With rise in the population size the demand for food is also increasing. Hydroponics is the technique of growing plants without soil by using water solvent which consists of mineral nutrient. This hydroponic grow media system is perfect solution for growing plants in limited space. Hydroponics, in its most basic definition is a production method where the plants are grown in a nutrient solution rather than in soil. Over the past few years, a number of variations to the basic system have been developed. Although it is possible to use hydroponics on outdoor crops, most of the production in the U.S. today is in greenhouses.

The greenhouse and its environment control system are the same whether plants are grown conventionally or with hydroponics. The difference comes from the support system and the method of supplying water and nutrients.

Advantages of Hydroponic Grow Media

1. Greater plant density - plants can be moved as they grow. Use of a growth room for germination and seedling production and the spacing of certain crops in the greenhouse decreases the average area needed per plant over conventional soil production.

2. Higher yields - Reports of higher yields and better quality are common although equal yields should be able to be obtained from a conventional cropping system.

3. Less water consumption - In methods where the root system is contained in a closed trough or tube, less evaporation occurs and water consumption is reduced.

Crops

Although almost any crop can be grown hydroponically, the most common are leaf lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, strawberries, watercress, celery and some herbs. One key factor in system design for a particular crop is how it is supported in the nutrient solution.

Hydroponic Grow Media Systems

Many innovative systems have been developed that replace the traditional gravel filled bed. When evaluating the type of system to install, consideration should be given to such factors as the type of crop grown, space requirements, growing time, support system and economics. These systems can be set up in either a greenhouse or growth room. Some growers use both; the growth room for germination and seedling production and the greenhouse to grow out the crop. The extra heat from the growth room lights may be used to heat the greenhouse.