Hydroponics

The word hydroponic comes from the greek words “hydro“: water and “ponos”: work and is a technique of plant growing where you use a watery solution that consists of mineral nutrients instead of soil. This way soil plants can either grow by having their roots partially submerged in a solution containing nutrients or in an inactive medium like perlite, gravel, mineral wool or coconut husks.



During the 19th century researchers discovered that plants absorb essential mineral nutrients as anorganic ions in water. Under natural circumstances soil functions as reservoir for mineral nutrients, but it is not required for plant growth. When the mineral nutrients of the soil dissolve in water, the plants´ roots can absorb these nutrients. If the necessary mineral nutrients will be induced artificially, then soil isn´t necessary for the plant growth anymore. Almost every soil plant thrives by use of the method of hydroponics. In addition, hydroponics is a standart technique of the studies and science of biology.