Hydroponic Gardening

By Leslie Hayden

Hydroponic gardening is getting more and more popular for several reasons. First, these gardens are much smaller than traditional gardens. A Hydroponic garden can also be grown indoors and is ideal for most types of vegetables. Secondly, this type of gardening is much cheaper than traditional gardening and is much easier to maintain.

Hydroponic gardening does not require you to use soil. There is no "dirt". While different kinds of Hydroponic systems exist, what all have in common is that they work better than traditional soil because you have total control of exactly what nutrients your plants get. You are able to control the strength of nutrients, water amount, and even the amount of light they get provided you grow them indoors. This is also why you need to learn exactly what the best balance of nutrients, water, and light are for each particular plant you decide to grow.

Hydroponics gardening is only as difficult as you make it. It can be complicated if computers with sensors are used to control water cycles, nutrients, and light for the plants. However, it can also be as simple as a hand watered bucket with a single plant. The normal home Hydroponics system is usually made up of a few basic things: a growing tray, light (natural or artificial), a reservoir, a water controlled pump for watering (or some type of watering equipment), and some form of air pump to give oxygen to the nutrients.

Hydroponic systems let you select what is known as the growing medium. Popular growing mediums are perlite, sand, gravel, rockwool, coconut fiber, or just plain air. The cheapest way to go is to buy instructions on how to build your own Hydroponic system. A more expensive route is to buy a Hydroponic kit that is already assembled in gardening supply stores.

There are certain micro-nutrients that are necessary for healthy plant growth including magnesium, sulfur, calcium, cobalt, boron, iron, copper, manganese, and zinc. These nutrients are absolutely essential to plants and if missing could cause the food to not be as healthy and in some cases even cause health problems for those who eat it. It is very important that you use a quality fertilizer with Hydroponics gardening.

With Hydroponic gardening, it is important that you keep your eye on the pH balance. The pH balance is what lets your plants absorb the nutrients that they need. This is one of the biggest advantages that Hydroponic gardening has over traditional soil gardening. This is why plants grow healthier and faster in a Hydroponic system. With Hydroponics gardening, it is very easy to regulate and maintain the perfect pH balance.

There are literally hundreds of different types of Hydroponic systems you can buy or build. The six most basic types of Hydroponics systems are: Aeroponic, Water Culture, Ebb and Flow, Drip, Wick, and N.F.T. Hydroponics gardening is cheap, easy, and best of all, you can grow your own fresh organic fruits and vegetables all year long. - 29857

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