The best part about gardening with hydroponics instead of garden soil is you don’t need soil for hydroponics. However, this concept can be confusing. The primary part of what makes gardening is using garden soil. If you don’t have garden soil, how could it be a garden? Furthermore, if water is key, how do I use organic compost for my hydroponics roots?

This section will show you why hydroponic gardening can be advantageous over garden soil planting and how to get your organic compost up into the hydroponics roots of your garden.

Hydroponics Roots And Vermiculite

The key to hydroponic gardening is water, not garden soil. Plants, even hydroponic ones, can’t grow until they have a solid substance to put their roots into. You can grow plants hydroponically by putting them in vermiculite and perlite.

Caution!

When handling vermiculite, the utmost care must be taken. This is because vermiculite is a form of asbestos. You can also use organic materials such as straw, cotton, plant fiber, or any number of other organic materials.

Preparing Water For The Hydroponics Roots

Since the water is the sole source of your plant’s nutrition and not garden soil; your plants must have nutrient-rich water to feed your hydroponics roots. Since the goal is to grow an organic garden, all nutrients dissolved, in the water, must be organic. One such nutrient commonly used in hydroponic gardens is what is referred to as “compost tea.” Organic compost tea is created when compost is put into water.

Organic Compost Tea

The water is infused with organic compost material. Once the organic compost has been fully saturated by the water, the water is then strained. It is necessary to strain the water because any solid organic compost material remaining must be removed. What’s left, after the water has been strained, is a nutrient-rich, water form of organic compost; which your plants will love to drink via their hydroponics roots.

Organic Manure Tea

You can also make what is commonly referred to as manure tea for the hydroponics roots of your organic garden. However, it can be dangerous to make your own manure tea. There is a risk of getting bacterial contamination on your hydroponics roots beneath your vegetables. You could actually contaminate your hydroponics roots with lethal strains of E. coli.

The manure used for manure tea should be thoroughly broken down through decomposition. You can also create manure tea with sterilized manure. The process to make manure tea is the same as you would use to make organic compost tea. Other common organic materials, which can be combined with the water, include seaweed and fish emulsion.

No Garden Soil No Waste

The other advantage to hydroponics instead of garden soil is you won’t waste water. The nutrient-rich water can be continuously used on your plants. In other words, unlike using traditional garden soil, the water used is not wasted. The nutrient-rich water, used to feed your hydroponic garden, isn’t used one time and then thrown away. You should keep recycling the nutrient-rich water to feed your plants; over and over again.

Is Hydroponic Planting Better Than Garden Soil Planting?

As you can see, a hydroponic garden can be a more practical, viable, solution compared to using typical garden soil. It is true; you won’t get the same “earthy” experience as you would using garden soil. After all, there is no “earth” to dig in. However, you will still get the same delicious, chemical-free, homegrown, organic vegetables.

Garden Soil Hydroponics Roots Conclusion

Hopefully, this guide has convinced you to garden hydroponically. As discussed, not only is it beneficial to your health; and the health of your loved ones, but it will also be beneficial to the environment. Hydroponically gardening does not really require much more additional effort than it takes to grow plants in garden soil. However, the benefits you get in return, for hydroponically gardening, are numerous.