11 Reasons People Choose to Grow Hydroponically Instead of from Soil

Why do people choose to grow hydroponically instead of from soil? Probably Because of each one of these 11 reasons. What's you reason?
plant in soil

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Whether you’re a beginner looking to start a home garden or an experienced grower looking to maximize your yields, hydroponics is the ideal way to grow. So why do people choose hydroponics over traditional soil gardening?

More produce for less space

One major reason is that hydroponic systems can produce significantly higher crop yields in the same amount of space. This is possible because plants grown using hydroponics get all of the nutrients they need directly from water, rather than having to extract these nutrients from the soil. As a result, production increases by 3 to 10 times when growing hydroponically, making it an extremely space efficient method for maximizing your food production.

You can grow pretty much anything

Hydroponics is not just limited to leafy green vegetables. You can grow a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and other plants using hydroponic systems, allowing you to enjoy the fresh taste and nutrient density of your favorite produce all year round. Some common plants are lettuce, kale, bok Choi, tomatoes, strawberries, cucumbers/

More surprising plants are eggplants, melons and even saffron!

Ease of use and maintenance

Another major benefit of hydroponics is its simplicity and ease of use. Once your system has been set up and calibrated, you don’t have to worry about soil compaction or nutrient imbalances that can be common in traditional gardening.

You can grow it indoors

Since hydroponic systems rely on water rather than soil, they are also perfectly suited for growing indoors. This means that you can easily set up your system anywhere in the house – under grow lights in a small nook or closet, in a spare room, or even in your kitchen! With minimal effort and no gardening experience required, anyone can start growing beautiful, fresh produce and enjoy the many benefits of hydroponics. If you are not sure your house can provide the right environment for your plants, read about the grow tent.

Hydroponic plants grow faster

Another reason why many gardeners choose hydroponics is that the plants themselves grow faster and more vigorously. How much faster? 40-50 percent faster!

That is because they don’t have to expend energy growing extensive root systems to seek out nutrients in the soil, plants grown hydroponically can devote more resources toward growth and development. And since hydroponic systems are highly controlled environments, pests are less likely to be a concern, further reducing the need for plant protection measures.

hydroponic tomatoes
Hydroponic tomatoes. These ladies grow so much faster!

You have crops all year round

Another key advantage of hydroponics is that it allows gardeners to grow crops year-round, even in colder temperatures or other unfavorable weather conditions. This is thanks to special climate control systems that can be installed alongside hydroponic systems, which allow gardeners to regulate things like temperature, humidity, and lighting. With more control over the environment, plants can grow faster and produce more fruits or vegetables in a shorter amount of time.

It saves water

Hydroponic systems are also extremely water efficient. Because plants only need to draw nutrients from the water and not be watered directly with it, hydroponics can use 80-90 percent less water than traditional soil gardening. That means you can have a lush garden packed with healthy produce, all while minimizing your environmental impact and reducing your water usage.

Easier to keep the plants healthy

One of the biggest benefits of hydroponics is that it makes it much easier to keep plants healthy and disease-free. You have fewer pests and diseases to deal with.

With traditional soil gardening, gardeners often have to deal with issues like pests, excessive watering, and nutrient deficiencies. But in a hydroponic system, these problems are much less common. The specialized growing environments create a more consistent climate, making it much easier to keep plants healthy and disease-free.

Better control over nutrients and minerals

Hydroponics allows gardeners to control the nutrients and minerals in their plants. This means that you can be sure that your produce is safe for consumption, without any harmful chemicals or additives. With precise nutrient dosing and careful monitoring of environmental conditions, hydroponic systems allow you to create consistent, high-quality plants that are both healthy and delicious. Whether you’re growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, or flowers, hydroponics is the ideal way to produce safe and nutritious crops all year round.

No need for tilling or weeding

One of the biggest downsides of traditional soil gardening is that it requires work and maintenance. From tilling the soil to frequent weeding, there are plenty of chores you need to do to keep your plants healthy and thriving.

With hydroponic systems, however, all of this manual labor can be easily avoided. Because you don’t need to worry about the soil, there is no need for tilling or weeding. This means you can focus on enjoying your garden, rather than spending hours hoeing and pulling pesky weeds!

Less labor-intensive than traditional farming methods

, hydroponics is the perfect choice for anyone who wants to grow their own fresh, healthy food with minimal effort. Whether you’re a new gardener or an experienced farmer, hydroponics can help you maximize your food production while minimizing your impact on the environment.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for an easy and sustainable way to produce your own fresh, healthy food, then hydroponics is the perfect choice. With its reduced labor requirements, ability to regulate nutrients and minerals, and lack of need for tilling or weeding, hydroponics gives you all the benefits of traditional soil gardening, with none of the downsides. Whether you’re a new gardener or an experienced farmer, hydroponics is the ideal way to grow your own produce all year round. So why not give it a try today?

FAQ

1. Why is hydroponics better than soil?

Hydroponics offers numerous advantages over traditional soil gardening, including ease of use, control over nutrients and minerals, and reduced labor requirements. Because you don’t need to worry about tilling or weeding the soil, hydroponics allows you to focus on enjoying your garden, rather than spending hours maintaining it. Additionally, hydroponics makes it much easier to keep plants healthy and disease-free, providing a more consistent climate that is perfect for growing high-quality produce.

2. Can I grow hydroponics at home?

Yes, you can grow hydroponics at home with minimal effort. There are many different types of hydroponic systems available, from simple container gardens to more advanced hydroponic setups like nutrient film technique and aeroponics. To get started with hydroponics, you simply need a planter or container, nutrient solution, growing medium, and plants. With the right setup, you can produce your own fresh, healthy food all year round, even if you have limited space or gardening experience.

Picture of Mindy van Orden

Mindy van Orden

I have grown hydroponic plants for decades, in different weathers. I'm a retired financial planner, born in Chicago, spent some time in Spain and Portugal. I currently live in South Carolina.

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