Should you be using hydroponic organic nutrients? The subject of using organic plant nutrients when it comes to growing hydroponic plants is a bone of contention among those who garden using this method. Are organic nutrients better, worse, or does it even matter if one uses them or not?

Remembering The Goal
The very word "organic" is almost automatically associated with food that is free of chemical pesticides and petroleum-based fertilizers; it is considered a gentler, more Earth-friendly method of growing food. However, when it comes to organic hydroponic nutrient compounds, the truth is not so simple.
Consider that fertilizers containing organic nutrients depend on natural "organisms" in the soil in order to provide food for the plant; this is why they are called "organic." Plant nutrients can come from other sources, however.
In the meantime, remember that the whole point of hydroponic gardening is to provide nutrients for the plants directly, without the need for soil or the organisms it normally contains. This is why hydroponic plants grow so such bigger and yield bigger crops. Here is another irony to consider: in order to qualify for the "Certified Organic" label, produce must be grown under very stringent conditions, yet many of the fertilizers that are allowed under these regulations would not be considered pure enough for use in growing hydroponic plants.

It Is Earth-Friendly
If the goal then is to produce food that is free of potentially harmful chemical adulterants and have a minimal effect on the planet, hydroponics is an ideal method, regardless of whether or not organic nutrients are used. Obviously there is no effect on the soil, because hydroponic plants don't use any. Because these plants are grown directly in a nutrient medium, hydroponics requires less water - and this water can be recycled. Unlike plants grown in soil, hydroponic plants do not have to compete with noxious weeds and can more easily be protected from pests without having to resort to harsh chemical pesticides.
By its very nature, hydroponic gardening leaves a substantially smaller ecological footprint on the planet.

An Organic Hydroponic Nutrient Compound Is Different
Does this mean that something labeled "organic hydroponic nutrient" is a waste of money when it comes to hydroponic gardening? Not necessarily. Keep in mind that the very word "organic" means two completely different things, depending on whether you are talking agriculture or chemistry. In agriculture, "organic plant nutrients" are simply those that are free of artificial chemicals such as we discussed earlier. In chemistry, "organic nutrients" means that these substances are based on living organisms. This does not mean that hydroponic organic nutrients are "alive," but simply that they were produced as a result of biological processes.

There are excellent organic nutrients available for your hydroponic plants that may not qualify your produce for the federal "Certified Organic" label, but will still result in healthier, safer food than you could get at the local supermarket. Just keep in mind that much of what you are already doing is eco-friendly, "organic nutrients" notwithstanding.