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Gone are the days when growing plants meant you had to get your hands muddy. You can now grow a large set of crops without coming in contact with any soil. And you get to make much more profits while at it.
Hydroponic farming is very profitable, and farmland the size of an acre will yield between $200,000 and $250,000 each year, while traditional farmland gives you between $20,000 and $30,000.
Hydroponics is a type of horticulture that involves growing crops without soil. The method uses mineral nutrient solutions in an aqueous solvent to grow the plants.
Is Hydroponic Farming Profitable?
Hydroponic farming has experienced a boom in the recent past. It has been getting a lot of attention in the press and its awareness spread widely. You may be wondering just how profitable hydroponic farming is.
Hydroponic farms are mainly built indoor or in greenhouses. Both of the alternatives have proved to be good for commercial use. They have been utilized in numerous ways for farm operations. Hydroponic farms have proved to be productive facilities that generate enough revenue.
The revenue raised from hydroponic farms is enough to pay the overhead expenses and provide decent wages for farmworkers.
If you wish to find out how to start hydroponic growing, go and check out our article about everything you need to know about it.
Hydroponic Farming Advantages
1. Less land
Less land is needed to support a hydroponic farm. You are saved a large deal on taxes. A hydroponic farm makes better use of space and location.
All the needs of the plants are met in a maintained system. It, therefore, does not require large spaces. The roots of plants normally expand and spread out in search of nutrients and oxygen in the soil. In hydroponics, all the needs are met and so the plants do not expand therefore taking up much less space.
The roots of plants grown in a hydroponic system are sunk in a tank full of oxygenated nutrient solution. They are in direct contact with vital minerals. You can grow your plants much closer to each other making huge savings on space. Saving up on space increases the profits you make from your hydroponic farm.
2. Fewer pests and diseases
Fewer pests and diseases can take access to and affect hydroponic crops. Getting rid of soils help make your crops less vulnerable to soil-borne pests. It also protects their nutrient from weeds that would otherwise grow in the soil. In the hydroponic farm, the enclosed system makes it possible for the farmer to control the surrounding environment.
3. Better Growth Rates and Bountiful Harvests
Plants grown hydroponically grow faster than the ones grown in soil. Since you are commanding your plants’ environment, you ensure the best conditions.
Controlling the temperature, light, moisture, and nutrients ensures your plants are producing optimally. The plants are placed in ideal conditions and they grow rapidly. Nutrients are provided at sufficient levels and are in direct contact with the root system.
Plants do not waste valuable time and energy in search of diluted nutrients in the soil. All they need for excellent rapid growth is at their disposal. Hydroponic crops shift all their attention to growing and producing fruits. The resulting rapid and high amounts of products make a significant difference in the profits accrued from a hydroponic farm.
4. Continuous Growth with No Seasonality
Hydroponic farms can grow their crop all year-round. They are not dependent on natural weather conditions. The ability to control your crops’ environment regardless of the climate and changing seasons goes a long way in ensuring and maintaining high levels of profit.
Climate control on the humidity, the composition of the air, light, and temperature intensification makes all the difference. As a hydroponic farmer, you are able to maintain steady production from your crops and this assures you of good profits throughout the year.
5. Less Use of Chemicals – No Insecticides and Herbicides
Using no soil means the weeds; pests and diseases are greatly reduced. As such, there is minimal use of chemicals resulting in the growth of cleaner and healthier foods.
The cut on insecticides and herbicides is a major strength of hydroponics farming. Currently, the criteria for modern life and food safety are a priority. Growing your farm produce gives you an upper hand in the market and adds value to your crops. You get to make more profits growing hydroponic plants considered to be more organic.
How Much Money Can a Hydroponic Farm Make?
Though the initial costs of setting up a hydroponic farm are high, it is worth the trouble. From the expenses of maintaining the greenhouses and the high cost of labor, comes a steady flow of a year-round harvest. A hydroponic farm will do more than just compensate the incurred costs; it will give you a steady stream of income and profits trickling in throughout the year.
When you farm your land hydroponically, you will make much more compared to what you make from traditionally farmed land. Whereas an average of traditional farmland gives you between $20,000 and $30,000 annually, hydroponic farmland the size of an acre will yield between $200,000 and $250,000 each year.
The higher cost of growing hydroponic crops informs the value of the crops to be planted. The use of this technique warrants the successful growth of more valuable crops like tomatoes, strawberries, and cucumbers. Since these crops are in high demand, you get to charge your consumers a premium to supply them.
What is the Most Profitable Hydroponic Crop to Grow?
The most profitable crops to grow in hydroponic systems are plants with leafy greens such as lettuce.
Growing leafy greens in your hydroponic farm will incur you the least cost in terms of operation. It will cost you about $20 to maintain one square foot of lettuce.
You can read our article on everything you need to know about lettuce hydroponic farming.
Growing basil will also increase and boost your profits. All you need to find is a market for your herbs since their demand is slightly lower than that of the leafy greens. Most of the herbs available on the shelves are pretty weak after spending an entire week in transport.
Indoors growers have a grand opportunity to replace the dull herbs with an amazing locally grown variety. A pound of great fresh basil goes at $14. All you need to do is to identify a market and establish a steady supply.
The tons of fresh nutrients and vitamins in your healthy herbs and leafy greens will grow your sales and profits exponentially. Growing your crops hydroponically guarantees you a steady flow of produce and harvest in at least 8 months of each year. You will enjoy more profits when you farm hydroponically.