Hydroponics Growing Mediums

What is a Growing Medium for Hydroponics?

Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil. Nutrients are delivered through water, and the roots are supported in a growing medium. Since the roots are bathed continuously in essential nutrients, plants grown hydroponically use less energy expanding their root system and dedicate more energy to growing upward and producing a greater yield.

It’s crucial for hydroponic gardeners to choose an effective growing medium for this type of system. There’s no single winner in this category that can be considered the best hydro grow medium of all, as there are many factors that influence this choice. The best medium for hydroponics is based upon the scale, location, and design of your individual garden.

Types of Hydroponic Growing Mediums

There are several common hydroponic growing mediums that you should consider as you’re planning your garden:

Coco Coir

Coco coir is a byproduct of the coconut industry that’s made from the outer husk of coconuts. Nature designed the material to protect the coconut seed from sun and salt and help the coconut germinate. This medium is ideal for hydroponics because it is:

Naturally antifungal.
Highly absorptive while offering aeration.
Able to last for years.
Biodegradable.
Renewable.
High in potassium.

Expanded Clay Pellets

As the name suggests, expanded clay pellets are formed by allowing clay to expand into porous balls. The spherical shape is designed to balance aeration and water retention. They provide good drainage, but they require frequent irrigation. These pellets are:

Reusable.
Sustainable.
Neutral in pH.
Lightweight.

Perlite

People typically use perlite to aerate the soil in traditional gardens. In hydroponics, it’s a helpful addition to other mediums like vermiculite or coco coir. Alone, it will easily wash away, but in the proper blend, it contributes to air retention. Perlite is:

Reusable.
Lightweight.
Neutral in pH.
Absorptive.

Vermiculite

Like perlite, hydroponic gardeners usually mix vermiculite with other materials. In the perlite vs. vermiculite hydroponics battle, you’ll find that vermiculite helps retain water, while perlite is better for draining it. Choose your medium blend carefully to get the proper balance. A vermiculite hydroponics medium is:

Sterile.
Nearly neutral in pH.
Lightweight.

Gravel

Gravel is comprised of small rocks, which makes it a cheap and easily obtainable growing medium. Though it drains well, it does not retain water effectively. Gravel is:

Inexpensive.
Easily cleaned.
Heavy.
Difficult to reuse because roots get tangled.
Susceptible to causing pH swings.

Rockwool

Rockwool is made from melted rock spun into long fibers. These fibers are formed into cubes that you can use as a growing medium. Rockwool is not sustainable or biodegradable, which is an important consideration if you want an eco-friendly garden. Rockwool is:

High in pH.
Sterile.
Reusable.

Peat Moss

Peat moss is created through the long decomposition process that takes place in peat bogs. It takes thousands of years for peat moss to form, so some argue that it’s not renewable. However, sustainable practices in Canada harvest 60 times less peat moss than what accumulates each year. Peat moss is:

Acidic with a low pH.
Free of weeds and harmful bacteria.
Good at retaining water and nutrients.

Rice Hulls

Rice hulls are a natural byproduct of the rice industry. They must be parboiled to ensure that they’re clean, dry, and free from weed seeds and microorganisms. Rice hulls drain well and are:

Organic.
Biodegradable.
Often acidic.

Sand

Sand is an affordable growing medium that works well as a starter. However, it’s heavy and may cause blockages in some hydroponic systems. You must clean this medium before use and sterilize it often. Sand is:

Available in different sizes.
Budget-friendly.

Sawdust

A byproduct of sawmills, sawdust is often easy to find. It can come from any type of wood, so you should do your research to make sure you don’t use sawdust from wood that’s contaminated or chemically treated. Sawdust is:

Organic.
Sustainable.
Not pH neutral.
Susceptible to bacteria.
Biodegradable.

Wood Chips

Wood chips come from wood, so they have many of the same characteristics as sawdust. You need to make sure that they’re not from contaminated wood or western red cedar, which is toxic for your plants. You can find wood chips in different sizes to assist with drainage as needed. Wood chips are:

Biodegradable.
Organic.
Susceptible to pests and fungi.

How to Choose the Best Hydro Medium

As you can see, each hydroponics growing medium has its own strengths and weaknesses. It’s difficult to find one medium that does it all, which is why so many growers use a combination of mediums. The goal of any growing medium is to ensure that the plant roots have adequate water and aeration. They must be able to soak up nutrients without suffocating and suffering from rot.

Evaluate the needs of your plants as well as the functionality of your hydroponic system. Here are a few situational examples:

If you have an ebb and flow system, you want a medium with high water-holding capacity.
A deep water culture system works best with a quick-draining medium.
In a drip system with highly controlled water intake, coco coir will shine because it holds both air and water well.

If you find that your medium is holding too much water, mix in something that will improve drainage, like perlite. Likewise, you can balance a system that drains too quickly with something like vermiculite that will retain more water. With experimentation and mindful adjustments, you can develop your own custom growing medium blend that’s ideal for your garden’s conditions.

Hydroponic gardening allows you to grow plants year-round in a variety of climates while eliminating weeds and other pests. With the right growing medium, this is an excellent way to boost your harvest and get the most from every plant you grow.