When we imagine city, the first thought that comes to mind is a crowded place filled with honking cars and tall skyscrapers creeping into the sky. Sadly, this is the truth of cities in so many places around the world as industrialization has led to cities populating at faster rates than the number of people and facilities that it can hold. This has led to many cities neglecting the environment and especially greenery. But what if there was a way to garden in an urban environment? 

Hydroponic towers are also known as vertical farming which adopts a different gardening method than the traditional ways. The distinctive feature fo hydroponic towers is that it does not use any soil to grow plants. This may come as a surprise as it is commonly know that soil, water, nutrients, and sunlight are necessary in order for plants to grow. Instead, it uses water and other nutrients that are specifically monitored and measured to nurture the plants. Rather than using soil, the towers use rock or coco coir fiber and are fed with a solution that includes different nutrients.

Some benefits of hydroponic towers are that it is a highly efficient production system. As it is a vertical system, there is higher yield for the same tract of land. Also, as people control the environment that the plants are grown in, this allows year-round production. Since there are no soil involved, this prevents any soil-borne diseases and is 90% more efficient in terms of water use. 

There are many ways that you can make hydroponic towers at your own home. You can also recycle old plastic bottles and make them as a base for your tower. Make them into a cascade and fill each bottle with the necessary materials and the plant you want to grow. With hydroponic towers, you can grow different herbs, spinach, kale, and more. 

With some care for the plants and careful monitoring of their growth, add some greenery to your home while also growing some extra basil or veggies for your everyday meals. 

Works Cited:

Greencoast Hydroponics. “What Exactly Is Hydroponics.” What Exactly Is Hydroponics - GreenCoast Hydroponics Knowledge Center, Greencoast Hydroponics, www.gchydro.com/info/what-exactly-is-hydroponics.

 Singh, Hardeep, and Bruce Dunn. “Building a Vertical Hydroponic Tower - Oklahoma State University.” Building a Vertical Hydroponic Tower | Oklahoma State University, Feb. 2021, extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/building-a-vertical-hydroponic-tower.html#:~:text=A%20tower%20garden%2C%20also%20called,kale%2C%20broccoli%20and%20flowering%20petunia.