Hydroponic strawberries are grown in water rather than in soil. Many people prefer growing strawberries and other fruits and vegetables hydroponically because there are no parasites to worry about, less space is required for growth, and it is usually much easier to ensure that the plants get adequate nutrition. In addition to these advantages, it is typically much easier to control temperature and lighting conditions with hydroponic strawberries because the plants are grown entirely indoors. Most people also claim that strawberries grown through hydroponics grow faster and are much tastier than strawberries grown in soil.
In spite of all the advantages of growing hydroponic strawberries, there are a few small disadvantages. Even though hydroponics might save a person money in the long run, it tends to be fairly expensive to get a hydroponic system set up. It is also typically more time consuming to keep up with maintaining hydroponic strawberries because they require care on an almost daily basis, whereas strawberries grown outdoors usually do not. Hydroponic strawberries are also vulnerable to things like power outages and water-borne diseases. It might additionally be hard for a novice gardener to be successful with hydroponics because more knowledge of plants and how they grow is normally necessary.
Growing hydroponic strawberries usually involves placement in an area of the home with lots of sunlight. Many people grow their hydroponic fruit in greenhouses or sun rooms. Indoor garden lighting may also be used to simulate sunlight, and strawberries typically require about six to seven hours of light daily in temperatures that range between 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 23 degrees Celsius). In addition to adequate sunlight, a hydroponic solution will need to be added to the water to provide adequate nutrition to the plants. Pollination also must be done manually by brushing the pollen from the stamen area of the strawberry bloom to the pistils.
A person who is trying to decide whether to grow hydroponic strawberries should take both the advantages and disadvantages into account. It might not be a good option for someone who cannot afford a hydroponic system and does not have time to give his plants the maintenance they will require when grown in the water. A person who struggles with getting strawberries to grow outside because of poor soil or other problems with her outdoor growing conditions might benefit from setting up a hydroponic system for her strawberries. Hydroponic strawberries are becoming readily available at more fruit stands and grocery stores, so a person who is trying to decide whether to invest in hydroponics may benefit from purchasing them first to see how he thinks they compare to soil-grown strawberries.