Hydroponics (from the Greek words hydro water and pono labor) is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, without soil. Terrestrial plants may be grown with their roots in the mineral nutrient solution only or in an inert medium, such as perlite, gravel, or mineral wool (rockwool).

Plant physiology researchers discovered in the 19th century that plants absorb essential mineral nutrients as inorganic ions in water. In natural conditions, soil acts as a mineral nutrient reservoir but the soil itself is not essential to plant growth. When the mineral nutrients in the soil dissolve in water, plant roots are able to absorb them. When the required mineral nutrients are introduced into a plant's water supply artificially, soil is no longer required for the plant to thrive. Almost any terrestrial plant will grow with hydroponics. Hydroponics is also a standard technique in biology research and teaching.

Hydroponics is a way of growing plants without soil. Hydroponics literally means water works or labor. Hydroponic equipment is best suited for indoor gardening or greenhouses. Simple systems use an aquarium bubbler re-named a hydroponic bubbler, to ensure that the water around the roots does not become airless. Soilless gardening lets the plants take up nutrient faster which means a quicker growing, more compact and more nutritious plant in a smaller space.

Hydroponics is the easy way to grow fresh herbs, vegetables, fruits and flowers indoors, all year long without the need for soil or natural sunlight. Whether you are a professional hydroponics gardener or indoor gardening hobbyist, using the best hydroponics supplies will help you grow bigger, better and more productive plants.

In recent years hydroponics has increased in popularity…and for good reason! Hydroponics allows you to grow plants with little or no pesticide just about anywhere, indoors or out. It is simply growing plants in something other than soil but the trick is in supplying all of the nutrition the plants need through the nutrient solution.

Most growers utilize hydroponics indoors by creating an environment optimal for plant growth. Having the right combination of light, temperature, water, CO2, oxygen, pH and nutrients is essential and using a top selection of hydroponic supplies and grow lights will help you massively to achieve maximum results.

As is true with any other form of gardening, choosing the right plants is an essential part of hydroponics. Choosing plants that are suitable for soil free gardening will help the garden thrive. Selecting the wrong plants can leave you frustrated with the whole hydroponic approach to growing plants. This is a major subject

There are numerous questions that need answering when it comes to purchasing grow lights to use as indoor grow lighting. In order to become a successful indoor gardener it would be wise to find out the answers from any of the excellent reference books available, so that the appropriate grow lights are used for the indoor plants.

Every child knows that you need a few things in order to grow a plant. You need soil, light, water and a seed (at the very least). Get those right and hydroponics produces very high yields allowing us to grow the plants, fruits and vegetables of our choice, even in limited space, without using soil. It's an amazing way to produce perfect specimens and offers TONS of advantages that traditional gardening can't come close to touching!