Unlike the insulation grade, horticultural Rockwool is pressed into growing cubes and blocks. There is now a horticultural grade of Rockwool. Rockwool was originally used in construction as insulation. Rockwool has become an extremely popular growing medium. These grow rocks are very stable and rarely effect the pH of the nutrient solution. Both types of grow rocks can be reused, although the shale has more of a tendency to break down and may not last as long as the Hydrocorn. It is a light, airy type of growing medium that allows plenty of oxygen to penetrate the plant's root system. Hydrocorn is a light expanded clay aggregate. A fast draining medium, such as Hydrocorn or expanded shale works well in an ebb and flow type system. Different growing mediums work well in different types of hydroponic systems.
The purpose of a growing medium is to aerate and support the root system of the plant and to channel the water and nutrients.
Although, if agricultural trends continue to erode topsoil and waste water, hydroponics may soon be our only solution. Since hydroponic gardening systems use no topsoil, topsoil erosion isn't even an issue. Due to lack of necessity, fewer pesticides are used on hydroponic crops. Hydroponic gardening uses considerably less water than soil gardening, because of the constant reuse the nutrient solutions. Hydroponic gardening also offers several benefits to our environment. In general, plants grown hydroponically are healthier and happier plants. Hydroponic plants also have fewer problems with bug infestations, funguses and disease. The plant then uses this saved energy to grow faster and to produce more fruit. The hydroponic plant requires very little energy to find and break down food. Those nutrients are being delivered to the plant several times per day. The plant does not have to search in the soil for the nutrients that it requires. The nutrients in a hydroponic system are mixed with the water and sent directly to the root system. Plants with ample oxygen in the root system also absorb nutrients faster. The extra oxygen in the hydroponic growing mediums helps to stimulate root growth. Scientists believe that there are several reasons for the drastic differences between hydroponic and soil plants. The growth rate on a hydroponic plant is 30-50 percent faster than a soil plant, grown under the same conditions. Hydroponics is proved to have several advantages over soil gardening. Since then other countries, such as Holland, Germany, and Australia have used hydroponics for crop production with amazing results. Scientists started experimenting with soil less gardening around 1950.
The hanging Gardens of Babylon and The Floating Gardens of China are two of the earliest examples of hydroponics. The concept of soil less gardening or hydroponics has been around for thousands of years. The word hydroponics comes from two Greek words, "hydro" meaning water and "ponics" meaning labor.
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