens | Last Updated: August 1, 2021

Plants can be grown in a variety of ways. It is helpful to know the differences between hydroponics and soil. All growth methods have advantages and disadvantages. Hydroponics, for instance, uses less water than soil gardens. Hydroponic gardens typically take up less space than soil-based gardens. Below, we compare the benefits of soil and hydroponics growing methods.

What Is Hydroponics?

hydroponics vs soilYou can grow plants without soil in hydroponic farming. An oxygenated nutrient solution in water serves as an alternative to the soil for root growth. “Hydroponics” is Latin for “working water.”

Hydroponics systems take many forms. Examples include nutrient film technique, deep water culture and ebb-and-flow systems. Different aggregates, also called growing mediums, are used for different systems. There are several types including clay pellets, coconut coir, and more.

Hydroponic solutions contain nutrients that feed plants. Vitamins and minerals are mixed in this liquid to feed the plant roots. Nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus are contained within it. To soil, it is similar to fertilizer. Depending on what you are growing, there will be different nutrients. The nutrient solution can be purchased or made by growers themselves.

In addition to many others, cucumbers, strawberries, lettuce, spinach, and hydroponic tomatoes are among the best types of plants to grow hydroponically.

Hydroponics Vs. Soil

Nutrient-rich water instead of soil is often more efficient and can yield faster, higher yield values when monitored carefully. Hydroponics uses less water to grow food. Because hydroponic operations require less water than soil, it is preferred over the soil by many people. When water is not available, it’s an excellent choice. Furthermore, you won’t have to worry about starting a garden where the soil is poor with hydroponics.

Hydro methods have another advantage in that you can use them in unpredictable weather conditions or harsh climates. Depending on your climate, your plants can be grown hydroponically outdoors all year round. Growing indoors with artificial light in a four-season climate or a hydroponic greenhouse hydroponic system are both options if you live in such a climate. You can enjoy a year-round crop yield in this way.

Stacking rows of hydroponic plants vertically is possible using hydroponics. Vertical farming is what this is called. The space you need for growing in a pot is generally smaller than that of a soil pot.

Soil Vs Hydroponics: The Better Choice

Hydroponics involves growing plants that offer many advantages over more conventional farming. Hydroponic gardening is a great alternative to the soil for a wide range of reasons.

Space Requirements

Growing in the ground requires a considerable amount of yard space traditionally. To get the same yield, growing crops in pots and planters take up more space. A hydroponic farm allows you to grow more in less space. Plants don’t require soil to have access to nutrients. In contrast, plant solutions created for them are directly given to them. By doing so, long roots are not needed as in soil. Since the soil does not transport nutrients to the plants, the space requirement is significantly reduced. As long as there is enough mineral solution for the healthy plant and the mineral solution for the plant, the plant will grow.

Vertical Farming

A hydroponic system is sometimes referred to as a vertical farm. The reason for this is that hydroponic systems are usually stacked vertically. Vertical farming can optimize space and plant growth because plants are grown vertically rather than horizontally.

PVC systems built for hydroponic use are typically vertical. Instead of taking up additional ground space, rows of containers would go up and down. Additionally to hydroponics, you can also use aquaponics and aeroponics for vertical farming.

Water Consumption

Sometimes, water isn’t readily available. When you grow many plants, it can become a rather expensive natural resource. You may be better off growing hydroponically rather than soil if you don’t have a rainwater collection system.

With hydroponics, you can grow more while using less water. This keeps your water bills low and saves water for the environment. Compared with soil gardens, hydroponic gardens consume up to 10 times less water. Nutrient-filled water isn’t wasted, and the plant doesn’t get more water than it needs. Because of the nutrient reservoir, the nutrient level is highly stable. Plants will store the remaining hydroponic minerals until they are needed again once they have consumed enough. Additionally, the reservoir isn’t exposed to the sun, so it doesn’t evaporate. In soil gardening, you have to worry about overwatering or underwatering.

