Home hydroponics continues to gain ground. Unlike an outdoor garden, an outdoor garden allows you to grow vegetables, herbs, and even fruit all year round from the comfort of your own home. But what exactly are the benefits of hydroponics? And what basic equipment should be purchased? Below we explain everything we know about this wonderful way to grow our own food.
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What is hydroponia ?
Hydroponics (in the previous link you have the website of the greatest experts in this type of culture in Spain) is an urban culture, which allows the growth of plants and vegetables, controlling several factors: lighting, water quality, air circulation.
traditional culture vs. Hydroponics: how does it work?
Unlike a traditional underground culture, in the ground or in a container, hydroponics uses water as the main substrate . Plants do not take root in soil, but in water. This water is in fact a nutrient solution composed of water and mineral elements. However, it must be renewed periodically.
To ensure good drainage, you can use inert supports such as synthetic foam, clay balls, coconut fiber, rock wool, etc.
Good to know: If you install your hydroponic system outside, in your garden or on your balcony or terrace, try to protect it as much as possible from the rain.
What are the pros and cons of hydroponics?
Benefits
- higher yields
- Space entrenchment
- Embrace the land of pesticides
- Water saving (food self-sufficiency of plants)
- Few germs and insects.
As you will have understood, hydroponics has many advantages, whether environmental because no fertilizers or pesticides are used and inexpensive because no water is lost to the soil during irrigation. This form of cultivation allows faster yields and throughout the year as in greenhouse crops.
disadvantages
The other side of the room. Despite its long list of benefits, hydroponics is not environmentally friendly. Indeed, if you want good yields, you will have to invest in equipment and therefore plan your energy expenditure in heating and artificial lighting.
And because vegetables grow without sunlight, they naturally have less flavor than those grown “naturally” in natural soil. Therefore, they cannot be called “organic”.
What vegetables can you grow in your urban hydroponic garden?
Gardening is completely compatible with hydroponics. Vegetables that can be grown are:
- aromatic herbs (basil, chives or parsley…)
- fruit vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, etc.)
- leafy vegetables (lettuce, spinach, etc.)
- flower vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, artichoke, etc.).
For some vegetables, especially leafy ones, you can start hydroponics and replant them in the ground, for endless greens.