Hydroponic farming has many advantages, but it also comes with some challenges. Let’s take a look at both sides:

Benefits

Two hands holding a blue water droplet with a recycling symbol inside, representing water conservation or recycling water.

Water Saving: Hydroponic systems use much less water than traditional farming because the water is recycled and reused. There’s also no water runoff, which means none of it goes to waste or pollutes nearby rivers and lakes.

Green plant shoots growing from soil with an orange arrow pointing upward, symbolizing plant growth or increasing crop yield.

Faster Growth: Plants can grow faster in hydroponic systems because they get exactly what they need—water, nutrients, and light—all the time. Timers and lights keep everything running smoothly, even at night.

A pile of brown soil with small colorful sparkles above it, representing healthy soil or the importance of soil conservation.

No Need for Soil: In regular farming, soil can get worn out and take years to recover. Since hydroponics doesn’t use soil, it preserves this natural resource.

Drawbacks

A stack of green dollar bills with two orange arrows pointing upward, representing increasing costs or expenses.

Expensive Setup: Hydroponic systems can be costly to set up because they require special equipment.

A computer screen displaying a sad face with "X" eyes, indicating a system failure or error. A gear symbol appears next to the screen, suggesting technical issues.

System Failures: Since hydroponic systems rely on automation, any breakdown—like a pump or sensor failure—can cause major problems for the plants.

    THINK-PAIR-SHARE

    1. Can you come up with one more benefit and one more drawback of hydroponic farming?
    2. How do you think we could solve some of the challenges that come with using hydroponic systems?