Is Hydroponic Gardening Right for You?

Credit Karen.Simon

As someone who makes healthy eating a priority, you already know that organic foods are better for you than those that are conventionally grown. However, you might not know about how good hydroponic gardening can be for you, as well.

Hydroponic gardening is a system of growing produce that eliminates soil and instead concentrates nutrients through a watering system. Hydroponic plants can be grown in water, gravel, sand or even the air. Whether you are growing your own hydroponic garden or you are shopping for plants grown in this system, there are many benefits of choosing foods that have been grown in a hydroponic garden. Here are a few of them:

More Nutrients

When soil is eliminated, plants are able to get more of their nutrients directly. Fewer nutrients are lost or filtered through the soil, and more are used by the plant itself. This results in a healthier plant, and one that has more nutrients when you eat it.

Bigger Yields

Because hydroponic plants receive more nutrients, they are able to grow stronger and bigger. That means that you get higher yields. You get fruits and vegetables that are larger, leaves that are broader and roots that are more hardy.

Fewer Pests

Many pests that plague gardens live in the soil in which the plants grow. When you remove the soil, you remove the pests. When there are no pests, there is no reason to use toxic pesticides and other chemicals that make your produce unhealthy and dangerous to eat.

Removing the soil also eliminates the risk of soil-borne diseases, which can cause acute health problems.

Environmental Benefits

Traditional gardening wastes a large amount of water, which is absorbed and lost in the soil before it gets to the plants. Water can also be lost through runoff and evaporation. With hydroponic gardening, all the water is applied directly to the plants, helping to save valuable natural resources.

Of course, eliminating the need for pesticides and other chemicals, you also reduce the amount of toxic materials that are being released into the environment. All of these benefits help the environment as much as they do your diet.

Hydroponic gardening offers a number of benefits for both the environment and for your health. You can get plants that are larger, more vibrant, and more nutritious, and in the meantime, also grow them in a way that is sustainable and eco-friendly. You can choose to purchase hydroponic produce from farmer’s markets and cooperatives, or you can choose to grow them yourself. Either way, you will reap the benefits.

Do you grow your own hydroponic garden? Share your experiences with it and how it has helped you to make your diet more healthy in the comments!

About the Author:

Bridget Sandorford is a freelance food and culinary writer, where recently she’s been researching schools like the Memphis Culinary Academy. In her spare time, she enjoys biking, painting and working on her first cookbook.