Misconceptions About Hydroponic Gardening

Hydroponic gardening (growing plants without soil) is a booming but highly misunderstood practice

. Some see it with suspicion since they associate it with growing illegal substances; some see it as a deceptive science; some see it merely as a novel-but-expensive pastime. In reality, however, hydroponics is a system that several hobbyists, gardeners, farmers and even nations use to grow strong and healthy plants. Let us look at a few of the fallacies about hydroponics, and follow up with a clearer understanding.

Among the largest misconceptions is that hydroponic gardens are typically used to grow certain controlled substances in secret growing rooms. Internet sources don't seem to help since they associate the concepts of hydroponics and illegal activity. This can be explained by the fact that those who are spreading those pieces of information know how to use the Internet and not because every hydroponic garden is illegal. In fact, illegal growing comprises a tiny percentage of hydroponic gardening in general. A lot of beneficial plants and vegetables flourish in a hydroponic environment and so, many farmers are resorting to this practice. In fact, countries such as Canada and Holland are using hydroponics to grow food on a large scale. To suggest that hydroponics is a bad thing because people utilize it to grow illegal substances is to suggest that soil is a bad thing for the same reason. Farming is farming; hydroponics is just an alternate method.

Second, a lot of people believe that hydroponic gardening is unnatural or artificial because it foregoes the use of soil. The truth is, there are no genetic or chemical alterations in hydroponics, and no natural processes are interrupted. The natural elements are given to the plants - light, nutrients, water - as is the case when they're planted in soil. In hydroponics, on the other hand, soil is replaced by other root-anchoring techniques and nutrients, light and water are provided in ways that would optimize health and growth. Interestingly enough, plants that grow in hydroponic gardens would typically turn out to be healthier - and this is done without the use of additives. The process is more complicated, but the result is still the natural production of plants and food.

Others erroneously believe that hydroponic gardening is merely an expensive hobby-a fad of sorts that has no real point. While hydroponics is indeed a fun pastime (and a growing business) for hobbyists, it can also be very useful. With hydroponics, growing plants and food in almost any setting becomes a possibility - regardless if it's winter, in the polar regions, in contaminated soils and even in space. More significantly, this alternative method in farming makes the yield and quality of food-bearing plants better - as a result, food is made readily available to third-world countries and in places where famine is widespread.

So maybe, there is more to hydroponic gardening than meets the eye; there's absolutely more to it than these common misconceptions might lead us to believe.

by: Iris Caesar

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