Growing Using Hydroponics

What do plants need to grow well?

• Room to grow
• Water
• Nutrients from the soil
• Light
• Carbon dioxide and oxygen from the air

Do you think plants could grow without soil?

Yes! Growing plants using hydroponics is growing them without soil.

 When Was Hydroponics First Used?
Growing things hydroponically dates
back to the ancient Egyptians.

A scientist from Belgium, Jan

Van Helmont, wrote about a test that
he carried out on a willow tree in 1600.
He discovered that the tree could be
grown in water without soil.

Did You Know? Gr

The word ‘hydroponics’ comes from
Latin: ‘hydro’ means water and
‘ponos’ means labour. them without soil.
 How Are Plants Grown Using Hydroponics?
There are several different hydroponic
systems but they all ensure that plants
have space to grow, access to nutrient
rich water, plenty of light (natural or
artificial), carbon dioxide and oxygen.
The difference is how they deliver the
oxygen, water and nutrients.

Did You Know? Gr

Hydroponics systems work best when
the water temperature is kept at a
constant.
How Are Plants Grown Using Hydroponics?
Many people believe that the deep water culture system is the easiest to set up and use. The
plants start out as seedlings, with their roots sat in a reservoir filled with nutrient-rich
water.

Air bubbles are pumped into the

solution and the plants take the
oxygen they need, preventing them
from drowning. The roots receive a
continuous supply of the nutrient-rich
water and oxygen. The plants
receive light and carbon dioxide
through their leaves.
 How Are Plants Grown Using Hydroponics?
The recovery drip system releases a
nutrient solution to the plants,
wetting the roots. Any excess solution
flows back into the reservoir, ready to
be used again. The growing medium
anchors the plant. Some growers use
gravel or pebbles, depending on what
they are growing.

Did You Know?

As the plants use the nutrients in the water, the strength levels of the nutrients
fall. Therefore, the water must be changed periodically.
 What Are the Benefits of Using Hydroponics?
Using hydroponics means that crops can be grown anywhere, including
areas where there is poor soil quality. It also cuts down the amount of work
usually involved in growing crops as there is no digging required.

Some of the other benefits are:

• Growing can take place indoors and
throughout the year.
• Perfect growing conditions can be
replicated.
• Crops are less likely to be subject to
pests and diseases because there’s no
soil.
• Hydroponically-grown crops are far
better for the environment as they don’t
require pesticides.
• Equipment can be recycled after a
growth cycle.
What Are the Benefits of Using Hydroponics?
More benefits:
• Plants grow bigger and faster as they
don’t have to work as hard to find
nutrients (plants can concentrate on
growing rather than expanding their
roots).
• Less space is required as the roots don’t
need to spread out to find the nutrients.
• Less water is wasted as plants take
exactly what they need.
Which Plants Can Be Grown Using Hydroponics?
Many herbs, vegetables, fruit and
flowers can be grown hydroponically.

Using hydroponics, it’s even possible

to grow fruit trees indoors.

Did You Know? Gr

In 2015, rice was grown hydroponically
for the first time with excellent results.
 What Are the Disadvantages of Using Hydroponics?

A quality hydroponics system is quite

expensive.
If the system breaks down, the plants
Setting up and managing the
will die within a few hours.
hydroponics system can take time as you
have to closely monitor
nutrient levels.
 Do Hydroponics Work In Space?
In 2015, astronauts on-board the
International Space Station ate the first
Hydroponically-grown lettuce in space.

Since then, lots of crops have been

grown in space. These have fed the
crews and been kept for research by
scientists.
 What Is the Future of Growing
Things Using Hydroponics?
How could growing things hydroponically help us in the future?

Talk About It
Where would it be useful to be able to grow
plants using hydroponics?