Understanding Hydroponics
In very simple terms, hydroponics can be described as the growing of plants without soil. There are 4 basic elements a plant requires in order to grow: water, nutrients, an anchor for the roots (that is, “medium”), and light. Usually, three of these four ingredients come through the soil, but actually the primary function of soil is to anchor the roots; the nutrients do not come through the soil itself, but through the water in the soil. So, if you provide a water-nutrient solution for the plant, and some light, all you really need is to find a new medium to anchor the roots, and voila! Plants grow without soil.
Hydroponics is developed as a new science, but it is not really all that new. Historic examples of growing plants with hydroponics can be traced back to the hanging gardens of Babylon, and there’s evidence of hydroponics in the histories of Egypt, China, and the Aztecs as well.
It might seem a bit ludicrous at first that people would want to grow food without soil, especially when there is so much soil around! Certain situations, however, would make growing food hydroponically the better option. For example, it’s okay to grow food out of season because hydroponics is not dependent on weather. Also, the process is not solely reliant on sunlight – so artificial lighting can be used. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, hydroponics provides hope for growing food in countries where soil is contaminated.
Thus, hydroponics theoretically allows us to grow healthy food in the dead of winter, in corners of the world where the soil is dangerous, in the arctic and Antarctic regions where it is dark half of the year, and potentially even in space! As long as you maintain to provide the four ingredients – even without soil – then you are good to go!
Scientists are not the only ones studying the use of hydroponics these days. Canada and Holland are currently using this method to grow food on a larger scale. A number of private citizens are now also keeping hydroponic gardens as the new “organic” food. In fact, the increased demand has made the sale of hydroponic supplies into a large enterprise in the past few years. While this will not totally replace the old-fashion ways of the soil, hydroponics will certainly provide us with a wonderful alternatives to agriculture.
