When most people think of hydroponics, they think of growing…well, cannabis. However, hydroponics is a great method for growing all kinds of herbs, vegetables, and fruits. Hydroponics involves growing plants in a water and mineral nutrient solution without soil. The roots are held in place by an inert substance and grow into the water solution.
Hydroponic gardening has multiple advantages compared to growing in soil. For one, you do not have to deal with weeds, pests, and disease-infested soil when growing indoors. This means reduced need for pesticides or herbicides. It is easy to apply just the right amount of nutrients. The moisture level remains consistent making germination easy and preventing over and under watering. In fact, hydroponic gardening saves a significant amount of water compared to conventional gardening. You can place your hydroponic garden at counter level, so you do not have to bend over or kneel. Hydroponic systems can be programed to be low maintenance and take up less space than conventional gardening. Plus, you can grow fresh fruits and vegetables year-round.
My husband and I have owned an AeroGarden for over 10 years now. We are frequently asked if we grow marijuana in it. The answer is no, we haven't. We grow our family addiction…basil! We tried tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, and lettuce over the years with poor results. I believe our AeroGarden pod is just too small. But basil grows great. Basil is expensive to buy in the store and has a very short shelf life but our whole family loves pesto. Hydroponics is the solution. Our family of five eats pesto about once a week year-round from the basil we grow indoors. The best thing about having a programmed hydroponic system is we can travel for a week or two without needing to tend to the plants. In fact, we only tend to them about once every two weeks when we are home.
If you want the benefits of growing fresh produce but not the hassle, you might consider growing plants using a hydroponic system. You can make your own system or buy a pre-made system online. All you need is a container, a light source, an inert substance to support the roots, water, and nutrients. There are multiple websites and YouTube videos that will guide you through the process. Not only will you have delicious fresh produce year-round, but you will help the earth by conserving water and decreasing pesticide use.
And your back and knees will thank you.
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