A NEW KIND OF INDOOR GARDENING

Indoor gardening has been a favorite pastime of people for many years.  People keep gardens indoors for business or pleasure, in greenhouses and kitchens, for food and for therapy. In recent years, however, hydroponic gardens have become a popular alternative to traditional soil gardens—a new kind of indoor gardening.

Actually, hydroponic gardening (growing plants without soil) is not so new.  Forms of hydroponics date back to the days of ancient Egypt, and it’s believed that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were hydroponic.  But in our time, technological advances have made hydroponics more commonplace and accessible.  Governments now sponsor hydroponic growing on a large scale, and hobbyists now keep hydroponic gardens in their homes.

In hydroponics, plants are grown without soil.  The word “hydroponics” comes from the Greek language and simply means “working water”.  The nutrients are supplied to the plants in a water solution provided to the plant roots; the soil that normally anchors the roots is replaced by one of several available substances.  Hydroponic indoor gardening can use natural light, certain forms of artificial lighting, or a combination of the two.  The nutrient solution is controlled and monitored along with the lighting to maximize the growth and yield of the plants.

The advantages of hydroponics are numerous.  First of all, without dependence on soil, plants can be grown anywhere the environment can be controlled—so plants can be grown in the dead of winter, in seasons of extended twilight, or in places where soil is unavailable or contains unwanted contaminants.  Secondly, hydroponics recycles the water solution over and over as it washes the roots, so it actually reduces water usage by 70 to 90 percent over conventional gardening.  Thirdly, hydroponics allows for more direct control of the yield of a plant; by adjusting the nutrients and lighting, one can promote greater foliage, flowering, and fruit.  Hydroponics can also be highly educational for young people and adults alike, as you get a firsthand look at how plants respond to water, nutrients and light.

Starting your own hydroponic garden is not as expensive or complicated as you might think.  There are quite a few different ways to set up a hydroponic system, and some are relatively inexpensive and user-friendly.  There are also many products available to help simplify the process.  If you’re willing to face a reasonable learning curve, with hydroponics you can learn a whole new method of indoor gardening, one that is both fun and satisfying.