History of hydroponics Though the technology sounds modern, the history of hydroponics dates back to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Euphrates River was diverted into channels that cascaded down the lavish garden walls. In the 13th century, Marco Polo wrote of witnessing floating gardens in China. However, hydroponics is far from merely an innovation of the ancient ages. In the 1990s, NASA grew aeroponic bean seedlings in zero gravity aboard a space station, opening up the possibility of sustainable agriculture in space. Hydroponics continues to be a timeless and dynamic method of water conservation and crop production.
What is hydroponics?
Hydroponics is the cultivation of plants with water and nutrient solutions rather than soil. Hydroponic flowers, herbs, and vegetables are planted in inert growing media and supplied with nutrient-rich solutions, oxygen, and water. This system fosters rapid growth, stronger yields, and superior quality. When a plant is grown in soil, its roots are perpetually searching for the necessary nutrition to support the plant. If a plant’s root system is exposed directly to water and nutrition, the plant does not have to exert any energy in sustaining itself. The energy the roots would have expended acquiring food and water can be redirected into the plant’s maturation. As a result, leaf growth and the blooming of fruits and flowers flourishes.
Plants sustain themselves by a process called photosynthesis. Plants capture sunlight with chlorophyll (a green pigment present in their leaves). They use the light’s energy to split water molecules they’ve absorbed via their root system. The hydrogen molecules combine with carbon dioxide to produce carbohydrates that plants use to nourish themselves. Oxygen is then released into the atmosphere, a crucial factor in preserving our planet’s habitability. Plants do not need soil to photosynthesize. They need the soil to supply them with water and nutrients. When nutrients are dissolved in water they can be applied directly to the plant’s root system by flooding, misting, or immersion. Hydroponic innovations have proven direct exposure to nutrient-filled water can be a more effective and versatile method of growth than traditional irrigation.
Simply put, hydroponic gardening is method of growing plants without soil. It’s a way to nurture a huge variety of edible plants (think herbs, veggies, even some fruits) indoors all year round, regardless of what Mother Nature is doing outside your door. A hydroponic system doesn’t take a lot of space (unless you want it to), it will work just about anywhere, and plants will actually grow faster than if you were growing in-ground. It’s not hard to see why hydroponic gardening is fast becoming a popular way to grow plants everywhere from kitchen counters to university dining halls!
So why is it called hydroponics? “Hydro” is the Greek word for water, and “ponos” means work. In hydroponic gardening, the water does the work—in this case, the work of delivering nutrients to the plant roots.
In order to grow, plants need water, sunlight, carbon dioxide (usually from air circulation), and nutrients. In a traditional garden, plant roots have to seek out nutrients in the soil. In hydroponic gardens, nutrients are dissolved in the water that surrounds the roots, so plants have even easier access to the nutrition they need. The result? Plants tend to grow big and beautiful very quickly.
There are different kinds of hydroponic systems. In some, plant roots actually dangle in the water. In other hydroponic gardens, plants grow in some kind of soil substitute, such as peat moss, coir (coconut fiber), aged bark, perlite, or clay pebbles. And because there’s none of the soil that many plant pests and diseases need to survive, when you ditch the dirt, you cut way down on your chance of experiencing those problems. Amazingly, many hydroponic gardens actually require less water than traditional gardens.
Try the Aero Garden® Farm 12. It’s not only a cinch to set up and maintain, but it grows up to 12 plants 5X faster than soil. The electronically adjustable 60W LED grow lights provide full spectrum lighting for healthy plant growth. It provides up to 24 inches of growth height for tall vegetable varieties and other plants. Plus, it’s stackable for vertical gardening, letting you maximize indoor growth potential. You’ll love the fresh food you can grow indoors all year, or use it to grow some of your favorite flowers and houseplants to add beauty to your decor.
Here’s a little more about the different kinds of hydroponic set-ups you may come across:
- All hydroponic systems include a reservoir or other container, a nutrient source (usually a solution), and, of course, water.
- Many also include a grow light, a growing medium (like those mentioned above), and/or an air pump (if growing directly in water).
- Size-wise, the reservoirs or containers for home growers can range from small enough to grow a single herb to large enough to grow a couple of tomato plants—and sometimes even bigger.
Some hydroponic systems are designed to be used indoors, while others can be used outside (depending on temperature and time of year).
Many experts in agriculture consider hydroponic gardening to be much more than just a cool way for home gardeners to grow a few plants. They see it as the future of food production, because hydroponic gardens can be made to fit just about anywhere and allow even un-farmable areas to grow nourishing food. Chances are, if you’ve bought cucumbers, strawberries, tomatoes, or fresh herbs at the grocery store lately, you’ve already tasted the fruits of hydroponic growing.
Grow in Hydroponcis Automatically
LetPot app enhances gardening with smart features. Users can adjust lighting levels, set light schedules, and choose modes directly via their smartphone. LetPot Max offers automated nutrient addition, while drip irrigation settings allow for customized watering schedules, duration and interminttent. Alongside, the app includes a Plant Diary for tracking growth and a comprehensive Encyclopedia for plant care knowledge. It’s a compact tool for integrating advanced gardening technology with ease.