Hydroponics uses 70–90% less water than conventional soil farming. In traditional agriculture, 40–50% of water evaporates from soil surface and 20–30% drains past the root zone. In closed hydroponic systems, 90–95% of water is used by plants directly, with minimal losses.
Home-scale numbers: One head of lettuce needs 20–30 litres in hydroponics vs 200–250 litres in conventional farming.
GrowlyBox: The soil moisture sensor prevents unnecessary watering in soil mode. Hydroponic mode enables reservoir recirculation.
Water quality: Tap water works for hydroponics (target EC < 0.5 mS/cm). High-calcium water benefits from filtering or mixing with distilled water.