The 5 Pros and Cons of Hydroponics VS Soil for Growing Indoors
I originally started my indoor garden with potting soil, but after trying out hydroponics, I will never go back.
Today I will break down the pros and cons of growing with hydroponics and how easy it is to get started!
(Hint: The pros far outweigh the cons!)
This assumes you want to grow plants indoors and must choose between potting soil or hydroponics.
I’m not some faceless blog writer, I love participation so tell me below in the comments what type of vegetables you plan on growing with your hydroponic system!
Table of Contents
What are the 5 Pros and Cons of Hydroponics?
1. No soil
Potting Soil costs more than the liquid nutrient mix that the plant’s root lives in. Most potting soil also has no nutrients, so you must supply the soil with the correct amount.
(Never use dirt from outside for growing plants indoors in pots. It will become a compacted, disgusting mess full of bugs.)
You can easily overfertilize and make your plants bitter as I have before (yuck!).
You have to know the size of your container, how much potting soil is in it, when the last time you fertilized it, and use these calculations to get the correct amount of feed. The bottle told me to mix in the beads in the top 3rd of the soil, but there were big plants there that I did not want to disturb, that was a nightmare.
Testing soil is difficult, sometimes even requiring sending soil to a lab for accurate testing.
With hydroponics, you have full control of the nutrients you put into the water and can always give the best mix for your plants without question.
Hydroponics waste less material. Potting soil must be discarded after use because the organic plant material will corrupt the soil for future plants. Much waste can be generated if you grow short term crops like lettuce on a regular.
2. Good use of space
Hydroponics can be done in a small area like an apartment or even a kitchen window. Containers can be small because roots do not have to spread out to find nutrients.
Plants can be grown close together because multiple plants can share the same nutrient container. The containers that I use are either tall and skinny, or short and wide.
The Kratky method of hydroponics is the most efficient use of space if you do not have much to spare. This passive method only requires a container and net pot (the place where the plant sits.)
3. Better yield faster up to 30-50% faster
Because hydroponic use provides a lot of environmental controls such as humidity, temperature, air circulation, nutrient density, and type, the plants grow faster and use fewer resources.
Plants do not have to search for nutrients, it is all supplied directly to the roots. They can focus on growing up top, which is the most important part for us.
4. Less use of pesticide
Soil has a lot of issues in comparison to hydroponics. Gnats, grubs, and other root damaging insect problems are eliminated with hydroponics.
Gnats were the biggest reasons I switched to hydroponics. I started an indoor garden in my basement using potting soil at first.
Millions of gnats quickly infested the area regardless of what I did. I used gnat paper, apple cider pit traps, hydrogen peroxide, nothing worked. At most all these measures combined reduced the population, but if I stopped my attack on them, they would quickly resurface.
If you’re looking how to get rid of fungus gnats in your home or plants, then switching to hydroponic plants will 100% cure your problem without any gross ineffective home remedies.
I stopped seeing gnats within 3 weeks of getting rid of the soil and switching to hydroponics.
I’ve love growing outdoors, but I loathe weeding. I would spend hours on my knees plucking grass and weeds that are sure to come back in a few days or weeks.
Spraying them is out of the question because I grow and eat vegetables.
With hydroponics and good seeds, you will never have to worry about weeds because it is in a controlled environment.
5. Water savings
I always thought this was weird until I thought about it, but all water is used for growing and does not evaporate as much.
Most hydroponic systems are sealed systems that do not allow evaporation or drainage.
I never realized how much water is wasted watering potted plants. Either you need to topwater until it comes out the bottom, or bottom water and fill another container up with water and place that container into it and allow it to soak. Either way makes a mess and wastes a lot of water.
Disadvantages of Hydroponics
1. Water and electricity risks
We all know that electricity and water don’t mix well. At best, your equipment may fail if there is water intrusion, and at worst, you may suffer from a severe shock.
Make sure all equipment is grounded by checking to see if the plug is 3 pronged. Also, keep cords away from the water and off the ground a much as possible.
2. System failure
All hydroponic methods can have a system failure. If left unmonitored for extended periods, you may lose your crop due to complications.
