Hydroponic growth of plants offers some notable advantages, especially the degree of control exercised by the cultivator in order to obtain quality production from plant species of his/her choice. In addition plants grown hydroponically are mostly safe from various pests and diseases that affect plants grown in soil.  Still, there are certain hydroponic disadvantages that a cultivator must know before starting with hydroponic gardening. Some of the main hydroponic disadvantages are listed here.

High Setup Cost And Time

The most conspicuous of all the hydroponic disadvantages is the high cost of setting up a hydroponic system of growth. The equipment required for hydroponic cultivation is fairly expensive as compared to that required in the traditional process of growing crops in soil. Also, setting up a hydroponic garden demands significantly more time than that spent in cultivating plants in soil.

Care And Maintenance

Caring for hydroponic plants is more difficult and must be done on a frequent basis, mostly on a daily basis. The maintenance of hydroponic systems also demands more time and effort than conventional forms of cultivation. Passive hydroponic systems are comparatively easier to maintain and are less costly than active hydroponic systems, and hence are recommended for beginners.

Steady Supply Of Power

One of the hydroponic disadvantages is the need to provide a steady supply of power to the system so as to keep the lighting, nutrient supply, and other power-operated elements running. In case of power interruption, a back up power source (like a battery) will be required for lighting and often times the cultivator needs to water the plants manually.

Technical Knowledge

An often overlooked disadvantage of hydroponic cultivation is the degree of technical knowledge of the hydroponic system. The healthy growth of plants and their maximal production depends intimately on the cultivator’s knowledge of the exact proportion of various elements that keep the plants growing normally. This includes knowledge of the right kind of nutrients and their adequate amounts for various kinds of plants, the best kind and optimum level of lighting provided in various stages of the growth of plants, and so on.

Diseases

Growing plants hydroponically does not mean that they are safe from all kinds of plant diseases. While hydroponic plants are fairly free from soil-borne diseases and pests, water-borne diseases do affect these plants, especially in a series of gardens that share water and nutrient solutions.

Limitations On Plant Variety

Another one of the less conspicuous hydroponic disadvantages is the limitation on the variety of plants that can be grown hydroponically. While most plants can theoretically be grown in hydroponic systems, practically it is very difficult to grow certain varieties of plants, like strawberries, watermelons, and squash.

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