Advantages of Hydroponic Gardening
The pandemic – and more recently the economic impact of the war in Ukraine – have shown that we can’t rely on corporate supply chains. In the face of looming food shortages, many of us have felt a survivalist sensibility wake within us. We want to become self-sufficient, to produce our own food.
Hydroponics offers a way to do so. Using a minimum of space and providing optimal control over your growing environment, it guarantees stable yields and independence.
In addition, growing your own produce also has numerous benefits for your physical and mental health, as experts know.
Progrow, a UK-based hydroponics specialist, explains: “‘One reason is that when you are growing your own plants, you form a relationship with them like that of a traditional pet. After all, the plants are feeding you with nice clean oxygen! People say the essence of relationships is reciprocity, so this human – plant symbiotic relationship is just as relevant as a human – pet relationship.”
A second advantage of hydroponics that many people have come to see, especially during lockdowns, is the level of control it offers.
With traditional gardening, there is always an element of uncertainty. Will the weather hold? Could a hailstorm destroy your hard work in one fell swoop? Will you have to battle an infestation of pests?
Hydroponics eliminates these uncertainties. It provides a controlled, stable environment with optimal conditions for whichever crop you want to grow. It’s you who sets parameters such as humidity, CO2 levels, spectral wavelengths, temperature, and air circulation.
As a result, hydroponic gardening can guarantee stable yields. And you can reliably factor your home-grown produce into your diet.
Plus, thanks to the optimized growing environment, hydroponically grown food provides a constantly high quality, appealing appearance, and fantastic taste.
In addition to providing a stable, high-quality yield, hydroponics also has benefits for the environment.
It uses far fewer resources than large-scale farming operations. It uses less water and less space, and a fraction of the fertilizer needed in traditional farming. Pesticides and herbicides are basically eliminated, reducing environmental impact.
Other countries have already harnessed these numerous benefits. In Japan, the food sector is already closely intertwined with hydroponic methods. Similarly, many African nations are making increasing use of hydroponics to provide food security to their populations.
One final advantage of hydroponics is also that it allows you to become part of a constantly growing, supportive community.
Especially during lockdowns, many people took to the online sphere to find like-minded individuals. Entire online spaces evolved around hydroponic gardening – from YouTube channels over social media groups to public forums. This vibrant community allows you to gather knowledge, share your experience, and make connections.
Furthermore, in the wake of the pandemic many offline communities have been thriving as well.
Once you decide to deep-dive into hydroponic gardening, you’ll have the chance to integrate into this community and meet a huge number of passionate, knowledgeable people to help you on your journey.