Hydroponics is basically a means of growing plants without using any soil. Plants are grown through hydroponics by two methods; solution and medium culture. With a solution culture, there is not a solid medium for the growth of plants but just a nutrient solution. Here again, there are three types of solution culture called static solution culture, continuous flow solution culture and aeroponics.
In the medium culture method, there is a solid medium for the roots and this is dependant on the medium used here like sand culture, gravel culture or rockwool culture. However, there are two means of medium culture called subirrigation and top irrigation. Most of hydroponics techniques use reservoirs made of plastic; however there are also reservoirs of concrete, metal, wood and glass that is used. The main thing is that the containers should exclude light so that the growth of algae is prevented in the nutrient solution.
There are many advantages to hydroponics; like in hydroponics, when removing the crops, it can be packaged and sold when alive to retain its freshness for a longer time. There is no necessity of any soil and this eliminates occurrence of soil borne diseases. This, and reduced weeds lead to a lower need of pesticides. With hydroponics, there is no soil contamination of edible crops and less usage of water.
With solution culture, there is no need of disposing the solid medium and you get to exercise greater control over rootzone environment as the roots can be seen. It is best to adapt hydroponics in areas where the soil is not suitable for plant growth like Antarctica and space colonies.
Though advantageous, there are some disadvantages to hydroponics. It needs more knowledge to be implemented, is more expensive than geoponics and requires more maintenance than geoponics. The failing of the timers or pumps or clogging of the system can lead to a quick death of plants. However, hydroponics is considered to be futuristic in its approach, and helps in plant teaching and research and this is the reason it appeals to many people.
