So, let’s get the elephant out of the room straight away. When we hear the word Hydroponics, the first thing that comes to many people’s minds is the method to grow marijuana plants. Yes, this is true however; Hydroponics has come out of the closet and gone main stream in a big way over the last few decades.

As we become more ecologically aware and concerned about our carbon footprint, we look for more responsible and sustainable ways to do everything from building cars to growing food.

Growing vegetables through hydroponic methods not only produces more food faster but, also requires less space as well as conserves soil and water. When set up indoors or in a greenhouse, hydroponics allows you to keep production going longer than in a traditional garden.

Now, hydroponics won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but, we want to offer some basic information about the different types of systems, how they work, and the pros and cons of each. Who knows, it may get your wheels turning and you might give it a try. It’s never a bad thing to have another tool in the box!

So what are some of the advantages and disadvantages of hydroponic growing in general?

Advantages:

• The nutrition your plants receive is completely controlled
• Water and nutrient conservation
• Healthier and bigger plants
• Faster growth
• No pesticides or herbicides
• Space conservation
• Root access

Disadvantages:

• Not every vegetable can be grown hydroponically
• Electricity is needed if choosing a circulating method
• Water temperature needs to stay consistent
• Start up cost can be more significant depending on the size of the system

So there are your pros and cons. Next time we will learn about the two basic hydroponic growing systems, ‘Open and Closed’.