#3. About Hydroponic Gardening
You may have heard the term hydroponics and wondered what it means. Alternatively, you may have heard about soil-less gardening and tried to figure out how that could be possible. In a word, it is hydroponics. You will find all the information you need to know about hydroponics and how it can help you in growing your own vegetables.
The term hydroponics comes from the Greek „hydro' meaning water and „ponics' which refers to labor. Actually soil-less gardening has been around for thousands of years. Remember one of the seven natural wonders of the world – the hanging gardens of Babylon? That's a prime example of one of the earliest examples of hydroponics in history.
Countries around the world from Holland to Australia have been experimenting with hydroponics and witnessed some amazing crop production results.
Hydroponic gardening has several advantages over traditional soil gardening. Plant growth rate increases by 30 to 50 percent when compared to soil plant growth rate. Plant yield is also much higher. Scientists believe that extra oxygen found in the hydroponic system, helps to stimulate root growth. Plants with higher oxygen levels in the root tend to absorb nutrients faster. Nutrients are mixed with the water and go directly to the root system. The nutrients get delivered several times in one day. Because the plant does not need a lot of energy to find and break down food, it sends the spare energy to the fruit, speeding up production.
Hydroponics also prevents bug infestations, disease and funguses. The plants tend to be healthier with this system.
Nutrients in hydroponics follow almost all the principles of regular soil fertilizers. Hydroponic nutrient solutions contain the same elements you would get from the soil. You can buy these products from specialist hydroponic supply stores. All you need to do is add two to four tablespoons of concentrated nutrient liquid or powder mix, to a gallon of water.
There are different growing mediums for the hydroponic gardening system. The growing mediums are based on the principle of aerating and supporting the root system. There are different growing mediums suited to the different types of hydroponic systems like the continuous drip system, nutrient film technique system and the ebb and flow system.
Hydroponic gardening is a futuristic technology that is at present being studied not just in countries, but in classrooms, horticultural societies and government funded research projects.
It is an interesting concept and well worth consideration by anyone who wants to grow their own vegetables.