Can you make hydroponics work for you?
Posted on: 30 August 2018
Every plant needs the right amount of water and nutrients to grow, but getting the right balance isn't always easy. Traditionally plants are grown outside where they rely on the nutrients in the soil and on rainwater to make them flourish. The difficulty is that in many climates the soil isn't rich enough and there simply isn't enough rainwater throughout the year to enable all types of plant to thrive naturally.
The advantages of hydroponics
If the plants you want can't be grown naturally where you live then you don't have to give up on the idea of growing them, there is an alternative solution. Hydroponics involves growing plants in a liquid mineral solution instead of in the soil. By mixing into the water the nutrients the plant would usually take from the soil you can ensure not only that the plant gets the right amount of water, but also that all the nutrients the plant requires can be provided directly to the roots rather than being added to the soil.
Getting started with hydroponics
Hydroponics may appear to be a complicated business, but at the heart it is really quite simple. Everything you need to get started can be found in your local hydroponics shop where you will also be able to find plenty of help and advice if you have any questions or worries about how to make hydroponics work for you. If you have access to a good hydroponics shop you should find that they stock everything from complete kits with grow tents, air stones and lights, through to growrooms, individual lights, additives and propagation aids.
Exactly what you will need to grow your plants will depend on what you are trying to grow, and how you are trying to grow it so before visiting the hydroponics shop it is a good idea to spend some time thinking through which types of plants you want to grow and how you will grow them. Do you have access to a hot house? Will you be growing indoors, in a garden, or on a rooftop? Each of these options will require a different solution so take the time to work out what you need before making a purchase.
If you are uncertain which solution would work best for a particular plant then talking to the staff at the hydroponics shop is a great idea. The staff will have dealt with countless customers with similar concerns and should know how to make the best use of their products to make your plants flourish.
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