"How many of us know where our food comes from? At a time where everything we pick from the grocery store is laden with pesticides, growing our own food can help cut down health risks and also ensure our children get their food in its freshest form."
Growing up, most of us were taught that plants need soil to grow. Hydroponics turns this concept on its head by helping a farmer grow fruits, vegetables and flowering plants that traditionally grow in soil, by helping them grow in water.
Before you confuse them with aquatic plants, let us tell you that they aren't completely submerged in water. Only the roots of these plants are exposed to the mineral solution which has a balance of macronutrients (Nitrogen, Potassium, Phosphorus) and micronutrients (boron, calcium, magnesium etc.).Further, the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Ph balance are checked before growing plants in it.At times, when the plant needs stability, the roots are supported with the use of cocopeat.
Hydroponics has several advantages over the conventional soil-based method of farming.
First, you don't have to own land to practice it, as it can be practised in the small space of your balcony or window sill. Because of this, it works best for urban farmers facing a space crunch.
Since the method doesn't use any soil, it completely eliminates the risks of any soil-borne diseases affecting your plants, thus ensuring healthy pest-free produce.
The growth of crop is twice as fast with hydroponic gardening as nutrients are dissolved in water and directly fed to the roots, proportionately. The yield too can be doubled over time in the same amount of space once you have reached an advanced stage of farming.
Also, it uses just 1/20th of water compared to traditional soil-based gardening.
From old Chyawanprash cans, yoghurt containers, PET bottles, and even food delivery dabbas, the man uses easily accessible home containers to make planters for his soil-less crops. Green leafy vegetables like spinach, mint, cilantro, basil, fenugreek, and others like lettuce, chillies and tomatoes, he grows them all on his balcony!
Source and Credit :
https://www.thebetterindia.com/163293/hydroponic-garden-home-plastic-bottle-pune-news/