What Does Bioponics Mean?
Bioponics is a method of hydroponic growing coined by hydroponics veteran William Texier, the founder of General Hydroponics Europe.
Bioponics involves the use of certified-organic nutrients in a hydroponic solution along with a substrate. It provides an alternative to hydroponic growing with synthetic fertilizers, and it’s been catching on as more and more growers enjoy the challenge of combining growing techniques in the search for healthier, tastier results.
Bioponics is related to hydroponics and aquaponics, but focuses on the use of completely organic nutrients and the option of adding fish and other aquatic creatures to supplement nutrition. It has been around since 2005, when Texier patented the process.
Maximum Yield Explains Bioponics
Bioponics is a hybrid of hydroponics and organics that involves the use of a certified-organic nutrient in a hydroponic solution along with a substrate, or even just bare roots. With bioponics, it is possible to grow organic produce using hydroponic technologies.
While plants might have evolved to use soil in their growth, they do not actually need it, so long as there is adequate water provided, and the right nutrients are available. There are several growing methods that remove soil from the equation, including hydroponics and aquaponics. A newer derivative of these systems, bioponics is also soilless. However, bioponics delivers substantially better nutrition to plants than is possible with either of the other methods.
Bioponics delivers many different ways to achieve higher nutrient levels within an aquatic growing environment. For instance, in an aquaponics system, nutrients are provided almost exclusively by fish waste and fish food. In hydroponics, nutrients are added by hand to the mix. With bioponics, an organic environment is created by the application of high levels of nutrients. In turn, this attracts beneficial microbes to the growing area, which colonize plant roots and boost both nutrition and the plants’ ability to extract nutrients.
Fish and other aquatic creatures, such as crayfish, can be added to the system as well. This allows fish waste to mix with the additional nutrients and supply microbes with even more nutrition. The result is a very rich growing environment that combines the benefits of both organic farming and hydroponic gardening. However, fish are optional – they are not required for an operating bioponic system. The primary benefits of this type of gardening include a reduction in water usage, crop growth is improved, and no chemical fertilizers or pesticides are needed.
