Almost every day, the popularity of such a system of growing vegetables, fruits and herbs as hydroponics is growing. What this is, far from everyone knows, and therefore some people mistakenly believe that this is another novelty from agronomists. In fact, this is not so at all.
What is hydroponics?
I think many people know about one of such wonders of the world as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. In fact, they are nothing more than a hydroponic garden. That is, several thousand years ago, not only was known, but hydroponics was also actively used. What is it, few know, but from the name itself it becomes clear that we are talking about some kind of water system for growing vegetables, herbs and even fruits.
This system is a special technique, thanks to which you can grow the necessary crops without the use of soil, only with the use of a special solution.
The hydroponic system includes several key aspects that are the key to a successful harvest:
- The right solution. It should be understood that for the nutrition of each plant requires the use of various trace elements. Therefore, it is very important to choose them in the correct proportions.
- Optimum temperature conditions.
- Favorable light level.
Only when these three basic conditions are observed can one expect that such a method of cultivation will be productive and efficient. Today, hydroponic technology allows you to grow any greens, lettuce, as well as many varieties of fruits and vegetables. However, like any other growing system, hydroponics (what it is already described above) has its advantages and disadvantages.
Pros and cons of this technology
So, you should start with the pros:
- this system can be used both indoors and outdoors, the main thing to remember about the three basic rules that were described above;
- the yield and growth rate of the plants themselves increase, especially for greenery and ornamental crops;
- obtaining environmentally friendly products; this plus is simply explained - there is no land, which means that there are no harmful impurities that can be deposited in plants;
- almost complete absence of the risk of fungal diseases to which crops planted in the soil are susceptible.
So, as you can see, hydroponics has many positive qualities, but at the same time it has two significant disadvantages:
- you need to have great knowledge in the field of growing those plants that have been selected, without them you can’t even count on a high yield;
- the creation of this system requires investment, especially with regard to the creation of a hydroponic system in closed ground.
Why is this technology needed?
Despite the fact that hydroponics (what it is, you now know) is in high demand, not all people understand why it is needed at all. In fact, everything is simple here. Using this system can significantly increase the amount of yield in case of deficiency of fertile soil. In addition, compact-sized hydroponic units are now available for sale even in a small apartment. Thus, the use of this technology allows you to get greens, fruits, vegetables and decorative seedlings all year round, both for personal consumption and for sale.