Hydroponics is the water based growth of plants, usually directly in water or in soil free mix, there are many variations but the basics are the same. Because you have the ability to control water and nutrient solution management as well as increasing oxygen levels in the root zone, crop productivity is generally significantly higher when compared to regular outdoor growing methods. Some people picture requiring high-tech apparatus when they hear the word Hydroponics, but the truth is that Hydroponic growing methods have been successfully used to grow ornamental and edible crops for many generations. Nature has been using Hydroponics anywhere that plants grow in sand, gravel, or other non nutritional environments. Hydroponics methods are now widely employed around the world, especially in Temperate regions where greenhouses can be operated year round without the need for supplemental heating. Many different crops are grown including Strawberries, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Tomatoes and Orchids. Virtually any plant can be grown Hydroponically as long as the specific water and nutrient consumption rates of that plant are taken into account. There are a myriad of different techniques used, with the Wick, Nutrient Film Technique(NFT), Floating Raft, Drip, and Ebb & Flow methods being the most prevalent. Aeroponics is a new twist which is basically a method of feeding the plants by misting the roots with nutrient solution.
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