Hydroponic Gardening and Its Benefits

What is hydroponic gardening and what are its benefits compared to the conventional types of gardening? In simple language hydroponic gardening means bringing up plants and trees without soil. The plants are placed in a growing medium and all the nutrients are directly provided to them. There are innumerable benefits and its surging popularity can be gauged by the fact that more and more people are adopting this unique and simple way of growing their crops without soil.

 Let us briefly look at the benefits:

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• It enables plants to grow much faster with research suggesting it to be as much as 50% compared to the conventional farming methods. Plants growing in soil have to search for nutrients to grow whereas in Hydroponic Gardening it is directly provided to the roots. This is one of the most important hydroponic benefits.
• Most countries in the world are facing acute shortage of water as ground water levels recede. Water is given to the plant as per its requirement significantly bringing down the wastage of water.
• A major benefit is reduction in the number of diseases that strike plants. Most pests flourish and prosper in the soil and as reliance on soil is eliminated so does the number of pests attacking plants.
• It is imperative that ph levels and nutrients provided to plants are measured and this type of farming allows you to correctly measure and maintain the adequate levels required for each plant.
• One of the most important hydroponic benefits is that you can grow the same amount of crops and plants in 1/5 of the space that conventional farming.
• It is not dependent on seasons and you can grow any crop throughout the year.
• A lot of time, effort and money are saved as once set up it is self sustaining with minimum maintenance required.
• You require little space for it, as your rooftop, balcony, basement can all be turned into farmlands literally.
• A lot of time is wasted on picking up weeds in conventional farming and this eliminates it.
• The yield is nutritious and healthy as no pesticides are used. 

As land is becoming scarcer with industries vying for land and farmers land turning barren and unproductive due to excess use of chemicals and fertilizers hydroponic benefits cannot be overemphasized. It is a blessing in disguise and with new research and innovations taking place hydroponic gardening is here to stay and is the future.