Overview of Hydroponic Mediums

Although the traditional method of growing hydroponic plants involves suspending the roots in water, there are also other growing methods that use different types of hydroponic mediums instead.

Here are a few of the most widely used hydroponic mediums:

1. Vermiculite. This a great hydroponic medium because it has the ability to draw in water and nutrients to the roots of your plants – this circulation happens as a result of the vermiculite “pebbles” absorbing the nearby water. You can find vermiculite at most home and garden stores for a relatively low cost – perlite can also be used, as well.

2. Gravel or sand. If you’re looking for an easy, low cost way to get started with a hydroponic garden, then you may want to consider checking out sources of gravel or sand. The type of gravel used in a hydroponic system is the same aquarium-safe kind that you will readily find at a pet store – just make sure you choose the smaller pebbles. Sand is easily obtained at pet stores, pool supply stores, and hardware stores – just make sure you wash it well, and plan on cleaning it in between uses, as well. If you’re trying to decide between sand and gravel, go with the bag of gravel because it drains better than sand does.

3. Rock wool. If you’ve been researching how to make a hydroponic system, then you’re probably already familiar with the concept of using rock wool because it’s a very popular medium because it’s very efficient at circulating water and waste – another name for rock wool is mineral wool. However, it’s important to note that rock wool is classified as a potential carcinogen, meaning that it can cause cancer, which is one of the reasons that some hydroponic gardeners are reluctant to use it.

If you plan on using a hydroponic medium with your indoor garden plants, then you will need to make sure you still use a quality liquid fertilizer – just like you would if you were only growing them in a water suspension. None of the hydroponic mediums provide nutrients for your plants, and neglecting to add a fertilizer mixture will quickly kill them.