How do some plants grow without dirt? - Morgridge Institute for Research (2024)

The principal purpose of soil is to provide mineral nutrition for the plant.

About 20 elements make up the mineral nutrition requirements for plants, and if you can provide those, you’re providing a lot of what soil is giving to the plant.

A long time ago, plant researchers found out that you can get plants to grow perfectly fine without soil if you provide water and the mineral nutrition. That’s the idea of hydroponics where we can grow plants in a soil-less environment. We’re providing what they need: water and the minerals that allow them to grow.

Soil also provides structural support, so to replace soil we have to provide support in some other way. The classic way for hydroponics is to have plants growing in a plug, some inert material that provides the support. The roots grow down into a liquid. The liquid provides the minerals that the plant needs. All you need at that point is to power plant growth by photosynthesis, which is providing it with air and sunlight.

You can take that to the extreme. Some of our research is related to figuring out how plants can be optimized to grow in space. We’re interested in growing plants in the space station to perhaps sustain astronauts for incredibly long journeys.

But growing in that weightless environment is not how plants evolved. Think about growing plants off the Earth where there is no soil. Think about growing them, for instance, on Mars or on the moon, where you can grow them in the dust that coats the surface of those bodies.

Providing you can balance the unique environment and added stresses, maybe add a little bit of fertilizer, you can grow plants perfectly happily under those conditions.

With minerals, water, sunlight and air, you can make a plant grow.

How do some plants grow without dirt? - Morgridge Institute for Research (2024)

FAQs

How do some plants grow without soil? ›

Using a growing method called "hydroponics," you can grow plants in a watery solution of mineral nutrients instead of soil. The word “hydroponic" comes from the Greek words hydro (“water") and ponos (“labor"). The keys to plant growth are a variety of mineral nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

What is the method of growing plants without dirt called? ›

Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil. You can grow hydroponically all year long. Hydroponics uses less water than traditional soil-based systems. Hydroponic growing allows for faster growth and higher yields than traditional soil-based growing systems.

What is one way a plant can grow without soil? ›

There are four methods of growing plants without soil-water culture, sand culture, gravel culture, and adsorbed-nutrient technique.

Is the science of growing plants in fluids without dirt? ›

Simply put, hydroponics is the practice of growing food in nutrient-enhanced water, without the use of soil as a growing medium.

How to grow roots without soil? ›

There are a ton of plants that grow well in a container with just water, including mint, basil, lavender, peace lily, and begonia. Take a small cutting by cutting off a section just below the leaf, which will allow the cutting to grow new roots. Place the cutting in your container of water and let it do its thing!

How can a seed grow without soil? ›

Yes, seeds can germinate without soil. You can germinate them on many different things -- sponges, coffee filters, paper towels, and so on. Should I add some more water if the paper towel becomes dry? Yes, but make sure paper towel is moist, not soaking wet.

How to grow vegetables without soil? ›

Hydroponics is a method of growing plants in which nutrients are supplied in a solution that is fed to the roots. Hydroponics may include the use of sand, rock wool, peat, or some other inert medium to support the roots.

What do you call plants that don't need soil? ›

[light jingle] [Narrator] Air plants, also known as tillandsia, don't need soil and they don't have. a traditional root system.

What type of farming method uses no soil? ›

Hydroponic farming is one efficient way to grow fruits and vegetables in small spaces without the use of soil. Instead of dirt, plants grow down into water, to which farmers have added the necessary nutrients for plant growth. These are then absorbed, along with water, through a plant's roots.

What is a good substitute for soil? ›

Coarse sand, perlite, pumice, and calcined clay increase drainage while anchoring plants. You can also utilize decomposed granite or the crushed gravel known as "turface" used on baseball fields.

How long can a plant live without soil? ›

Most dormant plants can survive for months with bare roots. The issue is with a plant that is not dormant and it's cells are involved with photosynthesis and respiration. Allowing the roots to dry out can be fatal within hours depending on the size, temperature, sun, and variety.

Do plants need air? ›

Plants need to breathe for the same reason people and animals must breathe – they need oxygen to convert food into energy. The relationship between air and indoor plants is crucial to keeping your plants looking their best.

What is the practice of growing plants without soil? ›

Hydroponics involves growing plants in a liquid growing medium solution. Hydroponics has become quite popular in recent years, particularly in the growth of vegetables like lettuce and tomatoes.

How can plants grow in just water? ›

Many popular houseplants, like monstera and philodendron, can grow in a container of water without soil. Simply put the roots of your plant into water—making sure the foliage isn't also submerged—and watch as they flourish.

Why is it possible for plants to grow without being in soil? ›

Plants need support, nutrients, protection from adverse temperatures, an even supply of moisture, and they need oxygen around the roots. It is possible to provide these necessary components for plant growth without soil.

What plants can grow from cuttings in water? ›

One of the most popular indoor plant families that propagate really well in water are Aroids, that's plants like your Pothos, Epipremnum, Philodendron and Monstera, but there are lots more good candidates this method of node propagation in water works well for, including Syngonium, Hoyas, Chain of Hearts, String of ...

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