It may seem like gardening is all the rage at the moment, and it is certainly true that it is a hobby that has become more popular in the mainstream over the past few years. In the past, gardening was generally seen as a hobby for older people, or those who have lots of time on their hands. Gardening is still extremely popular among this demographic, but it is being increasingly embraced by younger people too.
One of the main reasons why gardening is becoming popular among younger age groups is because it is becoming more accessible and easy. Gardening supply shops can be found everywhere from local retail parks to the internet, so it is much easier to get your hands on the necessary equipment than ever before.
Not only this, but advances in technology and plant science have given rise to cultivars that are easier to grow and are more reliable due to their ability to resist droughts, extreme temperatures and pests. Furthermore, modern cultivars often place a higher emphasis on bigger yields, so home gardeners can get a lot more bang for their buck.
One major factor that makes gardening impractical for many is a lack of outdoor space. Apartment living is popular and often the most affordable way to live, but it does mean that at most, apartment dwellers are limited to using a sunny windowsill or their balcony space to grow a garden. Others simply don’t have enough space outside their homes to dedicate to a productive garden, or don’t have suitable soil. This is where hydroponics can be a valuable tool.
Hydroponics is space efficient
You don’t need a lot of space for a hydroponics system and they come in all shapes and sizes to suit your space. From small countertop units to large, self contained tents, there is something for everyone. If you have always wanted to have a garden to grow your own produce then this can be the perfect option.
Hydroponics is cost effective
There can be no denying that you’ll need to put down at least a small investment to get your hands on a hydroponics kit, but generally speaking, it is more expensive to start an outdoor garden than an indoor one. Simple systems are extremely affordable with many costing less than £100, but more complex systems that include kit such as a grow room fan and <span style="text-decoration: underline;">grow room fan speed controller</span>, or a carbon filter will cost more.
WIth that said, once you have bought your kit and you are happy with it, the maintenance costs are pretty low. You may need to replace a grow light bulb every now and then, a very small increase to your electricity bill, and some fresh nutrients when you’ve used up your current supply. One of the best things about hydroponics is that, depending on what you’re growing, the kits very quickly pay for themselves.
Enjoy bigger yields with hydroponics
The promise of larger, healthier yields is something that attracts many people to try hydroponics. Water intensive plants do especially well in these systems, though you can grow pretty much anything in them. As you are able to fully control the growing environment, you can ensure the light levels, heat, humidity, nutrients and more are optimised for whatever species you have decided to grow. This leads to more productive plants, more flowers, more fruit and stronger foliage.
Hydroponics is low maintenance
If you have ever grown plants outdoors you’ll know that it takes a lot of hard work to stop your flower and veg beds from becoming overgrown with weeds and under attack from pests. This can amount to a lot of time spent removing unwanted species by hand, or applying potentially risky chemicals to manage their levels.
The very nature of hydroponics makes using this method extremely low maintenance and means you will spend minimal time tending to your plants. This is mostly because there is no soil in which pest plants can grow, and insects that usually reproduce in soil will be unable to do so. As a result, you will not need to worry about these aspects of maintaining your indoor garden and can get on with enjoying your plants as they grow and start producing a crop for you.
Resources:
- Loading comments...