What is hydroponics?
Hydroponics is growing plants without soil. The plant roots can grow in moist or humid air, in water that has been oxygenated (extra oxygen is added to water), or in a solid, moist, non-soil medium such as crushed rock or sand. The plants actually live off of a nutrient solution that circulates past their roots in water. Hydroponics is a very efficient growth process because a small space can be used and nutrients are continuously recycled. We want the maximum crop yield in the minimum time so a new crop can be grown as soon as the old one is harvested.

 


What Is Aeroponics?
Aeroponics is an application of hydroponics without a growing medium, although a small amount may be used to germinate the seed or root a cutting. Plant roots are suspended mid-air inside a chamber kept at a 100% humidity level and fed with a fine spray of nutrient solution. This mid-air feeding allows the roots to absorb much needed oxygen, thereby increasing metabolism and rate of growth reportedly up to 10 times of that in soil. And there is nearly no water loss due to evaporation.


What is Soil?
soil - Soil is a natural body comprised of solids (minerals and organic matter), liquid, and gases that occurs on the land surface, occupies space, and is characterized by one or both of the following: horizons, or layers, that are distinguishable from the initial material as a result of additions, losses, transfers, and transformations of energy and matter or the ability to support rooted plants in a natural environment.

The upper limit of soil is the boundary between soil and air, shallow water, live plants, or plant materials that have not begun to decompose. Areas are not considered to have soil if the surface is permanently covered by water too deep (typically more than 2.5 meters) for the growth of rooted plants.