What do you mean by Hydroponics? Also discuss about Importance of hydroponics in detail.

Hydroponics:
Hydroponics is the method of growing plants without soil, using mineral nutrient solutions in water. The containers are made of glass, metal or plastic.

• They range in size from small pots for individual plants to huge tank for large scale growing.
• It was demonstrated by a German Botanist Julius Von Sachs in 1980. Hydroponics is successfully employed for the commercial production of seedless cucumber and tomato.
• Plants are suspended with their roots submerged in water that contain plant nutrients.
• The roots absorb water and nutrients, but do not perform the anchoring function. Therefore, the plants must be mechanically supported from above.

Importance of hydroponics:
(i) Conservation of water and nutrients.
(ii) Controlled plant growth.
(iii) In deserts and Arctic regions hydroponics can be an effective alternative method.