by RightFit Gardens |
Last Updated: August 3, 2021 Imagine growing plants faster, larger, and with 5% of the water normally required. This would seem impossible to most people. Then, there is hydroponics.
A hydroponic system uses water, nutrient solutions, and a liquid medium for growing plants without soil. Even though various forms of water culture have been practiced for thousands of years, hydroponics has only been fully understood in the last 100 years. Various advantages and disadvantages have been identified due to this, both for domestic and commercial growth.
Hydroponics is a technique that has undoubtedly led to rapid growth in the market. In addition to increasing agricultural efficiency, yield and reducing food production costs, the use of hydroponics is part of a broader trend. With the development of domestic hydroponics, enthusiasts are growing all kinds of plants in their homes. Find out the advantages of hydroponics.
Hydroponic Farming Benefits
Better Use of Space
It takes 20% less space for plants growing hydroponically than those that grow by traditional farming methods. Therefore, you can grow more plants in a defined space or in a very small area where soil-based plants are not practical. This effect on agriculture can have drastic implications since many plants are grown in indoor greenhouses that require efficient space utilization to pay for themselves.
To find nutrients and water, the roots of hydroponic plants don’t have to spread out in soil to search for them. Thus, hydroponic plants require less space than plants in soil. Depending upon the hydroponic technique, nutrients and water are delivered directly to root systems. Due to this, roots become more compact, allowing them to grow closer together. Growing in less space reduces the amount of infrastructure needed and allows for higher yields.
No Soil Needed
Produce can now be grown without soil at home, and in commercial settings, a concept once considered unavailable. The advantages of growing plants without soil are numerous.
Many plants prefer particular types of soil to others, and soil conditions vary greatly between locations. Importing suitable soil or modifying your existing soil can be expensive and labor-intensive if you do not have this soil type available.
There would be no limitations on how much a country could grow in areas with limited arable land, like deserts or rocky regions. One of the main reasons for a transition to hydroponics is that it is considered the future of farming. These locations offer a great deal of cultivation potential. In many countries, they can also reduce water consumption, which is an issue due to fresh produce imports.
Save Water
The water needed to grow hydroponically is just 5-10% needed to grow plants terrestrially. Water-scarce areas can greatly benefit from hydroponic cultivation since it has tremendous environmental benefits.
Plants gain what they need by absorbing recirculated water, and runoff is captured and returned to the system. Leaks and evaporation are the only sources of water loss, but an efficient setup will minimize these sources as much as possible.
Using even more technological advances, some hydroponic systems are further reducing water waste. Plant roots take up water, but 95% of this water is transpired into the air. Because of this, some commercial hydroponics systems employ water vapor condensers to capture and reuse this water.
Each year, global food production increases and more water is being consumed than ever before. Hydroponics, for example, can contribute to more sustainable agriculture. Without them, we put our planet’s environment at risk.
Climate Control
Climate can be completely controlled in hydroponic environments. You can adjust all of these to produce optimal results, right from the temperature to light intensity. Thus, growers can maximize their production year-round, and consumers can access products at any time of the year.
Larger Plants With Faster Growth Rate
A surprising aspect of hydroponics is its ability to grow. It might seem that hydroponics would lead to lower yields, but hydroponics does the opposite. A growing medium can grow faster than soil due to controlling temperature, moisture, light, and nutrients.
With the right conditions, plants receive the right amount of nutrients, directly contact roots. Therefore, diluted nutrients are easier for plants to find when not searching for them in the soil. Instead, they can focus on growing and producing fruit, resulting in better growth rates and larger plants.
pH Control
Growers frequently overlook the importance of pH levels, but they play a crucial role in ensuring that plants access adequate nutrients for healthy growth. The growing solution contains all of the essential minerals necessary for plant growth, unlike growing plants by soil farming. The pH can be adjusted easily and measured accurately to guarantee that the solution maintains an optimal pH level.
