Growing Flowers – Tired Of Digging In The Dirt?
Gardeners and horticulturalists are used to getting grimy. They root around in the soil, applying fertilizers and pesticides. They plant, divide and re-plant. They do all this for the rewards of producing beautiful and nutritious plants to view and eat. But what if you could gain those values without coming into contact with any soil at all?
Hydroponics is the science and practice of growing plants without using soil. Water is the most common medium used instead. There are more technically accurate definitions, to be sure. But for the home gardener, hobbyist and occasional teacher that’s what it comes down to.
Many people wonder how this is even possible since they know that plants require soil for nutrition, support, heat, water, and all the other factors that are needed fro growth and reproduction. While that is what most people understand about gardening, its not necessarily true. Plants absolutely require water, but they don’t have to get it from soil even though that is the most common method. In nature, there are plants that grow well in gravel, sand or underneath or on top of a body of water.
Plants require a specific amount of energy, whether it’s in the form of heat from their surroundings or sunlight. However, sunlight is not the only to get this warmth. Direct sunlight will work on the leaves, exactly as it does on the soil. Allowing the top of the plant to be exposed to sunlight, supported by string from the top of the container, will allow the vital process of photosynthesis to occur. However, with almost anything in botany, there are some exceptions. Some plants are able to survive as well as reproduce with absolutely no light, but they will still require some form of energy to initiate biochemical reactions.
Plants have to get a certain amount of energy from sunlight or from heat from their surroundings. Soil that has been warmed by sunlight isn’t the only way to get this energy. Direct sunlight will work on the leaves, just as it does for plants that are grown in soil. By leaving the top portion of the plant exposed to a source of sunlight by supporting it with a string at the top of the container will allow the critical process of photosynthesis to take place. As with almost everything in botany, there are some exceptions. There are some plants that are able to survive as well as reproduce with no light at all as long as they get some energy to drive biochemical reactions.
Most home gardeners or hobbyists are interested in plants that need physical support, and putting them in soil is the most effective and common way to provide this support. That’s one of the reasons that the roots spread and the stems become resistant to the wind. If these plants hadn’t evolved like this, we wouldn’t be able to discuss them at all. However, there are dozens of artificial aids like Popsicle sticks or strings glued to the top of the container that can provide the needed support.
One of the most important elements for a plant is without question proper nutrients. Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and a host of trace elements (zinc, copper, iron and others) are essential to plant growth. Absorbing those elements from the surrounding soil is, of course, one usual way of obtaining them. But, here again, nutrients can be fed to plants in a number of ways.
Often, hydroponic plants will have their roots immersed in a container of water that is fed periodically with a liquid nutrient. There are other methods as well. Some people will keep there plants in an enclosure that will effectively maintain moisture. The roots are then spray with a mister that delivers a nutrient solution to the plant. This method does cross in a gray area called aeroponics.
Hydroponic gardening methods can be used to grow a number of plants like lettuce, tomatoes, strawberries, and other plants that are not fruits or vegetables, like orchids. Hydroponics can be used to grow a long list of plants. There are thousands of plant species that thrive without the use of soil as long as they are properly cared for. The effort can be fun as well as instructive. Hydroponics can be use to grow nutritious and beautiful plants, without the drawbacks of using soil.
David is an expert in the field of tropical flowers. For more information see Hibiscus Tropical
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