Crafting with Kids

Simply put, hydroponics is the growing of plants without the use of soil. Plants need four basic things in order for them to grow: water, nutrients light, and an anchor for the roots. Normally, three of these four elements come through the soil, but actually the main function of soil is to anchor the roots; the nutrients do not come through the soil itself, but through the water in the soil. So, if you provide a water-nutrient solution for the plant, and the right amount of light, all you actually need is to find a new medium to anchor the roots, and voila! Plants grow without soil.

Hydroponics is developed as a new science, but it is not really all that new. Historic examples of growing plants with hydroponics date back to the hanging gardens of Babylon, and there’s evidence of hydroponics in the histories of Egypt, China, and the Aztecs as well.

It might seem a bit absurd at first that people would prefer to grow food without soil, particularly that there is so much soil around! Particular situations, on the other hand, would make growing food hydroponically the better option. For instance, it is okay to grow food out of season because hydroponics isn’t reliant on weather. Also, the method is not solely reliant on sunlight - so artificial lighting can be utilized. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, hydroponics provides hope for growing plants in countries where soil is contaminated.

Therefore, hydroponics theoretically allows us to grow healthy food in the dead of winter, in parts of the world where the soil is dangerous, in the arctic and Antarctic regions where it’s dark six months out of the year, and potentially even in space! So long as you maintain to provide the four ingredients - even without soil - then you are good to go!

Scientists are not the only ones studying the use of hydroponics these days. Countries like Canada and Holland are now utilizing this method significantly to grow food. A few individuals are also keeping hydroponic gardens at home. In fact, the increased demand has made the sale of hydroponic supplies into a sizeable enterprise in the past few years. While this won’t totally replace the old-fashion ways of the soil, hydroponics will certainly provide us with a fascinating alternatives to agriculture.

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