The word hydroponics actually comes from the Latin word meaning working water. While that’s a good fact to know if you want to look smart, it doesn’t really tell us anything about hydroponics itself (apart from the fact that water is involved somewhere!). If you don’t have a clue what hydroponics are, you’re not alone. But, this lesser-known method of growing plants could actually give you better results than traditional methods, increasing crop yield and helping the planet at the same time. Sounds good, right?

To help you understand more, we’ve put together a guide covering everything from what is a hydroponics grow system? to the advantages of this unique growing method. Enjoy!

What is a Hydroponics Grow System?

Before getting into what are the advantages of a hydroponic system? It’s important to understand what hydroponics actually is. In the simplest of terms, it’s the method of gardening without using any soil. It’s actually been used for thousands of years, dating all the way back to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which had water from a nearby river cascading down the garden walls. But hydroponics can be used for much more than creating visual masterpieces.

In fact, hydroponics was used by NASA, back in the 1990s. Their team grew bean seedlings on a space station in zero gravity conditions. For years, hydroponics has been used to grow flowers, vegetables, and herbs in unconventional environments, creating high yields with low water consumption.

The plants are grown in a medium other than soil, which could be anything from coconut fibre to rockwool. These mediums are then fed nutrient-rich solutions, water, and oxygen, providing everything the plants need to flourish. With the right system, you could see your plants growing quicker, your yields improved, and your crops stronger than ever!

How Does a Hydroponics System Work?

It’s easy for us to say this is the better method, but how does a hydroponics system work? Why is it superior when it comes to growing crops?

This all comes down to the greater control over your plants that hydroponics gives you. You can precisely measure and change things like pH, temperature, and light exposure, making sure your crops get exactly the right amount of everything they need. You can even tailor the nutrients you give depending on the needs of your plant, like adding this Meta-Boost for bigger and more fragrant flowers.

This control reduces risks such as fungus in soil spreading diseases or a lack of sunlight leading to smaller plants. When you grow plants in a field, there’s always a little bit of luck involved in getting a good yield. With hydroponics, it’s completely in your hands.

What Are the Advantages of a Hydroponics System?

Now we’ve taken a look at what hydroponics is, it’s time to get into the really fun part; the benefits! There are a whole bunch of advantages to going soil-free that make it a no-brainer. For example, when you know what you’re doing you can increase your crop production by 3-10 times, growing a lot more in the same amount of space. This is good news to both farmers and home-growers!

You also don’t need to use any chemical pest control when using a hydroponic system. This will save you money, is better for the planet, and will produce fresher, higher-quality plants. You can also grow what you want, where you want. If you have a deep desire to grow bananas in the arctic, you can!

Crops grown in hydroponic systems also grow faster, have higher nutritional values, and use water much more efficiently. In fact, you could use around 70-90% less water than in soil and still grow stronger and healthier plants. 

So, what are the advantages of a hydroponics system? In summary, you get better plants, use fewer resources, and help save the planet. When you see it like that, it’s pretty obvious why it’s the better method!

What Do You Need to Start a Hydroponics System?

Before getting into where to buy equipment for a hydroponics system, it’s a good idea to know what you need. There are three basic elements to a hydroponic setup:

• Growing media - these are used instead of soil to anchor your crops and retain moisture and nutrients
• Air stones and air pumps - these aerate the water so your plant doesn’t drown
• Net pots - these are planters made of mesh that allow the roots of your crops to grow out the side and bottoms, allowing for better exposure to nutrients

Once you have these sorted, you can start growing your crops! It’s as easy as that (kind of). 

Where to Buy Equipment for a Hydroponics System?

It’s important to buy all of your hydroponics equipment from a reputable supplier to make sure you get the best quality gear. Substandard equipment will lead to substandard crops, which nobody wants! For a supplier, you can trust, check out our range at Genesis Hydro.

We stock everything you need to set up your own hydroponics system and only stock products that we ourselves would use. Our team are experts in all things hydroponics, too, so if you ever need any help picking out the right gear, you can just ask us! We love helping budding hydroponic-growers get their system started. 

Be sure to take a look at our full range of products. We also have useful categories to make finding what you’re looking for that little bit easier. 

Keep up With the News

If you’ve been won over by the idea of hydroponics (good choice) then make sure to find out more about Genesis Hydro. You can also follow us on social media to keep up with the latest industry news and get tips and tricks on creating your own system. When it comes to hydroponics, we’re the experts.