Systems that require complex parts like pipes, valves, pumps, and air bubblers, need to be constantly monitored for issues. Usually, professional hydroponic growers have redundant systems that take over if one fails.
Passive growing systems like Kratky can fail if the container becomes empty and the roots can dry. Be sure to check the level of your water regularly.
All systems have algae problems. small amounts of algae are harmless but in large quantities, it can damage the plant and ruin the ph of your water. It also smells horrible.
3. Initial Investment
Certain hydroponic methods can be pricey. NFT(nutrient film technique) setups can cost over 2,000 dollars.
Luckily, you can start with as low as 100$ with the Kratky Method.
Plants in the same container can spread pests, diseases, or issues, quickly. You may have hundreds of plants running in the same system. For example, if the incorrect Ph is administered, then all plans in the system will be affected equally.
4. Does not scale well.
The bigger the system, the more challenging it is to maintain and use it.
Many issues can go wrong with a large system and often does. Pipes corrode or get mineral buildup, power may be lost, algae build up. You need constant monitoring on large scale hydroponics.
The staffing required to run a large-scale hydroponics system far outweighs traditional outdoor farming of the same scale.
5. More Knowledge required to start
Outdoor gardening is simple compared to hydroponics. Misunderstanding the basics of how your hydroponic systems works will result in crop failure.
It is just a little harder than throwing seeds on the ground and watering them whenever you remember.
You will need to know how to mix hydroponic nutrients, understand and adjust the PH of your water, how to select, and manage grow lights, and understand all the tools and materials necessary for working with hydroponics.
Don’t let these disadvantages hold you back! I grow with hydroponics and I love how low maintenance it is.
I can have vegetables on my table all year round in a simple, repeatable process of growing and harvesting.
The amount I get from just a few vegetables is amazing! I have to give a lot of it away because it is way more than my family can eat.
Is Hydroponically Grown Food Healthy?
Of course! Applying the same nutrients found in soil, hydroponically, would mean the plant is receiving the same food either way.
I looked up some tests and farmers say that the plants they grow hydroponically test similar or better to those found in soil.
If you grow without adding any nutrients to your solution, the plants won’t have the same added benefits or grow very well. Even then, they aren’t bad for your health.
Microgreen growers usually do not add nutrients to their soil or water. Seedlings do not need or use nutrients at the first stage of germination.
Both hydroponic and soil-grown vegetables are great for your health! The more you eat the better!
Environmental Benefits of Hydroponics?
The amount of chemicals needed are few with hydroponics because they are mostly grown in a controlled environment indoors or a greenhouse.
This allows weeds and pests to be controlled to a point where pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides are not necessary. Most pest issues happen with soil and not hydroponics.
70-90% less water is used with hydroponics. The majority of freshwater used today goes into the ground for farming. The more efficient we can be with our drinkable water, the better.
Less land is necessary per plant using hydroponic methods instead of traditional farming.
I personally grow vertically with several shelves with my hydroponic setup. I have 48 square feet of growing area in an 8’ by 2’ area, which is a huge amount of space with hydroponics. I can’t even use all the space yet.
What Can and Cannot Be Grown with Hydroponics?
Can all plants be grown hydroponically? Absolutely! All plants need water, nutrients, and plant stability or a place for their roots to take hold of. If you provide all three of these things without soil, the plant will still thrive.
However, certain plants are better suited to hydroponics than others.
Leafy greens like lettuce, kale, chard, and arugula tend to be the best and easiest because they grow fast, are compact plants, and no pollination is necessary.
Root crops like potatoes, carrots, and beets tend to be the hardest because of the accommodations necessary to make for the large root.
Vining plants are also difficult because most hydroponics is done indoors, and vining plants are generally large and take up a lot of space.
How to Get Started with Hydroponics?
Getting started with hydroponics is an easy process. I outline the process to start with the Kratky method and the beginners guide on what to grow hydroponically.
The hardest thing about hydroponics is getting started. There are so many methods to choose from and so much information out there.
Much of learning comes from doing! So, get out there and start growing! You will not regret it.
Hydroponics is a rewarding, relaxing, and the food you grow tastes great!
Tell me below what type of vegetables you plant on growing with your hydroponic system!
