Gardeners and horticulturalists are used to getting grimy. They root around in the soil, applying fertilizers and pesticides. They plant, divide and re-plant. They do all this for the rewards of producing beautiful and nutritious plants to view and eat. But what if you could gain those values without coming into contact with any soil [...]

Like soil-based plant growing, greenhouses offer a good alternative to the hydroponic gardener. Many of the same advantages apply in either setting. But hydroponics is especially well-suited to greenhouses, where light, temperature and airflow are easier to maintain than in some other settings.
Tomatoes, peas, Welsh onions, strawberries and many other fruits and vegetables thrive in [...]

For some, the phrases ‘plant biology’ or ‘plant physiology’ or even the word botany brings to mind scary images. Certainly these sciences can be very complex and studying them is reserved for the truly motivated or professional. But even ‘by the seat of their pants’ gardeners can benefit from a small amount of such information, [...]

Hydroponics is fun. Experimenting with different plants grown in water or rockwool leads to a new appreciation of the factors required for them to thrive. But, as with any successful project, a certain amount of preparation is required.
The first, and most obvious thing needed is the plant itself, either in the form of seed or [...]

The name hydroponics suggests plants grown in water, and that method is used. But it really refers to any method of horticulture that doesn’t use soil, usually in a highly artificial setting. So, it’s sometimes called S/CEA or soil-less controlled environment agriculture.
Hydroponics offers many challenges, but has many benefits both to the plant and the [...]

All plants need nutrients to supply them with the elements needed for vital biochemical processes. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are the top three generally listed, but there are more than a dozen others. Magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), calcium (Ca) and several more perform essential roles in the life of hydroponic plants, just [...]

Most plants grown in a hydroponic setting require light, lots of it.
They photosynthesize to produce their own nutrients. They require warmth to keep biochemical reactions going, and going at the right rate. They regulate many processes by the amount of light present, speeding some up and shutting down others.
During photosynthesis plants take in carbon dioxide [...]

Like any plant, those grown in a hydroponic setting require support and water. Because of the name, many of those new to hydroponics will arrive thinking that plants are always grown in water. That is certainly done, but there are many other choices for media. Hydroponics is really just soil-less plant growing, with some other [...]

Complete hydroponic kits are available that range in price everywhere from a few dozen dollars to a few thousand.
At the lowest end of the scale some kits offer little more than someone could make for themselves by gathering common household items. But they do implicitly package a little knowledge needed to get started. By including [...]

A hydroponic system is the technique to grow plants without using soil. In this technique, nutrient rich water solution is used to feed the plants. A tabletop hydroponic garden is nothing but a miniature form of greenhouse. Needless to say, it is an excellent beauty object to enhance the look and feel of an interior. [...]