Hydroponic Nutrient Management: What Every Grower Should Know
When you choose to grow hydroponically, it becomes your responsibility to ensure your plants are receiving what they need to be healthy and...
Hydroponics
Hydroponics is a subset of hydroculture, the method of growing plants without soil, using mineral nutrient solutions in a water solvent. Terrestrial plants may be grown with only their roots exposed to the mineral solution, or the roots may be supported by an inert medium, such as perlite or gravel. The nutrients in hydroponics can be from fish waste, duck manure, or normal nutrients.
Featured Hydroponics Articles
Featured Hydroponics Q&A
Hydroponics Terms
More Hydroponics Content
Back to School Fun: Hydroponic and Garden Projects
The key to running a successful school-based hydroponic and garden project is knowledge. Without it, limited budgets (and cut corners) can lead to an off-putting mess...
Organic Hydroponics: Taking Soil Out of the Mix
Organic hydroponics can seem like an oxymoron since many organic-food producers insist that soil is an essential component of the mix. However, as Dr. Mike Nichols...
Cold Weather and Hydroponic Gardens
Cold weather is a situation where hydroponic gardening, whether in your home or in a greenhouse, has an unbeatable advantage. Here’s how to make the most of it.
How Greenhouses Change the Way You Grow
The term ‘greenhouse effect’ doesn’t have to be a bad thing—it can describe the enjoyment that growers will feel when they discover a way to extend their beloved hobby...
Making a Good Garden Great
For many growers, their gardening practices falls under the old adage of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” However, as Matt LeBannister points out, change can help make...
Root Restriction in Hydroponics
Most hydroponic crops only require a small root zone volume. However, as Lynette Morgan points out, the restriction methods used are just as important as the result they...
Nutrient Film Technique: Tips for Hobby NFT Growers
Commercial NFT operations have all the bells and whistles, but some of their practices can easily be applied to a hobbyist set-up for more successful yields. Zachary...
Maximizing Crop Flavor and Aroma in Hydroponics
While hydroponic crops are robust and quick growing, sometimes the taste quality can leave a lot to be desired. Lynette Morgan looks at how plant stress, and other...
Hydroponic Leeks: A Not so Dirty Business After All
Growing leeks is traditionally a dirty business, but hydroponics is about to change all that.
Hydroponic Systems: From Rafts to Raceways & Everything In-between
Solution Culture Systems may be the purest hydroponics system. That’s because in float, raft, raceway, pond, deed flow technique, and nutrient film technique systems,...
Building an In-Ground Hydro System
Simple in-ground hydroponic systems can be an extremely cost-efficient solution for hydroponic growing. Read on to find out what you’ll need to get started.
Tips for the Home Grown Beginner: Soil, Soilless, or Hydroponics?
Cannabis can be grown successfully in soil, soilless media or hydroponically. Consider some of the pros, cons and tips to each method before jumping the gun and making...
The Do’s and Don’ts of Expanded Clay Pebbles
Expanded clay pebbles are safe and easy to use, and provide plants with plenty of what they need to thrive. Apply these tips and tricks during your next growth cycle to...
Subterranean Tactics: Root Zone Manipulation in Hydroponics
Dr. Lynette Morgan tells us how root zone manipulation can have a huge impact on plant performance.
Advantages of NFT Hydroponic Systems
If it’s simplicity, low cost, and maximum yields you are after in a hydroponic system, NFT could be the system for you.
Making the Most of Hydro Nutrients
While hydroponic water culture systems can produce big results, you must work to get those optimal results. One of most important things to do is make sure you’re...
How to Make the Perfect Hydroponic Nutrient Solution
Sure, you could just buy a premixed nutrient solution, but where’s the fun in that? If you have some time for preparation, mixing your own nutes is an easy and rewarding...
UV Sterilization: The Lowdown on Getting Clean
Ultraviolet sterilization is a disinfection method that uses ultraviolet light to kill microorganisms. Shannon McKee tells us more.
