With most hydroponic systems, the solution passes over the roots or floods around them at regular intervals. Oxygen, essential to the health of roots, is either incorporated in the nutrient solution or drawn into the root area when the system is drained. Even the best soil rarely holds as much oxygen as a soilless hydroponic medium. The oxygen around the roots speeds the plants' uptake of nutrients. Plants grow faster hydroponically because they are able to assimilate nutrients rapidly and completely.
Roots are able to take in food nearly as fast as the plant is able to use it.
Hydroponic gardening is more exacting than soil gardening. Soil works as a buffer for nutrients and holds them longer than the inert hydroponic medium. Still, hydroponically grown plants tend to grow faster with a little more lush foliage than plants grown in soil. When roots are restricted and growth slows in containerized plants, hydroponic plants are still getting the maximum amount of nutrients and growing strong. The past ten years has seen great strides in the field of hydroponics.