by Lettuce Be |
Last Updated: 08/19/2021 Contents
Even if you haven’t read about hydroponic growing, you probably realize it has something to do with water from the word “hydro.”. A hydroponic garden uses a mixture of clean water and fertilizer instead of traditional farming methods to grow plants, including vegetables. Despite being the cool new thing on the block, hydroponics has both advantages and disadvantages. Find out if hydroponics is right for you, as we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this gardening method.
Advantages of Hydroponic Gardening
By replacing soil with nutrient-rich water solutions, hydroponic systems produce food. Hydroponically, almost any crop can be grown at any time of the year. Agriculturalists and non-profits worldwide are convinced that the pros of hydroponics outweigh its downsides.
More people have access to fresh, high-quality food. Hydroponic gardening is known for its positive effects, including the production of more nutritious food. A significant reduction in transportation costs is achieved by growing food locally. People in isolated communities and arid regions where soil gardening doesn’t support growing crops have better access to fresh, healthy food. By creating ideal conditions, plants receive the perfect nutrients, which are directly absorbed by the roots.
Drought-ravaged areas use less water. Water is delivered straight to plant roots by hydroponically growing crops, circulating in a closed circuit once the root systems receive adequate water. You can reduce approximately 70 percent of water consumption due to reduced dependence on the weather. Many of the world’s water loss problems can be solved through hydroponics.
Urban areas require food for a dense population. A vast amount of fertile land is not needed for plant growth, unlike conventional farming. It allows food to be grown vertically by growing hydroponic plants closely together and using stacked systems that save space. Many cities in North America, Europe, China, and Israel are already using rooftop farms for food production for urban dwellers. Indoor hydroponics is also possible.
Jobs provide economic stability. If people can grow their food, their health improves. Large hydroponic operations hire numerous employees to handle the packing, shipping, maintenance, warehousing, and sales.
CO2 emissions are reduced. Producing locally saves energy because long-distance food transport doesn’t matter, and long-distance food transportation isn’t a factor. When agricultural land is not intensively plowed, seeded, weeded, fertilized, or cultivated, more energy is saved. Diseases don’t spread as easily when growing hydroponically. In the absence of soil-borne pests, pesticides are not needed.
Disadvantages of Hydroponic Gardening
Unfortunately, gardening hydroponically can pose problems. While this may not be the ideal gardening system for everyone, it may be right for some people. Now let’s discuss the cons of hydroponics.
A high initial expense is required. Seed packets and a shovel can get you started in the backyard, but money is required for you to see green shoots hydroponically. Hydroponic gardening requires you to invest in the necessary equipment. Lights, containers, water pumps, and nutrient solutions will all be needed. To get started, you need at least a few hundred dollars.
There are times when it is unforgiving. You have some flexibility when it comes to building a backyard vegetable garden. You could choose to water your plants on another day if you forgot to. Next weekend will do if you don’t feel like weeding this weekend. It may well be difficult for you to grow healthy plants if you are the kind of person who needs elbow room to garden. Without proper care and knowledge, plants will die more quickly.
For the growing of plants in water with essential nutrients, they must have that water and those vital minerals. Otherwise, they will die. Your punctual, reliable engagement is crucial to their survival. You’ll also have to deal with this as a downside of hydroponics. If you use a hydroponic gardening system, the labor involved will reduce to 10 minutes per day. However, if you fail to do your part every day, all your vegetable plants will die.
It’s impossible to avoid disappointments. Another whole set of hydroponics garden problems can be classified as “disappointments.” Some plants will thrive on this system, but not all. You might see flowers on your tomato plants, but you will never see fruit. Pepper plants may fail. There is a possibility that your lettuce will not grow at all. Or your oxygenated nutrient solution can spread diseases in your garden. Thus, you cannot guarantee the success of your crops. Hydroponic farming may be unappealing to you if you’re a perfectionist.
Hydroponic Gardening’s Pros and Cons: How Do They Compare?
While it does cost a bit to get started, these initial costs pay for themselves over time. For most small-scale home gardeners, that’s not even necessary to start. Who wouldn’t choose this gardening concept if it yielded more fresh vegetables with huge space savings, and didn’t require plowing, seeding, weeding, fertilizing, etc.? Regardless of how they do it, everybody who gardens is bound to encounter a few issues. There are many good things about hydroponic gardening, but it all depends on the hydroponic growers.