How to Grow Marijuana in Commercial Shipping Containers
We now live in a time when cannabis cultivation is becoming more widely accepted, and this means more options for growers who are active in the cannabis community.
Creating Novel Hybrid Hydroponic Systems
What is hybrid hydroponics? Here, Ryan Taylor offers a definition of this hot catchphrase, gives an example of a custom hybrid system and reveals valuable tips for...
Asian Greens: Hydroponic Superstars
Though not as common as Western crops like lettuce, Asian greens grow just as well in hydroponic setups and offer a diverse range of flavors alongside their stacked...
Tools for a Well-Stocked Grow Room
Hydroponics is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. There are many different systems, add-ons, and tools you can choose from to customize your grow room. Here are a few...
The Year-Round Greenhouse
You’ll need different things from your greenhouse in the hot summer months than you will in the depths of winter - read on for some useful information before you buy or...
Increasing Automation with Autodosers
Autodosers provide consistency, precision, and certainty while removing the potential for human error. It’s no wonder that commercial and hobby growers alike are taking...
Can Hydroponics Save Threatened Plants Species?
Due to various pressures, the planet is losing plant diversity at an alarming rate. This is not god for ecosystems or humans. Lee Allen asked numerous experts for their...
Tips For the Home Grown Beginner: What Do I Need To Do To Start Growing My Own Weed?
Growing your own weed for the first time can be an exciting and overwhelming process. We take a look at what you should consider before you purchase your first seeds.
Grow Tents: 21st Century Greenhouses
Grow tents are a convenient and relatively inexpensive way to bring the greenhouse inside. Casey Jones Fraser explains why he’s a big fan.
Efficiency and the Indoor Garden
‘Why bother taking steps to maximize efficiency? My garden works, isn’t that enough?’ A garden writer examines cost versus yield in a typical indoor garden set-up and...
Stop the Presses: Hydroponics Certified Organic
Until November of 2017, growers debated the organic certification of hydroponics. Now, the verdict is in.
10 Key Tips for Growing Marijuana Using Hydroponics
Getting started using hydroponics to grow marijuana can be tricky. Here are ten tips to make it a little bit easier.
Hydro Meal Planning 101
Every garden is unique, so a one-size-fits-all nutrient scheme isn’t always the best for hydroponic setups. In this article, Eric Hopper lays out the basics of how to...
10 Tips For Gardening in Grow Tents
A grow tent is a handy piece of equipment that can turn any kind of indoor space into a garden.
Measuring, Analyzing, and Adjusting Hydroponic Nutrient Solutions
If measuring, analyzing, and adjusting nutrient solutions is a tough task for you, we simplify the concepts for hydroponic nutrient solutions.
What Grow Medium Is Right For You?
Matt LeBannister discusses the attributes of various hydroponic grow mediums and which systems they are ideal for.
The Best Hydroponic Systems for Lily Production
Lilies are a beautiful and popular flower that can be very effectively grown hydroponically, but all systems are not created equal. Which systems are best?
Personal Food Computers: The Ultimate Community Garden?
The Personal Food Computer (PFC) could have us creating our foods like a Star Trek replicator. Learn more about it here.
Good to Grow: LED Grow Lights, Hydroponic Bucket Systems, and Calcium Additives
Boost the performance of your garden with the latest products available for modern growers, featuring items from Lumileds, Vitaponix, Divine Hydroponics, Sunlight Supply...
The Art of Harvesting Hydro Hops
Hydroponic hops aren’t new, but growing them in nutrient-rich solutions is.
How to Grow Tubers, Bulbs, and Root Crops Using Hydroponics
We tend to treat potatoes, onions, carrots, and similar root and tuber crops as cheap commodity vegetables, but they have far more potential than most growers realize.
How and Why Millennials Are Making Urban Gardening Mainstream
Martha Stewart once said millennials don’t have the drive to learn how to grow a vegetable, but nothing could be further from the truth.
