There is a lot that farmers deal with daily. There’s the struggle with soil erosion, the aspect of massive water consumption, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. So, what can farmers do to reduce these struggles? For many people, it’s making the switch to a different form of farming—hydroponic farming. Today, we’ll discuss some of the key benefits of hydroponic farming so that you can see just how advantageous this switch can be your farming practice and yields. Check it out!
Saves Space
When you farm in soil, your plants need to spread their roots to find water and nutrients. Simply to survive, plants expand their roots and take up quite a bit of space. This is where proper plant distancing techniques are imperative to success, but that can also be quite inhibiting. Hydroponic systems, on the other hand, give water and nutrients straight to the roots, so they don’t need to worry about spreading. Less spreading, more space!
Conserves Water
To grasp this concept, let’s think about this on a smaller scale. Think about a little backyard garden and how much water even that small number of plants needs. Sure, home gardeners may not know as much about how much water their plants need in comparison to farmers, but it goes to show how much water is wasted. When water is given to the top of the plants, has to make its way down into the soil, and then make its way to the roots, a lot of water is lost.
With hydroponic systems, water is delivered in a controlled way. You can save close to ten times as much water when you switch this farming method.
Faster Plant Growth
Because important water and nutrients are delivered straight to the roots, the plants grow faster. Rather than having to battle the soil to obtain water and nutrients to grow, these systems give the plants what they need, right away. Depending on the plant (leafy greens and thirsty fruits especially), the plants grown in hydroponic systems grow 30 to 50 percent faster than those grown in soil.
Allows for Indoor Farming
What’s better than getting the opportunity to grow produce throughout the year, even in the winter? Growing year-round is just one of the many advantages of indoor farming. There’s also the fact that farmers get to control temperature and climate while reducing the chances of pests and other environmental problems. When you have near-perfect growing conditions, you grow stronger plants faster, which means bigger yields for you.
No Soil Erosion
Think about it this way—no soil, no erosion. It’s as simple as that. In fact, it’s quite important that we reduce the chances of soil erosion—field agricultural practices have eroded half of the planet’s topsoil in the last 150 years. This leads to increased pollution, sedimentation in streams and rivers, and so much more. Switching to a no-soil option like hydroponics is the way to go!
Remember, these are just a few of the many benefits of hydroponic farming. The more research you do, the more you’ll see the various ways this farming method can work for you. Once you’ve decided that hydroponics is the best for you, turn to FloraFlex. We have all the supplies you need to get started, from growing medium to organic hydroponic fertilizer. Shop with us!
