GROWING
for health
HorticulturalTherapywithHydroponics
Horticultural therapy is a growing form (no pun intended) of
therapy for all types of medical patients due to its versatility.
Patients with limited mobility, cancer patients, patients recovering
from posttraumatic stress disorder, as well as incarcerated
individuals all benefit from horticultural therapy.
Traditional Horticultural Therapy
Horticultural therapy for patients that do not experience
mobility challenges is as simple as regular gardening. Schools,
hospitals, prisons, day-homes for adults and other facilities all
may have gardens maintained by their constituents. School
gardens can have fun themes such as the alphabet or nursery
rhymes. Day-centers and prisons may find that their gardeners
enjoy tending flowers and vegetables the best - so they can share
their products with others.
Gardening allows people to take in air, get exercise and see
tangible results other than bulging muscles. Whether five years
old and recovering from PTSD, or 50 years old doing hard
time, tasting a tomato you have grown yourself is like no other
experience. Gardening is a confidence-building and productive
activity. Working around plants is peaceful, and allows people
to become part of the natural cycle of life, consciously and
unconsciously.
Hydroponic Horticultural Therapy
When most people think of horticultural therapy, they
probably think of raised flowerbeds that folks in wheelchairs,
or elderly people who cannot bend can easily access. While
raised beds are the most common type of therapeutic gardens,
hydroponic gardens are gaining in popularity and are much
more versatile and mobile - perfect for people with limited
mobility. Hydroponic gardens can be as large or as small as
the garden prefers, and can fit in classrooms, therapist offices,
kitchens and lounge areas.
Hydroponic gardens are excellent for sterile situations where
bacteria and organisms in soil may be cause for concern. Plants
in hydroponic gardens grow in nutrient solutions, not in soil,
and the solutions can be prepared from sterilized ingredients.
The variability of size makes hydroponic gardens accessible
for almost every location. These gardens may be placed on a
windowsill, or under a growth lamp. Hospital patients will enjoy
watching their plants grow, from afar and up close. Portable
hydroponic setups can be brought over to the patient and
placed on the wheeling tray common to most hospital rooms.
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Children will enjoy building simple gardens during group
therapy that they can take home and watch. The gardens will
give them something else to focus on beyond the stressful
situation they are recovering from. Lettuce gardens are great for
kids, because they can keep their garden in their kitchen, and
actually harvest and eat the fruits of their labor. Just as traditional
gardening elevates confidence, so does hydroponic gardening.
Many hobby gardeners des cribe gardening as their therapy
or their refuge away from stress of work and home life.
Horticultural therapy programs harvest such characteristics
of gardening and put them to work along with traditional
therapeutic techniques. Hydroponics adds an even more
interesting twist to horticultural therapy, allowing gardeners
from all backgrounds, and in all states of heath to experience
the fun and oddity of growing plants without soil on their
kitchen counters and windowsills. Even after their participation
in a formal program is over, gardeners will stay hooked on
hydroponics.
Visit www.simply-hydroponics.com to learn more about all aspects
of hydroponic and indoor gardening.
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