HYDROPONICS

Hydroponics is a subset of hydroculture and is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil.

Non aquatic plants may be grown with their roots in the mineral solution only, or in an inert medium (inert means lacking the ability to move) such as perlite or gravel.

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PROS OF HYDROPONICS

• More efficient use of water and fertilizers
• No soil is required
• Space requirements and growing time are lessened
• Heavy work is reduced
• Pest and disease problems can be better controlled without harsh chemicals
• Nutrients are recyclable
• Weed problems are lessened
• Crop rotation is not necessary

CONS OF HYDROPONICS

• Set up cost can be high
• Skill and knowledge are necessary to operate at optimum production
• Disease and pest can spread quickly to plants using shared nutrient solutions
• Plants have quick reactions to both good and bad conditions
• Not all plants are suitable for hydroponics

HISTORY OF HYDROPONICS

• The principles of hydroponic gardening have been used since ancient times. They were brought to popular attention in the United States in 1937 by Dr. W. F. Gericke, who introduced the word "hydroponic" (from the Greek words for "water" and "work") and publicly displayed immense tomato plants cultivated by this method.

HISTORY OF HYDROPONICS

• Hydroponics became a brief fad. Although popular interest subsided, hydroponic methods continued to be developed and studied. In World War II, soldiers on Pacific islands grew their vegetables hydroponically, and in the 1960s large commercial hydroponic greenhouses and multiacre hydroponic farms were established in many locations around the United States.

SOURCES

• http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/hydroponics.aspx
• http://bradford.ifas.ufl.edu/hydroponics.shtml
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroponics