HYDROPONICS AND AEROPONICS

                                                   In a hydroponic system, plants grow without the use of soil, substituting a growing medium instead. Aeroponics is a sophisticated from of hydroponics that uses no growing medium at all. Plants do not require soil to grow and soil can actually hinder a plants growth. What plants need is nutrients, and they often expend a great deal of energy growing roots to find them to utilize for flower formation and growth. Although hydroponic systems offer great value to both the environment and the provision of food, the government is reluctant to embrace this method of growing mainly due to its association with growing marijuana.

Growing Medium With Hydroponics

With the hydroponic system of growing, plants are placed in a growing medium such as coconut husks, perlite or clay pebbles. A nutrient rich solution flows through the airy planting medium and provides food for plant growth.

Advantages of Hydroponics

Hydroponic systems allow gardeners complete control over nutrient delivery. Plants that grow hydroponically have much greater energy efficiency than plants grown in soil. Many hydroponic systems recycle water, which greatly reduces waste. In fact, hydroponic systems use as little as 10 percent of the amount of water needed by conventional growing methods. Hydroponic gardening uses no herbicides or pesticides, and such gardens require very little space and are not dependent on growing seasons, as they use artificial light.

Disadvantages of Hydroponics

Because the nutrient solution is passed between plants, it is possible for water based disease to travel rapidly between plants. Also, hydroponic systems, including aeroponics, rely on electricity and require costly generator back-ups to cover for power outages. Hydroponic systems can be very costly to set-up, due to the nature of the equipment involved. However, once you have the system set up it is cheaper than a traditional garden to operate.

Growing Medium With Aeroponics

The aeroponics system does not utilize any growing medium. Plants are suspended in a dark enclosure while a nutrient dense solution is sprayed on the roots at certain intervals.

Advantages of Aeroponics

Since plant roots are isolated and there is no planting medium, plants that are grown with an aeroponic system will have the opportunity for maximum nutrient absorption.

Disadvantage of Aeroponics

Aeroponic systems are very sensitive and require constant attention to pH an nutrient density ratios. Aeroponics is a difficult system for beginners to understand and should only be attempted by those who are advanced and familiar with such systems.

It is quite possible that various forms of hydroponic gardening will increase in popularity and become commonplace in the the American home in the future. As our soil quality continues to deteriorate, and more and more people are seeking ways to provide healthy food for their families, hydroponic gardens may provide just the answer.