Hydroponic Gardening

The word ‘hydroponics’ comes from the Greek words hydro (water) and ponos (labour). It describes a method of growing plants without using soil, instead steeping the roots in a powerful mineral nutrient solution or in an inert medium, such as gravel, or mineral wool.

The theory of hydroponics was discovered as early as the 19th Century, when researchers found that plants can absorb all the nutrients they need as inorganic ions in water. The soil acts more as a nutrient container, and is not in itself essential to plant growth. When researchers supplemented soil with a strong mineral nutrient solution plants continued to grow healthily, and some plants such as watercress even thrived in these conditions.

In practical terms hydroponics has some valuable contributions to make in agriculture and food production, especially in countries where arable soil is not widely available. In the dry and dusty climate of Arizona they grow over 120 million pounds of tomatoes a year using hydroponics, which is the largest commercial use of the system in the world.

You can also use hydroponics in a domestic setting, and to find out more out this you can go to websites like Hydroponics Online. This site features a wealth of information on both the history and practical applications of hydroponics, including hydroponic gardening at home and how to grow specific plants such as asparagus, strawberries and herbs. There is also an active bulletin board where members can post comments, questions and answers on all aspects of hydroponics, and lots of photos and examples of successful hydroponic gardens to give you ideas for when you are designing you own garden. It is free to become a member of Hydroponics Online, and there is also a catalogue full of useful equipment that you can purchase to help you set up and maintain your own hydroponic garden at home.

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