Hydroponic Plants: An Introduction
Soil is a necessity for growing healthy plants, right? In the case of hydroponics, that’s not quite true. This growing system uses only water for plant cultivation. It’s often used in agricultural settings, but you can also apply the same principles for houseplants.
Hydroponics systems can vary considerably. What they all have in common is that they use a liquid fertilizer or water-soluble powder that’s dissolved into water to deliver food and oxygen directly to plant roots.
The system itself might include dozens of plants or consist of a single container. Some hydroponics systems have plants suspended in water continuously, while others anchor them in a growing substrate (rocks, net pots, or other material) that water floods or drips into at predetermined intervals.
The Benefits of Hydroponics
Why grow plants without soil in the first place? To start, it’s a way to encourage faster growth while cutting down on soilborne disease problems. Plant roots absorb nutrients faster from water, leading to truly robust growth.
You can also use hydroponics to propagate cuttings from existing plants. Once roots start to form in the water, you can transplant the cuttings into potting soil.
What Plants Can I Grow Hydroponically?
Not all houseplants do well with hydroponics. The right species need to have relatively small root systems and don’t produce long vines. Some plants that tend to thrive include peace lilies, Chinese money plants, philodendrons, coleus, lucky bamboo, and spider plants. However, home-scale hydroponics is most often used for herbs and vegetables.
Consider getting started with a hydroponics system in your kitchen to grow fresh herbs and salad greens for dinner. These plants are frequently harvested, giving you a chance to continue perfecting your growing skills as you start over with a new batch.
It’s easiest to invest in a home hydroponics growing system (especially if starting from seed). However, if you’re using cuttings, it’s also possible to use whatever containers you already have on hand. Choose a shape that allows the plant to stand upright, such as a vase or bottle. Clear glass is the traditional choice, although opaque containers are less likely to grow algae.
Ideally, you want to use well water or rainwater. If tap is the only option, let it sit overnight so that the chlorine and other chemicals dissipate. Move the plant to a sunnier location, and change the water every few days to keep it fresh. You should start noticing root growth within a few weeks.
At this time you can keep the plants in water or transplant them to potting soil if you prefer.