How to Start Your First Hydroponic Garden: A Guide for Beginners
After learning about grow media choices, finding the correct water source and the planting process, you’ll see that the art of hydroponics doesn’t have to feel like...
Good to Grow: LED Bar Lights, Liquid Fertilizers, NFT Systems, and Bud Boosters
Boost the performance of your garden with the latest products available for modern growers, featuring items from Current Culture, KIND LED, Growers Supply, One Way to...
3 Types of High-Value Cash Crops to Grow Hydroponically
If your local grocery store is always out of certain produce that can be grown hydroponically, there might be an opportunity to fill that niche.
Grow Lettuce Indoors All Winter
There’s nothing better than biting into a nice, crunchy salad made with homegrown lettuce leaves, but with frost covering the backyard garden, you’re going to need to...
Tips for Growing Plants in a Hydroponic Wick System
Wick systems are cheap and easy to set up, but they can take a lifetime to master. Here are a few tips.
Improving the Flavor of Crops with Photoperiodism
Understanding your plants’ photosynthesis requirements and matching them to proper lighting affects taste and nutrition in your hydroponic garden.
Good to Grow: Grow Tents, Reservoirs, Plant Tonics, and SCROG Systems
Boost the performance of your garden with the latest products available for modern growers.
Peas, Beans, and Peanuts: How to Grow Legumes Hydroponically
While dried lentils are cheap enough to buy at the grocery store, fresh legumes have a place in your hydroponic garden.
The 6 Most Common Types of Hydroponic Systems Found in Modern Grow Rooms
Hydroponic systems have come a long way since they were first envisioned. These are the six types of hydroponic systems that you will find in the modern cultivator’s...
Want To Go From Hydroponics To Soil? Here's a Quick Guide
There are many reasons why cultivators might transplant their plants from hydroponic systems into soil. Here's how to go about it.
Things to Consider Before Growing Hops Hydroponically
Hop crops are in big demand these days, but can they be grown hydroponically? Let's take a look.
Setting Up a Kratky Hydroponics System in 6 Easy Steps
Kratky hydroponics is a soilless growing method that is so simple in its design, it is the perfect introduction into the world of hydroponics.
Tips for Growing Spinach, Endive, and Chard Using Hydroponics
Spinach, endive, and chard all have good levels of some well-researched health promoting compounds and are well worth the investment in time and effort to grow.
Don't Try to Grow These Plants Hydroponically
There are some crops that just do better in hydro systems, and some that you'll want to avoid even trying to grow.
Food Grade vs. Food Safe: What's The Difference?
Think you know the difference between food-grade and food-safe terminology? Think again! The answer isn't very clear.
How Hydrogels Can Benefit Your Hydroponic Garden
Hydrogels, strange products that act as a solid even though they absorb vast amounts of liquid, have a wide range of uses in the modern world.
Grow It: 3 Products To Help Boost Your Cannabis Yields
In this post we are featuring One Way to Grow nutrients, Sierra Natural Science disease and fungal control, and Nature's Nectar terpene booster.
How to Grow Plants in Rockwool
For many commercial growers, rockwool is becoming an increasingly popular growing medium. It is also becoming popular for home growers. But with any growing medium,...
Hydroponics vs. Aquaponics: Which One is Right For You?
It can be difficult to get consensus on whether aquaponics or hydroponics is better. Let’s look at the two systems and learn what some experts on the subject say.
Using a Bloom Booster to Supercharge the Flavor of Home-Grown Harvests
Several things need to be taken into consideration when growing spices, condiments and aromatic plants for flavour and quality, such as the safety and purity of the...
Your Plants Are Hungry, Feed Them (But Not Too Much)
When looking over the nutrient aisle there are a vast number of products to choose from and just as varied are the directions for feeding. Be sure to find the feeding...
Algae Growth in Your Hydroponic System: Friend or Foe?
Algae, a green slimy plague that can rapidly overrun an unprotected hydroponic system, is a constant battle many growers face in keeping their indoor garden sparkling...