Weeds

Having no soil in the garden also means you won’t have weeds. Only soil supports weed growth. They can’t grow without soil. Along with being an annoyance, weeds steal the nutrient content that is meant for the plants. Weeds won’t need to be pulled in hydroponics. Furthermore, without weeds stealing nutrients from your plants, they will grow better.

Pests

Insects often invade plants in soil gardens. In many cases, growing in soil attracts insects, depending on what you are growing. Plants could be invaded and eaten by insects if you do not check them daily. The same applies to predators that invade your garden. Several animals can eat the plants, leaves, fruits, and vegetables growing in your soil garden, including rabbits, ground squirrels, raccoons, and birds.

Hydroponic gardens tend to be close to homes or may even be located inside them. The chances of infestation are almost zero if you grow hydroponic plants indoors. It is less likely that insects and critters will eat the hydroponic garden if it is outside. It is possible, however, for pathogenic organisms to invade the roots of hydroponic plants. Root rot, wilting, and other issues are caused by harmful microbes or pathogens that get into the root system.

Faster Growth

Your plants will also grow faster when using hydroponics. During the plant’s growing cycle, you can harvest it several times. If something is wrong with their growth, you will see it right away since they grow fast. This allows you to make adjustments to see what works and what does not and see what is working. Hydroponic plants show impressive growth rates and are harvested twice as fast as plants grown in soil, such as lettuce. It could save you a lot of money on groceries and allow you to enjoy healthy food more conveniently.

Overall Appearance

People may prefer the look of a traditional soil garden when it comes to the garden’s look. Soil-grown plants can look lush and vibrant. Taking a look at it can be extremely pleasing. Hydroponic gardens, on the other hand, have more of a practical look. There will be a greater likelihood of it looking commercial and functional than plants growing in a natural setting.

What Is the Speed of Hydroponics Compared to Soil?

Using hydroponic growing will increase plant growth by 30-50%. You’ll notice this difference immediately. The harvest cycle would also require a shorter wait if everything goes well. It won’t take long for you to witness that your plants are doing better than soil within a few weeks. The solution in the container may need to be replaced sooner if you notice your plants aren’t doing well.

Replacing the Nutrient Solution

It is important to change your nutrient mixture every two weeks, even though you only need to do this once every two weeks. Hydroponics has a lot of benefits, but there are some things to watch for. The reason is that nothing should affect either the liquid or your plants.

There needs to be a correct solution. Temperature changes could alter the effectiveness of a solution.
Changing the pH level also increases the ability of plants to absorb essential nutrients.
You can determine if something is wrong by changing the solution and checking the temperature and pH levels. Your plants will thrive in a better environment if you adjust the solution.
Outdoors, make sure your plants receive enough sunlight.

The Verdict

Consider your situation when choosing between soil and hydroponics. Hydroponic production might be more desirable for balconies and small areas. It might be better to start your gardening in an area that already contains soil.

You can’t deny the beauty of a soil garden over a hydroponic garden. The appearance of a hydroponic setup will be more functional and practical. If you’re deciding between soil or hydroponics, you should keep this in mind. Overall, hydroponics is becoming increasingly popular due to a variety of factors. Growing with hydroponics allows you to grow more in a smaller space, faster than growing in soil.

Gardening in the soil is difficult due to several issues. Insects, weather fluctuations, and pests are many of these factors. Also, you must pay attention to how often to water the vegetable garden since it’s easy to overwater or underwater it. Besides weeds, fertilizers, and more, you must take into consideration several environmental factors. When planting with soil, it takes the biggest effort to succeed.

On the other hand, hydroponic methods sometimes have the disadvantage of having a more expensive initial investment. The situation can, however, vary. A DIY hydro setup can save you money.

Hydroponics is the clear winner in this scenario most of the time when we look at the big picture. Gardening is easier with less work, so it’s a more efficient option. When access to water is scarce, hydroponics can make a huge difference in water usage and food production.