Hydroponics is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil. Terrestrial plants may be grown with their roots in the mineral nutrient solution or an inert medium, such as perlite, gravel, mineral wool, or coconut husk.
Researchers discovered in the 19th century that plants absorb essential mineral nutrients as inorganic
ions in water. In natural conditions, soil acts as a mineral nutrient reservoir but the soil itself is not essential to plant growth. When the mineral nutrients in the soil dissolve in water, plant roots can absorb them. When the required mineral nutrients are introduced into a plant’s water supply artificially, soil is no longer required for the plant to thrive. Almost any terrestrial plant, including Indica and Sativa, will grow with hydroponics.
Hydroponics is being adapted around the world because:
– No soil is needed
– The water stays in the system and can be reused- thus, lower water costs
– It is possible to control the nutrition levels in their entirety- thus, lower nutrition costs
– No nutrition pollution is released into the environment because of the controlled system
– Stable and high yields
– Pests and diseases are easier to get rid of than in soil because of the container’s mobility.
CalWest Fertilizer sells the following products optimized for hydroponic growing methods: Click Here