Unlike traditional growing methods, hydroponics does not use soil and it can be used indoors or outdoors. This technology makes use of an inert growing medium such as clay pebbles, volcanic rock or perlite to give roots something to latch onto, and delivers water and nutrients in a carefully controlled way that is designed to recreate optimal growing conditions for your plants. In doing so, hydroponics systems can reliably produce bigger, stronger, and better yields than other growing systems.
Most often, hydroponics is done indoors in a contained environment such as a grow tent. Where this is the case, the grower absolutely must supplement the plants with all the light they need. Without adequate light, your plants will quickly die, and this is because all plants need light for their vital photosynthetic processes. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert water and carbon dioxide into energy which fuels their growth. There is a fine balance to be struck, however, because too much light can burn leaves and kill plants.
LED grow lights are the most popular way to supply hydroponically grown plants with light. They are much more cost effective than using other forms of lighting, and are relatively cheap to buy and maintain. They also come in various colours which is important if you want to encourage things like faster flowering and more rapid growth during particular parts of the cycle.
Top reasons to try hydroponics
If you want to grow a strong, healthy and potentially lucrative crop then you cannot do better than choosing a hydroponics system. These systems make it possible to grow plants that would otherwise die off in the UK climate, and you can make use of them without needing access to a garden. There are many benefits to choosing these over conventional systems and these benefits make hydroponics an incredibly appealing option.
Firstly, these systems can be almost fully automated. Unlike traditional growing, you will be able to programme a lighting rig, water and air pump to deliver what the plants need when they need it, without needing to do it manually. This means that you can grow an excellent crop with minimal maintenance and intervention, saving you time and money in the process.
Secondly, hydroponics watering systems are much more hygienic than other ways of growing plants. This is because there is no soil involved, and soil is where pathogens and pests breed. You will still need to keep an eye on your water quality, and will have to periodically clean the system, but this is nowhere near as involved as having to weed an outdoor grow space, remove pests, and apply water, nutrients and pesticides manually.
Thirdly, hydroponics makes use of all your available space and maximises it. You will be able to grow a much higher number of plants per square foot than you can with conventional methods, and this translates to higher yields per square foot. You can find mini systems that fit on a kitchen counter, or you could even fill your entire attic space with a self contained grow tent and turn the unused corners of your home into productive space.
Which hydroponics systems are best for beginners?
Most beginners will start off with a simple deep water culture system (DWC) because they are highly cost effective, easy to set up, easy to maintain, and allow home growers to make a quick start on their favourite species and cultivars. They don’t need a lot of expensive equipment to start, and most hydroponics grow shops will be able to supply you with everything you need to get started in kit form.
More advanced growers will also favour this type because it can easily be upgraded in terms of size, lighting system used, and extras such as fans, dehumidifiers and automated shut off and switch on features. They truly are the ideal choice for most people, though they are by no means the only type of system available.
Aeroponics is another highly popular type of system that is a little more expensive to get up and running than the DWC, but can give you excellent results very quickly. They are also extremely resource efficient because rather than having a large reservoir of water, water is instead delivered in the form of a nutrient rich mist. The water and nutrients that are not absorbed can easily be recycled back into the system, which can save you a lot of money in the long run.