Hydroponic gardening involves growing plants in water without the use of soil. Gardeners use a medium, such as sand, to stabilize the roots and then add nutrient and mineral blends into the water to help the plant grow. Hydroponic gardening allows homeowners to grow their own fresh herbs year-round and provides a number of advantages over traditional, soil-based planting.
Accessibility
Hydroponic gardening makes fresh herbs and other plants accessible to a much wider population than soil-based planting. Apartment-dwellers and people living in urban areas without access to green spaces can grow herbs indoors using a hydroponic system. Hydroponics also allows those with unsuitable soils or extreme climate conditions to produce their own herbs and vegetables. Unlike gardens, which require weeding and maintenance, hydroponic systems require relatively little care.
Higher Yield
Many traditional gardens fall victim to pests, groundhogs, flooding or droughts. Even the most skilled gardener can maintain a garden perfectly and still end up with a dismal crop yield due to external conditions. Because hydroponic herb gardens grow indoors, they're protected from weather, pests and other annoyances. This controlled environment makes fresh herbs accessible throughout the year and allows people to plant at their convenience, not just within the confines of a designated planting season.
Healthier Herbs
According to the University of Southern Mississippi's Office of Sustainability, hydroponic herb gardens produce healthier, better tasting herbs that stay fresh longer than those grown outdoors. These herbs offer a healthier appearance and contain greater concentrations of vitamins and nutrients than store-bought products. Hydroponic herbs are also free of chemical pesticides and fertilizers that farmers and gardeners often use in traditional farming.
Environmental Impact
Growing herbs indoors reduces soil erosion compared to outdoor gardening. It also eliminates the use of pesticides and fertilizers, both of which pose dangers to health and the environment. The chemicals in these products contribute to air and water pollution, and may even have an impact on greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. By steering clear of these chemicals, you help protect birds, bees and other wildlife from potential health effects. Fewer pesticides also means that native or natural plant species are able to thrive in your yard.
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