4 Most Common Grow Medium Hydroponics Plus Their Pros & Cons

Generally, whenever we hear about hydroponics gardening, it is always stereotyped that water is used in such form of gardening. But, have you ever wondered about what other kinds of grow medium hydroponics can be used while doing indoor plantation? If not, then you will be surprised to hear that hydroponics gardening can be done by numerous mediums that provide the necessary growth conditions as well as nutrients to the plants grown within the growbox. Out of all the possible mediums that can be used in indoor gardening, the top four common ones have been listed below:


Type 1: Perlite

Perlite is a form of volcanic rock that consists of silica. Though it is available in different sizes; yet, it is only used for cutting in – which means that perlite is only used to grow the seedlings or cuttings upto a certain height. Once the plants grow upto a specific height, they are transferred into some other form of growing medium so as to facilitate the required amount of nutrients.

Pros
  • Low density material
  • Cost effective
  • Good water retaining power, which makes it perfect for potted plants
  • Combines easily with even dense substrates
  • Great drainage quality
  • Perfect for seeds & cuttings
Cons
  • Not good for flow systems because as its weight is too low, it cannot stay strong during flow periods
  • Cannot support heavier plants adequately

Type 2: Palm Peat aka Coco aka Coconut Coir

As the name clarifies it a bit, this kind of medium is formed using the outer shell of coconut. When the entire fruit is extracted from the coconut, the outer shell is treated within the factories and formed into a brick shaped peat. This peat is perfect for providing good support system to even the heavier plants. And, surprisingly, this peat has mind boggling absorption powers. Once it is submerged into water, it can expand upto 6-8 times its actual size. This tendency of palm peat makes it a perfect grow medium hydroponics for plants to expand their roots and grow with sturdier support underneath.

Pros
  • Awesome water retention power
  • Allows air to move to the entire plant
  • Environment-friendly medium
  • Cost-effective
  • Combines well with different substrates to form wonderful grow mediums
  • Has natural anti-fungal tendencies, which ensure additional benefits to the plants
  • Has attributes similar to that of natural soil
  • Suitable for drip systems
Cons
  • Poor drainage of water
  • Can be reused for very less number of times
  • Not good for flow systems

Type 3: Leca/Clay Balls

These are the balls formed by firing the clay and hardening it into specific shape. As they do not have any nutritional value, they do not hinder the effect of artificial nutrients added into grow medium hydroponics.

Pros
  • Can be acquired in different sizes, which makes it perfect for even denser plants
  • Can be easily washed and rinsed off using just hydrogen peroxide, vinegar or chlorine solutions, rather than using harsh chemical solutions available in the marketplace that require rinsing off even after cleaning
  • Inexpensive
  • Awesome drainage properties
  • Light, but do not float away easily
  • Hold moisture really well
Cons
  • Not as good water retention power as coco peat
  • Roots can penetrate through the balls if washed over and over again

Type 4: Rock Wool


Rock Wool is made by separating the rock into its mineral compounds and then spinning it over to form rock fibers. Its texture is similar to that of glass fiber and is mainly bought in brick or slab form.

Pros
  • Does not interact with other nutrients added into the hydroponics system
  • Good water retention power
  • Great drainage benefits
  • Provides some air circulation
  • Makes it easy for plants to take up nutrients
  • Holds structure even for extended periods of time
Cons
  • Some variants of rock wool are made using slag, which have metal content that is not good for plants
  • Not environment-friendly, because it is man-made
  • Difficult to destroy. Even if it is buried inside land, it takes ages to decompose
Being similar to glass fibers, it can be carcinogenic, which makes it dangerous for lungs. However, if you still need to use this grow medium hydroponics, you need to wear mask while working with it and submerge it into water in order to reduce the fiber problem.
Location: Poland

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