Hydroponics: Growing Plants Without Soil
We are so used to plants growing in fields and gardens that we consider anything else completely absurd. But in fact: plants not only grow without soil, but often much better if their roots are instead in water or very humid air.
The cultivation of plants without soil is called hydroponics. It may sound strange, but many of the foods we eat - especially vine tomatoes - are already grown hydroponically. Here is a brief explanation of how hydroponics works exactly...
Photosynthesis: The Basic Principle
Plants grow through a process called photosynthesis, where they use sunlight and a chemical called chlorophyll in their leaves to convert carbon dioxide (a gas from the air) and water into glucose (a type of sugar) and oxygen.
Photosynthesis Equation
6 CO₂ + 6 H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6 O₂
Carbon Dioxide + Water = Sugar + Oxygen
It turns out that the soil in which plants commonly grow does not even appear in this formula. What plants need is merely water, air, and nutrients, both of which can be obtained from the soil. But if they can get these things elsewhere - e.g., by having their roots in a nutrient-rich solution - they can do without soil altogether. That is the basic principle of hydroponics.
Significance and Advantages
Theoretically, the word "hydroponics" means growing plants in water (from two Greek words meaning "water" and "work").
Advantages of Hydroponics
- Higher Yields - Some growers report multiples in yield
- More efficient nutrient uptake through direct access to nutrient solutions
- Space saving due to smaller root systems
- Faster plant growth
- Fewer pest problems by avoiding soil
- Year-round cultivation possible, especially indoors
- Automated systems possible via timers and computers
Challenges
Disadvantages of Hydroponics
- Higher initial investment for equipment (tanks, pumps, lighting, nutrients)
- Increased care requirements and more precise control of growth conditions needed
- Smaller root systems often require support structures for heavy fruiting plants
In conventional cultivation, you can sometimes be quite careless with the plants, and if the weather and other conditions cooperate, the plants will still thrive. Hydroponics, however, is more scientific and the plants are much more under your control. You have to constantly monitor them to ensure they are growing under exactly the conditions they need (although automated systems, such as timers for lighting, make things a lot easier).
More Information on Hydroponics Systems
An overview of existing hydroponics systems and techniques can be found here
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