These two factors come together to make hydroponics an extremely efficient method of food production. Hydroponics is also environmentally sound. The water consumption in hydroponic growing is significantly less than traditional growth methods; in many cases, hydroponic crops use a tenth of the water of equivalent traditional crops. Fuels that contain sulfur or sulfur compounds cannot be used because they produce harmful by products when they burn. Dry ice can be used in small greenhouses, especially if a cooling effect is also desired. Dry ice, which is solid carbon dioxide, is effective when used in a well-sealed area. The ice can either be used in block form or broken down into small pieces and used a little at a time. The sterile medium used in hydroponic systems give home gardeners the benefit of not having to remove weeds, and minimizes soil-borne pests and diseases. If your plants are grown hydroponically, they will be healthier than plants grown in soil, because all of the growth elements and nutrients are made readily available during growth. The History and Growth of Hydroponics Hydroponics means working water and comes from the Greek words “hydro” and “ponos,” meaning water and labor. Many different civilizations have utilized hydroponic growing techniques throughout history so they are not a new method of growing plants. This concept has been around for thousands of years and many countries, including China, Holland, Germany, and Australia have used hydroponics for crop production with results that are quite amazing. Hydroponics is proven to have several advantages over regular soil gardening. The growth rate on a hydroponic plant is 30 to 50% faster than a soil plant that was grown under the same conditions. Identifying Spider Mites on your Hydroponically Grown Produce It is important to identify and get rid of any insects living in your hydroponics system. Insects such as spider mites can destroy your hydroponically grown produce. Spider mites like many pests can be terminated in several ways. The best way to avoid a spider mite infestation is by taking precautionary measures.