What is Hydroponics?

What is Hydroponics

Hydroponics is a type of gardening, where instead of soil, you use water to grow the plants. If the plants that are growing are doing so be simply dangling their roots down into a pool of water, that is considered Nutrient Film Technique, or N.F.T. This is just one way of growing things using hydroponics, as there are hundreds of ways of doing so.

There are six basic methods of hydroponics. All the other methods are just combinations of these first six. To start, let's take a look at wicking, as done in this type of gardening. The wick system is really simple. There are wicks leading from a tank of water into the growing medium. This is a passive system, meaning no moving parts.

In water culture, the plants float usually in Styrofoam containers. An air pump will supply the water with the needed oxygen. The best type of plant for this kind of gardening is leaf lettuce plants. They love the water, and grow rapidly this way. Also, this method is very popular with school teachers, and is used a lot in their classrooms. You can make this system from an old aquarium.

The next type of hydroponic gardening is ebb and flow, or more commonly flood and drain. This system works by temporarily flooding the grow box with your nutrient solution, and then draining it back off, into the reservoir. Some people like to have their plants in separate containers as it is easier to move them around, but you can place them all in the grow box in the same growing medium, such as gravel, perlite, or grow rocks.

Drip systems will pump the nutrients and water into the grow boxes, and a small drain tube will drip into the reservoir. The drip system seems to be the most popular of all hydroponic systems.

Aeroponic systems use primarily air as a growing medium. The roots hang in mid air, and are misted with the nutrient solution in intervals.Be careful, though. If the roots are not sprayed with the nutrient solution, because they are hanging out in the open air, they will dry out.

All methods of hydroponics are simple easy ways to enjoy indoor gardening. Try one, or a few different ones. Combine them to make the system that is just right for your gardening needs.