Big Blooms: How to Grow Exhibition-sized Flowers
Exhibition-sized flower blooms of many species can have a real wow factor, whether they are on display at a local floral show or tucked away in an indoor garden.
Growing Saffron Hydroponically
Saffron, the world's highest-priced spice, lends a distinctive and highly prized flavor to many dishes. It turns out the crocus sativus plant can thrive in a hydroponic...
Tap Water and its Impact on Hydroponic Nutrients and Supplements
There’s no point in feeding your garden expensive nutrients if the stuff in your tap water is keeping the plants from absorbing them.
Hydroponics: Top Feeds to Follow on Twitter
Get the latest updates on hydroponics from these top influencers on Twitter.
Can Hydroponics Lead to a Healthier Global Food Supply?
Can hydroponics play a role in providing healthier food, conserving resources, and reducing emissions as the world population grows?
How to Grow 4 Types of Berries Hydroponically
While hydroponic strawberries are not an uncommon crop and are relatively easy to grow, hydroponic blueberries, cranberries, and raspberries can also be produced on a...
Soil vs. Hydroponics: What Method Grows the Best Plants?
As more of our food and herbs are grown through various hydroponic techniques, the question of which is better: soil vs. hydroponics, comes up a lot.
How to Reduce Your Grow Room's Operational Costs
Save time and money while growing marijuana with these growroom efficiency tips from expert growers.
Why Growers are Crazy for Coco Coir
Coco coir (made from coconuts) is quickly becoming a popular grow medium offering horticulturalists many advantages in the garden. Coir fibers are rich in hormones and...
How to Grow Basil and Cilantro Using Hydroponics
Growing basil and cilantro outdoors is easy, but growing these herbs indoors presents challenges. Discover a few tips to keeping the flavor and overall quality of these...
How to Grow Fodder in a Hydroponics System
When we think about hydroponics, we often only consider products for human consumption. However, for many reasons, farmers are now looking for new ways to produce their...
Can You Sterilize and Reuse Your Grow Media?
The prospect of saving money and reducing waste by reusing the disposable components of your growroom is tempting, but it doesn’t come without risk.
Humic or Fulvic Acid: What Kind are Your Plants On?
Humic and fulvic acids are natural, complex molecules that improve the uptake of nutrients in both soil and hydroponics. Sourcing these acids for your garden can be...
Tips for Growing Alliums in Your Next Garden
Garlic, onions, shallots, scallions and chives are all a part of the allium family. While many types thrive outdoors, others are better-suited to indoor gardening,...
Why Are My Leaves Turning Yellow?
Yellowing leaves can be caused by just about anything that’s a little out of whack. Here we examine three common nutrient deficiencies.
Hydroponic Seed Starting 101: A Primer for Beginners
Starting your seeds hydroponically has many benefits, but many people are unsure how to go about it.
How to Boost the Calcium Levels in Your Hydroponic System
Ah, calcium complexities. Improving calcium nutrition within the plant is not merely a simple case of dosing up with increasingly higher levels of this element.
Will Hydroponic Crops Ever Become Organic Certified?
Kathleen Marshall explains why certified organic hydroponically grown foods are under scrutiny.
Can I Grow Cauliflower Hydroponically?
Cauliflower is a member of the brassica family, which also includes kale, cabbage, kohlrabi, Brussels sprouts and broccoli.
Light Intensity vs. Temperature in a Grow Tent
To maximize efficiency in an indoor garden, it’s tempting to hang grow lights as close to plants as physically possible, but this could spell disaster, especially when...
How Vertical Farming Works to Maximize Crop Output
Vertical farming is one of the hottest things to happen to agriculture, showing tremendous potential for revolutionizing the field.
The Power of ORP: Getting the Most Out of Oxidation Reduction Potential
Have you heard of oxidation reduction potential? Well, turns out it can have a huge impact in the indoor garden. Read on to learn all about ORP and how to use it to your...
5 Mistakes Rookie Home Growers Make
If you are new to maintaining a home garden, there are a handful of rookie mistakes that are easy to make. Fortunately, you don't have to reinvent the wheel.