It is essential to maintain a plant’s pH to enhance its ability to absorb essential minerals. Too much variation in pH levels prevents plants from absorbing vital nutrients. pH levels are typically between 5.5 and 7.0 for plants, although some thrive in slightly acidic growth environments. Researching appropriate PH levels for plants and considering how hydroponic growth allows for effective regulation would be wise steps to take.
No Weeds, Pests, or Disease
Weeds can harm the growth of the plants you are cultivating when left in the soil. Hydroponics eliminates these problems. The same is true for soil-borne pest issues.
Typically, hydroponic growing systems do not require pesticides because of the soil-free environment, making the product healthier for consumption and preventing environmental problems that pesticides can cause. Taking control of surrounding variables is easier when using hydroponic cultivation in a closed system.
Less Labor Intensive
Despite the higher setup costs of a hydroponic system, the labor involved in cultivating plants is significantly reduced. In this way, usable time is freed up for other activities such as plowing, hoeing, etc. A system’s running costs can also decrease over time, but this depends on the type of system.
Weatherproof
You can eliminate a major factor in plant growth uncertainty with hydroponics, regardless of whether you are growing tomatoes on your windowsill or running a large commercial hydroponic farm. Hydroponics, which grow mostly indoors or in greenhouses, eliminates unpredictable weather because all water and nutrients are provided manually.
Sunlight doesn’t have to be an issue since artificial light can supplement or replace it. Growing plants year-round is possible with artificial grow lights. Growing salad greens and tomatoes all year round is easy for us with LED grow lights. When you need fresh vegetables, nothing beats it.
A Great Hobby
We have been fascinated with hydroponics as a hobby for quite a while, and we love it. A hydroponic garden requires very little upfront investment to start growing leafy greens. This is a scalable and cost-effective system that offers countless DIY and pre-built components.
Starting with just one or two plants on your windowsill is a great way to get started. As a result, we knew a lot about what plants need to grow and thrive. Taking things to the next level is a simple step, and there are no limitations to what you can achieve.
Urban Farming
According to a 2015 estimate, the global market value of hydroponics was $21.4 billion. Future global changes will have a profound effect on this farming method, resulting in its rapid growth.
Global population growth will force these changes, and they will be made out of necessity. To increase crop yields or make other lands suitable for farming, we need to develop new farming techniques. Using vertical farming in urban areas solves the issue of insufficient space and works well with hydroponics.
Is Hydroponics Profitable?
While hydroponics has received significant media attention, many people remain skeptical of its commercial viability. Even though there are a lot of large commercial operations operating today, the short answer is yes. Despite high supply costs, hydroponic farming is considered affordable with a few tricks.
Stacked rack systems are a great choice in cost-cutting initiatives, but these can reduce airflow, humidity, and heat. If cost is prohibitive, you might explore this option, but you’ll have to take the time to source the parts and test the configuration. To maintain healthy production, growers should utilize LED lighting technology. When you grow high-yielding crops, you will get a quick return on your investment by using high PAR lights.
Is Hydroponic Food Good For Our Health?
Ultimately, everything depends on the nutrient solution. Hydroponics can produce food as nutritious as when grown in soil when essential nutrients are provided to the plants. Plants grown this way are likely just as nutritious and healthy as soil-grown plants, but the mineral content of the plants can vary depending on the nutrient uptake.
In hydroponics, plants’ nutrient levels are enhanced by supplementing the solution with what they need. For example, you can add calcium, zinc or iron, depending on what you need. Thus, it is possible to grow nutritionally superior plants by regulating the nutrient concentration in this manner.
Regardless of how the crops are grown, there is a lot to consider in terms of external variables. These can be when the crops are harvested, from how long they are consumed after harvest, and how they are handled. The exact nutrient content of hydroponic crops can vary depending on these factors. Still, the bottom line is that hydroponics can produce just as healthy, if not healthier, food than conventional methods.
Conclusion
we have discussed the benefits of hydroponics, but there are also several disadvantages. Although hydroponics has experienced rapid growth in recent years, its cultivation viability is probably sufficient to justify consideration. You will find lots of helpful tips on this website if you want to grow hydroponic plants at home.
