Hydroponics is not just an innovative method of growing without soil: it is a technology destined to transform the way we produce food forever.
This blog was created precisely to tell you-step by step, from the basic level to the most advanced concepts-everything you need to understand it, use it, and get the most value out of it, whether you are an enthusiast, a professional, or a researcher.
In this first article we start with the basics: what hydroponics is and why it works so well.
Hydroponics is a growing system in which plants grow without soil, with their roots immersed in a balanced nutrient solution that contains everything they need: water, macro- and micronutrients, and oxygen.
Instead of soil, an inert substrate (such as coco, perlite, rockwool or technical fabrics) is used that supports the plant but does not intervene in nutrition.
All "fertility" is precisely managed through water and nutrients.
It is a paradigm shift:
👉 you don't grow in soil, you grow in science and data.
Hydroponics is not "a fad," but a system based on very sound physical and biological principles. And it works better than traditional growing for at least four reasons:
The plant gets exactly what it needs, in the correct amount, always available.
Result: faster growth, almost no stress, higher quality.
Water circulates in a closed system and is reused.
Typical savings: -90% compared to growing in soil.
In nature, roots compete with microorganisms, salts, stones and unpredictable conditions.
In hydroponics everything is controlled, cleaned and optimized.
Hydroponics works everywhere, 365 days a year.
Whether you are in the city, in winter or in an area with poor soil, the result does not change.
From being a "laboratory" technology, today hydroponics has become a key component of:
home kitchens with automated mini-greenhouses
urban vertical farms
gourmet restaurants
advanced farms
research centers
specialized food production
And its spread grows every year because it offers something unique:
consistent, sustainable, superior quality crops independent of climate and global uncertainties.
We live at a time when hydroponics and vertical farming are moving from being "technologies for a few experts" to real tools for solving real problems: lack of arable land, supply chain crises, energy costs, and the need for local and sustainable food.
Our goal is to create the ultimate guide:
A place where anyone-novice or professional-can find clear, technical but accessible answers.
In future articles we will explore each topic, in ascending order of complexity:
how hydroponic systems work
what you can grow
how to manage nutrients, EC, pH
how to build or optimize a system
how to calculate density, costs, yields
all the way to the more advanced topics: sensors, AI, predictive models, tunable LEDs, multilayer simulations
This will be a progressive, comprehensive, and above all practical course.
Thank you for reading this article. Follow us for more insights on hydroponics, vertical farming and the future of smart agriculture.
Tomato+ Team