The first thing about hydroponics that anybody will notice is that there is no need for soil. Plants only need soil for outdoors growing and gardening as the plant roots would grow and collect nutrients that are in the soil. However, if the soil is nutritionally insufficient is nutrients then the plant would die. Hydroponics allows you to have control over, not only the type of nutrient getting to the plant, but how much of the nutrient the plant would receive. With plant growth in soil, a lot of water is wasted whereas with hydroponics the water is recycled and the nutrient intake of the plant is controlled. Usually the gardener doesn't need to renew the nutrients for two to three weeks in the water. With the water being recycled and the nutrients being in the water, this maintains a consistent flow of nutrients to the plants.
There are quite a few ways in which to deliver the nutrients to the plants in hydroponics. Static solution can be given directly to the roots of the plant you are growing via a water rich with nutrients in a container. The roots would simply sit in the aerated water whilst the mixture would be constantly washing over the roots of the plant; Things such as lettuce would use this kind of system as would potatoes. They would however be continuously washed over with moving water. This is usually only used in larger hydroponic areas and farms and not really something used in home hydroponics. In aeroponics (which is plant growing from off the ground, such as plants hanging up), the hanging roots of the plants are sprayed with a mist containing nutrients suitable for plant growth. The water is in the same container as the plants but the roots are not in the solution as they can grow out further than the container. The roots need to be misted in order to stay moist and fed in a nutrient rich environment.
The good thing about hydroponic gardens is that they just so happen to take up a lot less space than natural farming and can be located in your home or an outhouse as well as factories and even in supermarkets. They use less water as mentioned before than soil gardens as you control where the water goes, unlike soil that would just soak it all up. You find that you prevent diseases getting to your plants that would usually occur outside due to the fact that there are no pesticides and no extreme weather conditions. As you control the nutrients, you know exactly what is going into your plants so if anything does happen you know exactly how to fix it. With outside growing you cannot always prevent weather and soil born pests whereas inside they are virtually nonexistent.
Starting out with hydroponics can be a confusing game and it is best to research products and read help guides in order to fully understand what you are doing, You will need to look around for good hydroponic equipment and hydroponic lighting and figure out what you want to buy and what is right for you. Good luck growing with hydroponics.
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