Hydroponic Gardening 101

                                                                                         

Hydroponic gardening is a great way for anyone who wants to garden but does not have a backyard or a hospitable climate to still participate by growing high-quality fruits, vegetables and flowers indoors without using soil. There are some basic hydroponics supplies that you will need to get started, and all of these can easily be found through online hydroponic gardening merchants. Like any type of gardening, hydroponic gardening does take a bit of attention and care, but it is a small price to pay in order to be able to grow wonderful plants where you might not otherwise be able.

Probably the easiest way to put together hydroponic grow systems is through the use of hydroponic kits. A kit will include basically everything you need minus the plants and water to get started. You can choose kits that come in different sizes, so that you can find the most affordable solution for hydroponic supplies. Hydroponic kits are available for many types of hydroponic grow systems, such as aeroponic, deep water culture as well as ebb and flow.

Aeroponic kits are one of the easiest for beginners to use. They use no soil, so there is no mess, and they simply plug into any wall outlet. They come with their own lights, and the system is built in to suspend and spray the plant roots with nutrient, or plant food. The kits can be used to germinate your own seeds, saving a great deal of money over purchasing started plants, and the plants grow very quickly because they get a perfect amount of water and oxygen in this type of set up.

Another low-maintenance hydroponic gardening system is deep water culture. This type of hydroponic gardening utilizes hydroponic supplies such as a reservoir to hold the water, nets to hold the crown of the plants just above the liquid, aerators to help oxygenate the water and move the nutrient solution around the plant roots, and airstones that help to send oxygen around the reservoir.

Another growing method to try is the ebb and flow system. A tray holds the plants in a growing medium such as coir or peat moss, and below the tray is a reservoir that holds the nutrients in water. A timer is set so that nutrient solution is pushed by a pump from the reservoir into the tray where it reaches the plant roots, and then the water is allowed to drain back down into the reservoir. This system allows easy access of the plant roots to both oxygen and food, and is a great way to grow plants indoors.

Other hydroponic supplies that all hydroponic gardening systems will need are nutrients. Nutrients are plant food, and are typically dissolved in the water that can be used as the growing medium in which the plant roots grow.

Any of these methods will yield excellent results, so give one a try today.

About the author:
From years of organic and hydroponic gardening, Susan Slobac has developed an in-depth knowledge of hydroponic kits, systems and supplies, and writes frequently on the subject

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