In 1860 Julius von Sachs, Professor of Botany at the University of Wurzburg, published the first standard formula for a nutrient solution that could be dissolved in water and in which plants could be successfully grown. The technique was termed "nutriculture" and ended the long search for the secrets of plant vitality.

These early investigations in plant nutrition demonstrated that normal plant growth can be achieved by immersing the roots of a plant in a water solution containing salts of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), Sulfur (S), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), and Magnesium (Mg). Hydrogen (H), Oxygen (O), and Carbon (C) are all derived from the air and water. These nine elements are defined as the macronutrients.

With further refinement in laboratory techniques, scientists established seven elements required by plants in relatively small quantities- the micronutrients or trace elements. These include Iron (Fe), Chlorine (Cl), Manganese (Mn), Boron (B), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), and Molybdenum (Mo).

Coconut fiber- also called coir- is a product made from coconut meso-carp pith, or grounded up coconut leaves. It is usually purchased for horticultural or hydroponic use in compressed blocks of dry fiber that when soaked in water expand to useable form. Some desirable qualities of coir are that it is considered "organic", and is easy to dispose of as a soil conditioner, mulch, or compost after use. Coir fiber is a classic example of a sustainable concept. It is a byproduct of the coir industry that makes floor mats, hanging baskets and other products, so it is a renewable resource. Perhaps the most important aspects of coir fiber as a growing medium are lack of initial nutrients and its ability to act as a pH buffer. Coir's negligible initial nutrient composition and slightly acidic pH (pH 5.8-6.5) is ideal for plant growth and hydroponic use because it will not affect the carefully controlled nutrient and pH levels of the nutrient solution.
Coir fiber has the ability to absorb and retain large quantities of water and nutrient for plant use (typically between 80-88 percent) between irrigations.  Coir also resists decomposition, making it more desirable than other substrates, such as peat or sawdust, which have a tendency to break down and lose their free-draining structures resulting in root suffocation and rot.

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