Next Generation Hydroponic Farming: Desert Greens H2O
2016 was one hell of a year so far for Tom Blount, systems designer and grower at Desert Greens H2O.
Getting Rid of Algae in the Grow Room
Although they aren’t classified as plants, algae are comparable photosynthetic organisms that grow in the same environment as plants.
Hydroponics Economics: Pricing Out a Hydroponic System
For many hydro hobbyists, spending money on their passion is a joy, not a burden. After all, it’s what makes you happy. Still, most of us have household budgets we need...
Growing Fruit Trees Using Hydroponics
While not the most common choice, it is possible to grow fruit trees in a hydroponic garden.
Using PRO-MIX in Hydroponics
With the increased popularity of indoor gardening, the term hydroponics has been associated with peat-based soilless growing media. However, there are some differences.
Choosing the Right Grow Media for Greenhouse Herb and Vegetable Production
Growing media are made of engineered materials designed to provide ideal physical and chemical characteristics for the root environment. There's a lot that goes in to...
What the Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) Can Do For Your Garden
The concept of cation exchange capacity (CEC) is one that often confuses novice and seasoned gardeners alike; however, a basic understanding can greatly influence...
Meet the Maximum Yield Team at the San Jose GrowX Show, June 3-4 2017
Maximum Yield is hosting a new series of indoor gardening trade shows and is kicking things off in San Jose on June 3-4, 2017 with the GrowX. Come join us on Saturday or...
Healing Hydroponics: Try Growing These Medicinal Plants
How to grow Hieracium pilosella and Hypericum perforatum hydroponically.
Farm to Table: The Boathouse
In Traverse City, Michigan, The Boathouse offers its customers a true locavore dining experience, literally from farm to table.
How to Optimize the Strength of Hydroponic Nutrient Solutions
Accurately measuring the concentration of your nutrient solution being applied to your crops is critical for optimizing yields, but don’t forget to factor in...
What Every Grower Needs to Know About Water Quality
Water. It’s a basic requirement for all life on our planet and absolutely essential to every aspect of gardening—both indoors and out—but how much does the average...
Seeing Double: Double-ended, High Pressure Sodium (HPS) Lighting
Double-ended, high-pressure sodium (HPS) lighting is emerging from several manufacturers in the hydroponics industry, and growers trying the new technology experience...
Talking Shop with Green Coast Hydroponics
The origin of Green Coast Hydroponics was a convergence of enthusiasm and a need to put some smarts to good use.
The Top 7 Mistakes Made By Hydroponic Growers
Dr. Nate Storey’s guide for beginning growers who are interested in operating successful hydroponic systems details seven of the most common obstacles encountered by...
How Do Modular Hydroponic Systems Work?
Modular hydroponics systems are repeatable grow systems that can extend from a small area such as a closet or bedroom to any unlimited space.
How to Decide Between a Grow Tent and a Grow Room
There are plenty of choices to make when starting a new grow operation, but one of the biggest is deciding on where to house your plants.
The Convenience of Hydroponic Nutrient Application Systems
The application of a balanced nutrient solution to plant roots is a basic principle of hydroponic growing. Making this irrigation as efficient and effective as possible,...
The Benefits of Introducing a Gentle Breeze to Your Indoor Crops
Frank Rauscher explains the benefits of introducing wind to your indoor crops.
An Introduction to Microponics: How to Create a Tiny Ecosystem in Your Backyard
Microponics takes aquaponics to a whole new level.
Hydroponics: Pros and Cons of Hydroponic Gardening
Plants grown hydroponically are of exceedingly high quality, occupy less space, and consume fewer resources than traditional growing methods.
Goldleaf Hydroponics Set to Open in Bloomington, Indiana
Goldleaf Hydroponics is pleased to announce their grand opening celebration taking place on April 1, 2017, in Bloomington, Indiana.
9 Creative Places to Start Your Next Garden
Gardens need not be confined to the backyard. Here are some other potential places to start a garden this spring.
