Hydroponic Gardening

Hydroponic Gardening Hydroponics is the science and art of growing plants without soil. Instead of soil, in hydroponic gardening, you place the roots of plants into trays or pots designed to deliver nutrients, water and oxygen in purer forms, and deliver them more often than a plant could get them with its roots buried in soil. Hydroponic systems don't guarantee monstrous produce that will win purple ribbons at the county fair, but it does satisfy a desire to show off our cultivation skills by making it easier for the average person to grow things faster, with higher yields. Learn about the supplies you need and how you put them all together in a successful hydroponic system. Indulge the scientist and farmer in you, and get a basic understanding of hydroponics before you go deeper into the site and begin to choose the supplies you'll need.

How to Choose Hydroponic Nutrients

Your hydroponic pots and drip trays are all neatly in place. You've carefully planned out your crops, and you've purchased the hydroponic grow lights you know you'll need to nurture the plants to their greatest potential at different growth stages. There's nothing left but choosing the hydroponic plant nutrients. First-time growers are often stumped by this stage of hydroponic gardening, but we're here to clear things up.

Hydroponics Glossary

Setting up a hydroponics growing system includes a bit of a learning curve. Taking extra time to prepare yourself with research will likely pay off with fantastic results. One way to get started on the path to becoming a hydroponics gardener is to familiarize yourself with these basic hydroponic terms. Check back often as you continue to learn and build your system.

Hydroponic Cloning vs. Seeding

Did you know that once your crop reaches maturation, you can save the seeds for use in your next hydroponic crop? Or that you can take cuttings of the plant stems and propagate the new plants using "cloning" methods? The best method probably depends on who you ask. Some hydroponics gardeners are champions of cloning. Others are do-or-die seed supporters.

Hydroponic Systems

Sir Francis Bacon was the first to publish a work about growing plants without soil - in the year 1627. Today, many different types of hydroponics are practiced. Each method has a number of variations, using different mediums and varied equipment to get different results. There isn't any one right way, and the art and science of hydroponics is still evolving.