Growing Mediums in a Hydroponic System

A growing medium is simply a medium in which the plant grows. Most people believe that soil is the only growing medium for plants. But that is not true. In a hydroponic system, a growing medium, other than soil, nourishes the plant and provides support and stability.

An important principle behind hydroponics is that plants take in only the required nutrients at the right time. This is only possible when you use a growing medium such as coconut fiber and rockwool, for example. A growing medium allows you to add the correct amount of nutrients and also monitor the pH in a hydroponic system. In addition, using a growing medium other than soil has several advantages that include:

• Prevention of root infestations

• Retention of adequate oxygen and water

• Increased aeration and draining

Choosing the right growing medium for your hydroponic system can be tricky. It depends on a variety of factors such as the plant type, the environment, size of hydroponic garden, etc. Before deciding on the growing medium, understand what your purpose is, and then evaluate different growing mediums to see if they meet your needs.

There is a huge variety of growing mediums available for a hydroponic garden. Some are natural in origin while others are artificially prepared. Often, hydroponic enthusiasts combine two or more growing mediums for added benefit. Here are the most popular growing mediums.

Coco coir fiber

Also known as coconut fiber, coco coir fiber is a popular growing medium for hydroponic systems. It is prepared from the husk of coconuts. It has good oxygen and water retention.

Rockwool

Rockwool is an artificial mineral fiber made by spinning melted rock into fibers of different shapes and sizes. Rockwool helps in retaining the right amount of water and also has good drainage properties.

Perlite

Hydroponics experts throughout the world use perlite as a growing medium in their hydroponic systems. Perlite is a volcanic glass that holds sufficient levels of oxygen and water.

Vermiculite

Like perlite, vermiculite is another material that expands when heated. The problem with vermiculite is that it holds too much water, which may not be good for certain plants in your hydroponic garden. Vermiculite is often used in combination with other growing mediums in a hydroponic system.

Expanded clay

Expanded clay is a common growing medium used in indoor hydroponic systems. The water holding capacity of expanded clay is low but it provides excellent aeration to the plant.

Know more about hydroponic growing mediums.