So What is Hydroponics ?

To put it differently: Hydroponics is a way to skip the soil, sub in a different material to guide the roots of the plant, and grow crops directly in nutrient-rich water.

There are multiple approaches to designing hydroponic systems, nevertheless the core elements are essentially the same.

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Things you need:

Fresh water.

Were talking primo, filtered stuff with a balanced pH. Most plants like water with a pH level around 6–6.5. You can adjust the acidity of your water with over-the-counter solutions bought at the local hardware, garden, or hydroponic store.

Oxygen.

Don’t drown your plants! In traditional farming, roots can have the oxygen necessary for respiration from pockets of air in the soil. Depending on your hydroponic setup, you will either need to leave space between the beds base of your plant and the water reservoir, or you may need oxygenate your container (think of bubbles in a fish tank), which you can accomplish by buying an air stone or installing an air pump.

Root Support.

Even though you don’t need soil, your plant’s roots still need a little something to put on on to. Typical materials include vermiculite, perlite, peat moss, coconut fiber, and rockwool. Steer clear of materials that could compact (like sand) or that don’t retain any moisture (like gravel).

Nutrients.

Your plant will probably need a lot of magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, and other nutrients to keep healthy and productive –– the same as plants growing in the floor need healthy soil and fertilizer. When you’re growing plants without soil, this “plant food” must be contained in the water that’s feeding your plants. As you can technically make your own nutrient solution, it’s easy to get mixtures online and in stores.

Light.

If you’re growing your plants indoors, you might have to invest in some special lighting. Each type of plant will have an alternative requirement for the amount of light it needs and for the placement of lights (typically referred to as Daily Light Integral or DLI).