Basic question

[prettygurl]

Soil is simply an anchor, therefore there is no need to waste time and money improving the soil when you can supply the plants with the same nutrients through water. Is that the essence of hydroponics?

[rainbowgardener]

Sort of, not that I believe that in the garden soil is only an anchor.

I think the point of hydro is that you can do it even if you don't have any garden space and you can provide precise control and ideal conditions for replicatable results.

I don't think it is about time and money, since hydroponics will surely consume more of both. The equipment is expensive, you have to buy lots of fancy nutrients, different ones at different times. It has to be constantly monitored. You can grow things with no soil/sun/rain, by investing a lot of your time and money and effort providing everything artificially, that nature would give for free.

Not that I am biased, or anything...