Hydroponics - Cultivation of Plants in Water
Hydroponics is defined as the cultivation of plants in water.
However, research as been conducted to show that many other
things play a role besides for just the water therefore the
definition has been broadened to read the cultivation of plants
without the use of soil.
Due to the lack of fertile farmland and soil as well as the lack
of a large water supply, plant growers are using hydroponics as
way of growing their plants. There are some plant grower's such
as home gardeners who use hydroponics on a small scale to grow
such things as vegetables all year round and to grow plants that
can survive in smaller places. On a larger scale, greenhouses
and nurseries grow their plants in soulless bark-based growing
mix.
There are many advantages of using hydroponics. One the most
annoying things about growing plants through the use of soil is
the presence of weeds. Most gardeners will tell you that this is
what they hate most. Through the use of hydroponics, there will
be no weeds to remove. Also, there will be no soil-born pests
and diseases to fight against, as they will be eliminated
completely.
It has been found that plants grown through the use of
hydroponics are healthier and more vigorous due to the fact that
all of the necessary growth elements are readily available. This
allows the plants to mature faster. Hydroponics gardens use less
space since the roots do not have to spread out in search for
food and water. Those people who use hydroponics say the
greatest advantage to using this system of plant growth is that
you have the ability to control everything. You control the
environment and it can even be set up on a timer. Automation as
it is called, provides flexibility to the gardener as one can be
gone for long periods of time without having to worry about
watering the plants.