Common Misconceptions About Hydroponic Gardening
Let's separate the fact from fiction about hydroponic gardening and we take a look at hydroponics resources for gardening and food production. Hydroponics is a Latin term that means "water working." And hydroponic culture is growing plants without soil. All the plants need nutrients from the soil through the water. Hydroponic gardeners add nutrients to the plants mixtures of water, all they need to grow and prosper.
The first mistake is hydroponics is a new trend. Nothing could be further from the truth. Hydroponic gardens have been around for centuries. The ancient Egyptians used Hydroponic systems to grow their food.
In the 1970s, agriculturalists began developing plans for hydroponic use hydroponics as an alternative way to our dinner. This is the reason why many people think hydroponic gardens and hydroponic farms are new inventions.
great strides have been in the area since the 1970s, when farmers began seriously as an alternative method of food production, which perhaps is the reason so many people think it is a new invention.
The second mistake hydroponic food is genetically modified. This is totally wrong. Hydroponic grown food is 100% natural. The only thing missing is the earth. Natural plant nutrients that in the traditional growing from the ground, through the water they are grown in. There is absolutely no genetic modification done to food, in a hydroponic medium.
The third mistake is hydroponics is bad for the environment - again totally wrong. Growing food with hydroponic drip system uses about one tenth the water of traditional farming methods. This is because hydroponic gardens and home hydroponic farms water only the desired plants - not the weed. And there is considerably less water lost to evaporation.
In addition, there is no running water run out to contaminate the environment and ground water supplies. Plus, the use of CFLs has greatly reduced the amount of power used to light for cultivation. All in all, hydroponic culture is good for the environment.
The fourth misconception is Hydroponic systems are expensive - again totally wrong. It is true that there is an initial cost of hydroponics, growing medium and nutrient mixes. However, new technology has developed reusable media, which significantly reduce the costs. This means small and home-hydroponic gardens are not more expensive than traditional gardens and crops.
The Hydroponic gardening technique is used around the world. And in some environments, it is widespread. For example, it is a fact that in British Columbia, almost 90% of plants in greenhouses using hydroponic systems.
Is hydroponic farming and organic agriculture is the same, not necessarily. In your own home environment, you can choose to grow hydroponic organic food. However, larger hydroponic farming operations May to choose the use of pesticides on their crops. So do not assume hydroponic crops are grown organically.
However, the upside is that there is no rain water run-off of these pesticides to pollution of the environment as in traditional agriculture.
Hydroponic growing systems are further disseminated in the future, because of its food production potential and environmentally friendly techniques. With more understanding of the field, hydroponic producers will find it easier to find markets for their crops.
And at home, if you live in an apartment, housing, town home or single family residence, hydroponic culture systems can easily be set up inside or outside. Imagine, with hydroponic tomatoes, lettuce, strawberries and much more - you can find at your fingertips.
Here, you'll find detailed information on the world of hydroponics, from hydroponic gardening and hydroponic systems to hydroponic kits, hydroponic mediums and all the hydroponic foods you can enjoy year around. For more in depth information subscribe to our newsletter at http://homeandgarden.ws
Thank you - David Glassey
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Glassey
August 30, 2011 at 2:10 AM
The following statement is unsupported by research or references and is simply an opinion:
"The third mistake is hydroponics is bad for the environment - again totally wrong. Growing food with hydroponic drip system uses about one tenth the water of traditional farming methods."
I imagine the reference to traditional farming was meant to be industrial farming. There are traditional practices such as forest gardening which do not rely heavily on water in the same way that hydroponic food growing does.
August 25, 2012 at 12:18 AM
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