Is Soil Needed To Grow Plants?

By: Chris Pritchard

Published: December 2, 2008     Exclusive Article

In answer to the question, "Is soil needed to grow plants?" the answer would have to be, "Absolutely not!" What is necessary are things like sunlight, water, minerals, and carbon dioxide. Along with the elements and factors listed, plants will derive water and minerals from soil. Of course, plants do need something to support the root and shoot systems. Without this, they will not be able to stand up straight. Further the growing medium should also provide the plant with the necessary water and minerals. Soil provides all of these supports to the plant directly.

Of course there are millions of different kinds of plants. For the optimal germination of seeds and the ability to bloom, each plant species requires different conditions. The word "plant" is actually a collective term for several groups comprising, for example, algae, fungi, bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms, and angiosperms. There are a lot of kinds of algae that can grow in water with only a little help from soil. Fungi grow as parasites or saprophytes on other living or decaying materials. Angiosperms and gynomsperms, on the other hand, are herbs, shrubs and trees which are usually present in all conditions, and referred to as "plants."

Orchids, such as Vanda sp., do not need soil, but instead have roots that are capable of taking minerals and water from the air. Such orchids are supported by the hosts that they live on.

Hydroponics can be described as the agricultural method of growing plants without soil by providing them with water containing the nutrients they need. Artificial mediums such as perlite, mineral wool, or gravel can be used to grow plants, supplying the mineral nutrients to the roots with a solution. When using this method, plants can get their mineral nutrition directly from the solution.

All categories of yellow or golden brown hydrous silicate minerals containing a mica-like (micaceous) structure are considered vermiculite. You will usually find this material in use in plant sciences laboratories. For example, botanical, horticultural, and agricultural labs put this material to use. The main use for it is as a soil additive. It helps with growing plants in a perlite medium used for potted plants. They also use it for hydroponic techniques. Plants that are developed in vitro will thrive best using vermiculite as the medium.

People raise millions of container plants every year. The list of varieties that can be grown using this method includes: vines, bedding plants, seedlings, fruit, vegetables, forest seedlings, shrubs, herbaceous perennials, ornamental trees, and shade trees. The majority of container plants are raised using a soilless media. This media is representative of the soilless culture.

Finally, physiological processes, including photosynthesis and respiration, must occur for the plant to grow successfully. Soil is just one factor in plant growth. If plants have access to the other necessary factors, such as elements and conditions, they can grow without soil. If you provide plants with these elements, they will be able to grow without soil. Of course, the use of soil is the natural way to grow plants, but it is not absolutely necessary.