Blog - AHA Gardening

There’s nothing like a sweet, ripe, juicy strawberry freshly picked from the vine. If someone were to ask me in the past about how strawberries are grown, I would have almost reflexively replied with: “In dirt of course!” Yet, soil is not the only medium used to grow fruits and vegetables. There are alternatives to soil, such as reusable hydroponic growing medium, which offer many benefits over the traditional way of growing food. What are the different types of reusable hydroponic growing media? The different types of reusable hydroponic growing media include clay pebbles (hydroton), perlite, peat moss, and coco coir. These methods do not use soil to grow food; rather, they use mineral nutrient solutions in a water solvent. While these methods may sound intriguing, it makes sense for one to wonder why they could (and should) resort to these alternatives rather than sticking to the soil. The reason lies in the many benefits of using reusable hydroponic methods, including environmental, conservational, and sustainability reasons. What Are the Different Types of Reusable Hydroponic Growing Media? As mentioned, there are a number of different growing media using reusable hydroponic methods. These methods can vary in their precise uses and benefits. The four most commonly utilized reusable hydroponic systems are: 1. Clay Pebbles Clay pebbles are widely used in the hydroponics world. They are filled with tiny air pockets, which gives them ample drainage. This method is best for systems that utilize more frequent watering. Clay pebbles do not retain water very well, so this may not be the best idea if you are mostly looking to spread out your watering. Though this method still uses less water than conventional soil, it is not the most conservationist option among the hydroponic media. 2. Perlite Perlite is another commonly used hydroponics method. Perlite is great for wick-like hydroponic systems and can be a great soil additive as well. This method is also not the greatest when it comes to water retention, so it is important to keep that in mind, once again, depending on your maintenance style and preference. 3. Peat moss Unlike the last two methods, peat moss is highly absorbent and utilizes long strands of sponge-like material to retain large amounts of water. This allows for less frequent watering of the plants. The downside to this system is that it is not as long-lasting as the other two and tends to decompose over time. Depending on your preferences, this may be an ideal method if you are looking to change out peat moss a bit more frequently while utilizing less water overall. 4. Coco coir Coco coir is considered the first completely “organic” hydroponic method. Not only can coco coir retain water, but it also retains oxygen very well. Some research has even shown that coco noir has insect repellent properties. This method is becoming increasingly popular worldwide, as it has many simultaneous benefits. How Do Hydroponic Growing Media Work? Hydroponic media must utilize both oxygen and water in order to function properly and provide the best environment for plants to grow. Since soil is not included in the process, this method requires the plants’ roots to have direct access to water, oxygen, and the nutrients they need in order to provide the most optimal environment for their growth and sustainability. What Are The Benefits of Using Hydroponics Over Soil? As previously mentioned, utilizing the hydroponic medium to grow food is beneficial in various ways. This method benefits the environment, enforces conservation, encourages sustainability, and is increasingly becoming a preferred alternative to the traditional method of soil for various reasons. Which Hydroponic Growing Medium Is Best? All of the reusable hydroponic growing media mentioned are effective at creating sustainable, efficient, environmental-friendly growth of food. The coco coir medium is starting to become one of the most highly regarded hydroponic methods globally, due to its benefits outweighing its cons. This is an option many are turning to. Some people like to experiment with different options before choosing to stick with one. Others like to switch between methods, depending on the outcomes, the food grown, and the approaches themselves. It is really up to you--have fun with it. Do you have any other medium you like to you? Let me know in the comments!