Hydroponics Vs. Soil Growing

Hydroponics is a way of growing plants without using soil, instead focusing primarily on water. Hydroponics is a useful alternative when a conventional garden may not be possible.

Growing Medium

Hydroponics relies on a growing medium such as coconut fiber rather than soil to anchor plants, though the medium might merely be air with plants suspended above a solution of nutrients.

Fertilizer

While fertilizers in soil gardening are meant to enrich and adjust the nutrients available, special fertilizer formulated especially for hydroponics must supply everything a plant needs.

Care

Compared to soil-based gardens, hydroponic gardening requires its practitioners to pay exacting attention to their crops, monitoring water levels, pH and other elements necessary to success.

Water Conservation

Many hydroponic systems recycle water as a matter of design. Hydroponics can use up to 90 percent less water than soil gardening.

Opportunity to Garden

Because hydroponics is container-based, doesn't require soil and conserves water, it allows a wider range of people in a wider range of environments the chance to grow their own food.

Chemicals

Hydroponics eliminates the need for herbicides, can potentially eliminate the need for pesticides and eliminates the possibility of the fertilizer runoff into water supplies that occur with conventional gardening.

References

• Hydroponics for Home Gardeners-Alabama Cooperative Extension System
• Hydroponics

Resources

• Hydroponic University