Hydroponics Intro – Indoor Growing Systems

Table of Contents

Hydroponic gardening is a method of growing plants in a water-based solution. The solution provides the nutrients they need to flourish. While some hydroponics systems include a growing medium like coconut fibers, peat moss, pumice or sand, there is no soil.
Home hydroponic systems range from affordable, easy to build, do-it-yourself units, to quite sophisticated and expensive indoor gardens. You can grow a wide variety of plants using hydroponics. But before you dive in, it’s best to be familiar with the basics.

How Does a Hydroponic Garden Work?

tabletop hydroponic growing system with artificial lighting filled with young lettuce plants

Advantages of a Hydroponic Growing System

A hydroponic growing system offers several significant advantages. Plants in well-maintained systems can grow 30% faster than those grown in the soil. When you water your garden, a large percentage of that water will either leach away or evaporate. An indoor hydroponic garden can use as much as 95% less water than is required to maintain a traditional outdoor garden.
two hydroponic growing systems, one is a shelf structure the other is a small pot with a vertical tube reservoir and openings for plants
In a traditional garden, your plants are subjected to environmental conditions that are beyond your control. These include severe weather and poor soil. You are in control of the environment where your indoor hydroponic system is located as well as the nutrients that your plants receive.

Disadvantages of Hydroponic Gardening

elaborate hydroponic growing system on an outdoor patio filled with healthy vegetable plants and surrounded by assorted potted and landscape plants
Hydroponic gardening systems can be expensive. If you enjoy DIY projects, this shouldn’t be an issue. If not, high-end hydroponic systems can cost upwards of $500 and that’s before you buy supplies.
two photos showing vertical structures for hydroponic growing systems, one with plants growing
Plants in a hydro garden don’t access nutrients like those in soil. This means that, if you forget to add nutrients or if your system uses a pump and the pump breaks, your plants may not get what they need. A home hydroponic garden requires more monitoring and maintenance than a traditional garden.

Basic Components of a Home Hydroponic System

two photos showing components of a basic wick hydroponic growing system
The simplest home hydroponic system consists of:
  • A water reservoir to hold the nutrient solution
  • The nutrient solution – a combination of nutrients and water that feeds the plants
  • The growth tray where the plants are placed
  • A wick delivers the nutrient solution to the plants
Note that there is no pump required for this basic system. In this wicking system, nutrients are not delivered as quickly as they are in active systems that use pumps. For this reason, the range of plants you can grow using wicking is limited. Smaller plants do best.
herb plants growing in mason jars filled with water lined up on a shelf with lush root growth evident through the glass jars
Research online for more information about types of home hydroponic systems and sources of step-by-step DIY instructions.

Some Good Plants to Grow in a Hydroponic Garden

close up of healthy lettuce plants being grown in a hydroponic growing system
In an active (pump-fed) hydroponic garden with enough space, you can grow many of the same flowers, herbs, vegetables and fruits that can be grown in a traditional garden. If you’re just getting started, and especially if you’re using a passive wicking system, consider growing herbs and leafy greens like lettuce and spinach.
three tomato plants being grown in a hydroponic growing system
If things go well and you upgrade your hydroponic setup to an active system with adequate space, you could grow tomatoes and strawberries with harvests as early as two months. Bell peppers mature within three months. With a well-maintained, active hydroponic system, you can garden indoors and harvest your crop in a shorter amount of time than growing outdoors in soil.

Maintaining Your Hydroponics System

hand holding a digital device used to monitor the nutrient and pH level in a hydroponic growing system
Because your hydroponics system uses a liquid solution to feed your plants, it is critical that the pH, or acidity level, of that solution is monitored and adjusted when needed. How quickly the nutrients dissolve and can be absorbed by the plants depends on the acidity of the solution.
When pH gets too high or too low, the resulting lack or overabundance of nutrients can harm or even kill the plants. Test strips are very inexpensive, are available at most garden centers and can be used to periodically measure pH.
closeup of a hand pouring fertilizer into a cup to use in a hydroponic growing system
Of course, you’ll need water-soluble nutrients for your hydro garden. These are widely available online and at garden centers and beginners guides are available to learn about the necessary nutrients.
It’s important to keep your nutrient mixture at a constant temperature between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit (18 – 21 Celsius). That shouldn’t be too difficult if your system is inside your home.
You’ll need to filter your nutrient solution to remove any harmful materials. Changing out the water and nutrients every two to three weeks is also recommended.

Is Hydroponics Gardening Right for You?

countertop hydroponics system growing herbs on a kitchen counter
If you’re in an area with a short growing season or if you have limited gardening space, consider giving hydroponics a try. You can start out with a small system and a minimal investment to find out whether hydro gardening is for you.
For a fun way to introduce children to growing plants in water check out The Garbage Garden. Kids will love watching plants grow from scraps that would otherwise get tossed in the garbage or compost pile.
cabbage plant being grown from the stem of a cabbage head placed in a dish of water

Share

2 thoughts on “Hydroponics Intro – Indoor Growing Systems”

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More Posts You Will Love

What is a Permaculture Garden?

Learn the basic principles of permaculture and how to implement them to create your own naturally self-sustaining permaculture garden.

How to Grow Microgreens Indoors

Microgreens are a great way to add more nutrient-dense foods to your diet. But did you know you can grow them indoors? Here’s how and why you should.

Garden in Grow Bags

Growing plants in grow bags is a popular alternative to growing plants in the ground. Learn how to use grow bags and why they might be a good gardening option for you.

No Till Gardening

A no till gardening soil recipe includes a blend of compost, mulch and plant matter layered over cardboard or newspaper. No till gardening is a low-maintenance solution to the problem of tilling, which is not always good for the environment.