Six Advantages & Two Disadvantages of Hydroponic Gardening

Hydroponic gardening is an exciting new alternative to traditional soil-based gardening. While it can seem like the stuff of science-fiction, hydroponics is very real and so are their advantages. Below are six advantages and two disadvantages of hydroponic gardening.

Advantages 

No Soil

The biggest draw to hydroponic gardening is that you do not need soil as the plants grow in water. This is advantageous, particularly when in areas where soil is not so readily available. Additionally, it eliminates the need to keep buying soil, thus eliminating a variable cost in the process.

Less Labour

Hydroponic farming eliminates a lot of the manual labour associated with gardening. With no soil to till, gardeners can concentrate on other aspects of their craft or focus on something entirely else. Additionally, with all the plants being submerged in the water, there is no need to be wasting time and energy watering them with a can or hose.

Goodbye to Weeds

Weeds are perhaps the most common and frustrating problem associated with gardening. However, hydroponics eliminates the potential for weeds to even grow as there is no soil for them to intrude upon.

Less need for Insecticides

Hydroponic gardening dramatically reduces the risk of plant diseases afflicting your plants. Additionally, since there is no soil and hydroponics are typically conducted indoors; pests are reduced considerably. This means there is less needed to use insecticides, and when they do have to be used, they only need to be used sparingly.

Space Optimisation

Hydroponic gardening is a great option for people with limited space or those living in the city. Hydroponic gardening can be scaled down or up depending on your needs, and since roots are not in competition with one another, plants are able to be planted near one another.

Higher Growth Rates

Plants generally grow at a faster rate than those planted in soil. This is because the water that the roots are soaked in is filled to the brim with vital minerals, allowing them to develop at a faster rate than their traditional counterparts.

Disadvantages

High Start-Up Costs

One disadvantage with hydroponics farming is that it has high start-up costs compared to a traditional garden. With such a high initial investment, would-be gardeners should do significant research into hydroponics and be 100 percent sure that they are willing to commit to it.

Bacteria & Fungi

While hydroponics eliminates a few threats such as weeds and insects, it also creates two new problems in the form of bacteria and fungi invading the waterways. This can be mitigated by carefully monitoring and sterilising water levels.

For more information about hydroponics and its uses, reach out to a professional.