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Many scientific developments have come about that have allowed us to find new ways to do old things. The new ways have become more and more necessary, as the old ways of doing things and living life have come to be phased out because of the new environments we each live our lives in. Many of us now lack the living space of more traditional homes, the free time that we once were afforded by the older lifestyles, and so on; these changes have kept us on our toes, constantly looking to science to tweak old ideas for them to be able to roll with the times. In the 1950s, one old idea in particular enjoyed a revival: hydroponics. Seen as early as the 18th century and in the development of landmarks like the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, hydroponics systems give a gardener the ability to sidestep the need for soil to grow plants. This has proven a boon to garden owners who do not have much space for a full planting garden in their homes, allowing them to have a much more compact setup for growing plants. Hydroponics generally involves soaking plant roots in nutrient solutions in water, letting the roots absorb the inorganic ions that way instead of being rooted in space-consuming soil. Instead of soil, hydroponics uses a “growing medium”, where the plant roots will grow and from which they will take the nutrients. Coconut coir is a popular choice as it works for a variety of systems. LECA, or lightweight expanded clay aggregate, are favored for their consistency’s aid in efficient draining with a particular system. Whatever you end up picking, it still ends up taking a great deal less space than planting in soil. Whatever the system that is used, a light source is essential. A variety of starter kits exist for hydroponics gardening beginners, and it is recommended that a would-be gardener take a close look at the wattage and ballast. Choosing the right nutrient solution is also of the utmost importance. There are many hydroponics planting systems available – from the extremely simple Wick System, which just uses a cotton wick to transmit the nutrient solution to the plant, to the similarly economical Deep Water Culture, which involves using small net pots and a floating Styrofoam plank through which the plant roots dip into the solution. The latter typically performs better with an aerator, however, that can help oxygen get to the roots. Visit CX Hydroponics website, http://www.cxhydroponics.co.uk to know more details about hydroponic systems and Cocopeat UK.
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