The word “hydroponics” is derived from two Greek words: “hydro”, which means water, and “ponics”, which stands for labor. The principles of gardening without the use of soil were developed many and many years ago. Since then this type of gardening demonstrates certain valuable benefits in comparison to traditional growing plants in soil. One of the key benefits is that hydroponic plants grow 30-50% faster than plants, grown under the typical conditions in soil.

Traditional organic gardeners have always demonstrated certain level of contempt for hydroponics as the type of efficient and successful gardening. The followers of the traditional soil gardening consider hydroponics to be a kind of chemical gardening. Organic gardeners have always been pretty pessimistic as to supplying their plants with a balanced and calculated set of chemicals, which is a common practice among hydroponics gardeners. However, such an attitude of wide publicity and professional gardeners to hydroponics had changed after Steve Fox demonstrated his achievements in hydroponics gardening.

One of the key components of hydroponics gardening is growing media, an inert material, which unlike soil, does not supply any chemicals or nutrients to the plant. There are multiple types of growing media used today. The examples are sand, gravel, coconut fiber, perlite, and vermiculite. Amazingly, but even air can be used as a growing media for growing hydroponic cultures under the certain conditions.   

The undeniable benefit of hydroponic gardening is that it protects the fertile soils from exhaustion. Besides, it does not presuppose the use of chemical pesticides and other chemicals, which are extremely harmful for the environment. In general, hydroponic gardening may ensure greater yields and, at the same time, let the fertile soil regenerate itself for further organic farming.

Though hydroponic gardening also uses some of the chemicals to feed the growing plants, all the chemical plant fertilizers and nutrients are contained within the enclosed area of hydroponic greenhouse and do not spoil the open air, water or fertile soil.

Hydroponics gardens are different from regular gardens in that there isn’t any soil involved, which makes them great for indoors.  The word begins with hydro for a reason!  Hydroponics gardening  isn’t anything new, either, as it’s been around since as early as 600 BC.  The other wonderful thing about hydroponics gardens is that they can be grown anywhere.  For example, NASA uses indoor hydroponics gardening for growing produce during lengthy missions.  Lettuce is also being grown on U.S. submarines.

To get started with hydroponics gardening, you will need to germinate seeds just as you would for any other type of garden.  Then you choose a growing medium.  The medium can be anything from composted bark to peat moss to sand to nutrient-enriched water.  You can also purchase kits that have everything you need to get your hydroponics gardening started—and growing.  For the beginner, this is probably the best way to go, as you can get everything you need along with expert advice.

The benefits of gardens grown using the hydroponics gardening method are many.  They allow you to grow your produce organically, without harmful pesticides or fertilizers.  And since water is re-circulated in a specialized system, you also conserve water.  This is great news for people who live in drought-stricken areas or in places where water is scarce. Even in these places hydroponics gardening is possible.

Hydroponics gardening is also very low-maintenance.  Because the produce is grown in water, you don’t have to do any digging.  Even better, with these gardens, there’s no weeding involved either.  Plants grow faster, too.  Thirty to forty days from seed to fruit or flower is average.  This is 30-50% quicker than plants grown in soil.

Also, hydroponics gardening makes it possible to grow produce year-round.  This means you can enjoy fresh vegetables and fruit anytime of the year without paying outrageous prices for them.  Plus, since there’s really no telling just how fresh the produce is in your local market, you’ll never have to guess about freshness and purity again.  You’ll know because you grew it yourself under circumstances you control.

This is an important advantage that hydroponics gardening has over traditional gardens.  When you grow plants in soil, even under the best of circumstances, you don’t know for certain that your plants are truly getting the nutrients vital for them to grow.  In gardens grown hydroponically, you know your plants are getting the very best nutrition right at their root system.  This not only ensures the highest quality possible, but it also takes the guesswork out of your hydroponics gardening.

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I can grow anything from cacti to flowers to a full blown tree (don’t have enough space for a tree).

Any ideas on how I can turn my gardening ability into a business?