Hydroponics is usually regarded as either a product of the 20th century or a product of ancient civilizations. So which is true? Neither, actually. There is evidence that both the Aztecs and the Babylonians may have used hydroponic growing systems, but there is no evidence that either of these systems was culturally-borrowed or passed on to successive generations. Rather, it appears that knowledge of the hydroponics system faded away until it was rediscovered in the early 1900s by scientists looking to make farming more efficient.
Today, creating a hydroponics growing system entails implementing a high degree of controllability - using hydroponics gardening, hydroponics light, and hydroponics equipment, rather than natural systems, which are eminently harder to control.
Today, creating a hydroponics growing system entails implementing a high degree of controllability - using hydroponics gardening, hydroponics light, and hydroponics equipment, rather than natural systems, which are eminently harder to control.
Hydroponic gardening today usually requires that a farmer purchase wholesale hydroponics nutrients and hydroponics equipment - and then assemble them in a system with a considerable amount of moving parts in a "hydroponics green house." Some systems will include large trays with spongy material to soak up water. Seeds will then be placed on the sponge, prompting the roots to move through a hole in the sponge to soak up the water.
While hydroponics cannot gain as high returns to scale as traditional tractor farming, since harvesting can't feasibly be done mechanically - and since growing requires massive structures and electrical inputs - hydroponics farmers can still reduce costs by purchasing discount hydroponics products in bulk. They can get at least some increased returns to scale, as the price of all building materials (as well as electricity use) is generally decreased for larger purchases.
Although hydroponic growing was created by the ancients, the science driving better techniques is still in its infancy when compared to large-scale outdoor farming techniques. Perhaps better technology and cheaper inputs will further reduce hydroponic growing in the future.
- Michalis "BIG Mike" Kotzakolios
