According to the book Hydroponics, the Complete Guide by Dudley Harris, New Holland Publishing, 1992 edition, hydroponics is the science of growing plants in a medium other than soil, using a mixture of the essential plant nutrient elements dissolved in water.
The word "hydroponic" comes from the Greek words "hydro" and "ponos", meaning "water" and "labor" respectively. Although Dr. W.F. Gericke is credited with coining the word "hydroponic", the exact origins of hydroponic gardening are a little vague.
Origins of Hydroponic Gardening
Some say the ancient Egyptians were probably the first to experiment with hydroponic systems, referring to Hieroglyphic records as proof. Others claim that parts of the famous handing gardens of Babylon were built using primitive hydroponic technology. Even the Roman Emperor Tiberius is believed to have used hydroponic techniques to grow cucumbers out of season.
The modern history of general hydroponics goes back to the mid 17th century, when a certain John Woodward began to experiment with growing spearmint without soil. He noticed that the spearmint grew bigger and stronger than traditionally grown spearmint. He was able to prove that the plants grew because of certain substances derived from the earth, and not because of the soil itself.
Advantages of Hydroponic Gardening
There are a number of advantages of hydroponic gardening instead of growing plants in soil. Some of these advantages are listed below, in no particular order.
No need to fertilize: Most soil types lack some element or another, so traditional plant growing techniques require the soil to be fertilized. With hydroponic gardening there is no need to fertilize as the needed elements are fed to the plants by means of the hydroponics system.
No crop rotation necessary: With hydroponic gardening there is no need to practice crop rotation. The reason for crop rotation is because certain plants “leach” certain element out of the soil, rendering the soil useless for extended use by the same crop. With a hydroponic system, the same type of plant can be grown year after year.
Better control: Hydroponic systems allow better control over such things like PH conditions. This is something that can be difficult to regulate with traditional growing methods.
No weeding: Since the hydroponics system uses a sterile environment, weeds are generally unheard of. This in turn translates into a more efficient use of time and labor.
Hydroponic gardening can be done very cheaply. For a basic ebb and flow hydroponic system, all that is needed is a growing tray, water tank, a few meters of tubing, something to hold the plants in, a timer and a fish tank pump. These items can usually be found at a hard ware shop.
Hydroponic gardening can produce a much higher yield than traditional growing method and is therefore well suited for growing plants in confined conditions like the balcony of an apartment building. Many elderly people have benefited from hydroponic gardening since the grow tray can be adjusted to a height that suits them.
Related Articles:
How to Create an Ebb and Flow Hydroponic Garden
Source:
“Hydroponics, the complete guide” by Dudley Harris, pages 20 - 40, published by New Holland Publishing, 1992 edition.
Fleur Hupston - Fleur Hupston is a professional freelance writer based in Botswana, Southern Africa. From this unique perspective, she writes travel ...
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