Trying Hydroponics at Home
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| Photo Credit: Mary Moore |
| It took me just 10 minutes to get my kit set up, and then my garden was off and growing! |
Hydro-what? Hydroponics, of course! This science of growing plants in nutrient-rich water instead of soil has been around at least since the Aztecs created their floating gardens, but it’s come a long way since then! And thanks to some huge improvements in technology and materials, this unique way of growing plants has moved from the science lab into intrigued gardeners’ homes. What’s more, it’s easy and makes a tasty hobby (especially in the cold winter months), and it’s a terrific science experiment to do with the kids.
There’s no shortage of ways to try out this science. You can build your own garden or purchase a prefabricated kit to launch you into the world of hydroponics. There are just a few things you need to know before you begin growing plants without soil: - Water: The water must be aerated, the water flow must be consistent, and the water must be constant so the plants don’t dry out.
- Plants: The plants need to be started in a growing medium suspended above the water so the plants won’t rot.
- Nutrients: The nutrients must be added to the water on a regular basis so the plants don’t starve.
- Light: There must be sufficient light to ensure healthy growth.
While this all might sound tricky for the inexperienced plant grower, there are several quick-to-assemble units on the market with clearly spelled out nutrient and light instructions that make growing hydroponically easy!
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| Warnings |
- Although growing food in hydroponics units greatly reduces problems with insects, you occasionally may have to combat whiteflies or spider mites.
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| Facts |
- The Aztecs developed their floating gardens out of necessity: Driven by their enemies to Mexico’s Lake Texcoco, there simply wasn’t enough land to grow food, so they improvised. They made reed baskets, added rich soil from the bottom of the lake and grew food in them. The inventive gardeners filled the baskets anew each season until eventually the baskets formed ridges and canals on the lake.
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| Faqs |
- Q: Can I use well water or water that’s treated with softeners?
A: It’s best to use either tap water or bottled/purified water. Chemicals in well water or softened water can interfere with plant growth.
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| Resources |
- There are different types of hydroponics units out on the market. AeroGarden® models can range from $150-$230.
Read More... - Whether you decide to use a prefabricated unit or create your own hydroponics garden, be sure to sign onto the Forum/Community pages and share your experiences. This is just too much fun to keep to yourself!
Read More...
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