hydroponics is the growing of plants using water using water containing fertilizers instead of soil it is a technology which has seen unusual ups and downs in its popularity the advantages of hydroponics
are clear compared to normal farming it needs less land and water it is less harmful to the environment and the consumer know that the relatively high cost but more consumers than ever are willing to pay a higher price for fruit and vegetable that contain no potentially dangerous chemicals hydroponics is generally carried out in greenhouse where the perfect conditions for a particular kind of plant can be maintained these greenhouses were very costly until the introduction of plastics the 1950s the sudden rise in the price of oil in 1973 made it much more expensive to heat or to cool greenhouses so hydroponics became less attractive
as technology advances however hydroponics is making a comeback with new materials and techniques consumer concerns and computerized operating systems hydroponics may become very important in thailand it is just starting to be used vimoot chindasilpa uses it on her farm in chiang mai to provide pesticide-free vegetables some of which are used in her restaurant