The method of growing plants in water containing nutrients without the use of soil is called hydroponics. Plant roots do require some support and this is provided by inert mediums, like coconut coir, rockwool, perlite, vermiculite or peat moss. In hydroponics, the roots of the plant come in direct contact with the nutrients that are added in the water, while the oxygen in the water provides the required access to oxygen. Hydroponics reduces the barriers that come between the roots of a plant and the nutrients, water, and oxygen that it needs for growth
Hydroponic growing systems increase the growth rate of plants, and plants grown through this method will mature 25% faster, while they will be almost a third more productive than plants grown in soil. Plants grow faster and bigger because their roots do not have to work to find nutrients. In soil, plants are constantly expanding their root systems in the quest of nutrients, while in a hydroponic system this growing energy is diverted to the upper parts of the plant.
Nutrients are the basics of any hydroponic growing system and these must be fertilizers that are soluble in water so that it is accessible to the plant. Nutrient meters that can monitor nutrient levels can greatly help in maintaining the required consistency of nutrients in the water. Plants require carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen which they can get from the air and water. Besides this, good nutrient solutions must have elements like potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, sulfur, copper, manganese, copper, boron and molybdenum. You can buy these pre-formulated nutrients commercially. Some of them come in parts that can allow you to change the ratios of the mineral elements. As you start hydroponic growing you will begin to understand the various ratios that are needed during the promotion of vegetative growth, or growth required for fruits and flowers. Plant roots are accustomed to growing in temperatures that remain between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit underground, so it is important that you ensure that nutrient solution is kept at that temperature and constantly monitored.
You will require to have proper control of the nutrient solution ad the pH levels in the water that used in hydroponic growing systems. These systems also use less water as they are mostly enclosed, thus resulting in lesser losses due to evaporation. Hydroponics is kinder to the environment because water is not wasted, and pollution is avoided through soil runoff. The required oxygen for plants can be ensured by the simple installation of small air pumps, similar to those used in fish tanks, to pump water constantly into the nutrient solution.
Plants also need light to grow and if you can locate your hydroponics system tank in a place where you get sunlight at least 6 hours a day, your plants will have all the light that they need. If this is not possible, you can always install grow lights that have the right spectrum and intensity of light.
To start growing of plants through the hydroponic method you require any container that can retain water, growing mediums and the right nutrients. Plants in these systems are best started from seedlings that have established a proper root system.