Hydroponic gardening (growing plants without soil) is a growing but highly misunderstood practice. Some view it with suspicion since they associate it with growing illegal plants; some see it as a deceptive science; some see it merely as a novel-but-expensive hobby. In reality, however, hydroponics is a system that several hobbyists, gardeners, farmers and even nations use to grow strong and healthy plants. To clear things up, let's look at the common misconceptions.
One of the most common misconceptions is that hydroponic gardens are typically used to grow certain controlled substances in secret growing rooms. Internet search results about hydroponics often reinforce the idea that hydroponics and illegal activity are connected. But that is primarily because those dispensing that information know how to use the Internet-not because every hydroponic garden is an illegal one. In fact, illegal growing comprises a tiny percentage of hydroponic gardening in general. A large number of plants and vegetables do very well in hydroponic settings, and there are many good, honest gardeners using hydroponics to do just that. In fact, countries such as Canada and Holland are using hydroponics to grow food on a large scale. Thus, saying that hydroponics is bad because of its association with illegal substances is the same as saying that soil is bad. Farming is farming; hydroponics is simply an alternate method.
Another fallacy is that hydroponic gardening is artificial and unnatural simply because it bypasses the need for soil. If these people knew better, however, they'd realize that the practice involves no chemical or genetic manipulations and natural processes are not interrupted. The natural elements are supplied to the plants - light, nutrients, water - as is the case when they are planted in soil. In hydroponics, on the other hand, soil is replaced by other root-anchoring methods and nutrients, light and water are provided in ways that would optimize health and growth. Hydroponic plants, in fact, can be healthier and stronger than those grown conventionally-and without the use of additives. While the process is made more complicated, the result remains: the natural production of plants and food.
Thirdly, others believe of hydroponics as a useless, costly pastime. True, it is a fun pastime (and more often than not, a growing business), but this practice is nowhere near useless. With hydroponics, growing plants and food in almost any environment becomes a possibility - regardless if it's winter, in the polar regions, in contaminated soils and even in space. Hydroponics can improve the quality and yield of food-bearing plants, potentially making food more readily available to third-world countries and regions where famine has taken hold.
Indeed, there's more to hydroponic gardening than what meets the eye - it is way bigger than just an extravagant hobby, an unnatural process, and a hub for illegal substances.
This article was added on Monday 28 December, 2009.