Farm to Table: Future Foods Farms
With a large organic farm that raises fish along with produce by using aquaponics, Adam Navidi’s Future Foods Farms also utilizes fruit trees, soil beds, and chickens to...
Progress is Sweet (Potatoes)
For years, researchers have searched for a carbohydrate crop that grows well, efficiently, and reliably in simplified hydroponics. It’s possible the search is over.
The Kratky Method is a Simple and Fun Way to Grow
The Kratky Method is a way of hydroponically growing your plants in a container without needing electricity, air stones, pumps, or anything else.
Take It Outside: Why Outdoor Hydroponic Systems Make Sense
While designed for indoor growing, outdoor hydroponic systems can provide solutions to problems such as diminishing arable land, water shortages, and food security. Eric...
Perlite in the Garden: To Use or Not to Use?
Though tiny, a grain of perlite can be mighty. Frank Rauscher digs deep to outline the benefits and drawbacks that lightweight perlite can play in aerating your growroom...
Is Biofilm in a Hydroponic System Bad?
Biofilms are often poorly understood by hydroponic gardeners. Here's why.
FarmScrapers: Vertical Gardening that Combines the Past and Future of Agriculture
Enter farmscrapers: skyscrapers with veggies on the inside and even some with trees on the outside. This revolutionary approach takes its inspiration from vertical...
10 Frequently Asked Questions in the Hydroponics Shop
Indoor gardening can be a complex hobby with many factors to consider, from lighting and nutrients to pest control and environmental issues. Matt LeBannister answers...
The Birds and the Bees of Hydroponics: How to Pollinate Plants
Pollination and the resulting fruit set are vital processes for many common hydroponic crops, and an indoor garden can pose challenges to both.
10 Things to Know About Your Nutrient Reservoir
Let's take a look at 10 things you should consider when pondering the efficacy of your nutrient reservoir and system. Some of your persistent problems may begin, and...
Is Chemical Flushing Necessary?
In nature, water serves as an ideal flushing system. It will work for your hydroponic system, too. But is it the best means available? Rich Hamilton dives in headfirst...
Comparing Various Water Culture Hydroponic Systems
Water culture hydroponics is one of the fastest growing segments of hydroponics, but there are a number of factors to consider when choosing a system.
Hydroponic Ginger & Turmeric Production
?Bored with growing tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce? Try growing spicy rhizomes!
The Facts on Fogponics
Many growers are already well-acquainted with the various ways in which to set up a growing system. While hydroponics, aquaponics and aeroponics are all becoming more...
Flushing for Soil and Hydroponic Gardens
Flushing is an important, relatively simple, and all too often misunderstood technique that should be used by just about every gardener. A proper flushing could be the...
The Eco Home II: New Homes for a New World
Charles Winslow is very concerned about the state of the planet, but he’s got some pretty amazing ideas about how to fix it—and they all start at home.
Reverse Osmosis: How to Get the Most out of Your RO System
Pure water is as important for your plants as it is for you. Find out how to use a reverse osmosis filter to get the most out of your garden and learn how to extend the...
Parasitic Pathogens: Infectious Diseases in Hydroponics
Problems with parasitic pathogens in your indoor garden? You’re not alone. Unfortunately, parasitic or infectious diseases are not an uncommon occurrence in the growroom.
Analyzing Nutrient Film Technique
NFT systems are still widely used by both commercial and hobbyist horticulturists. Although the commercial use of NFT is focused on leafy greens and vegetative crops,...
Evolution of Hydroponic Nutrition
Hydroponic nutrients, like indoor gardening hardware, have evolved immensely over the last 10 years. There have been major breakthroughs in the methods used to extract,...
Going with the Flow: Ebb and Flow Hydroponic Systems
Ebb and flow, or flood and drain, hydroponic systems are popular with hobby growers because they are easy and inexpensive to build, can be built to fit any space, and...
Giving Plants the Green Light
Green light is not apparently useful for plant metabolism, but it does seem to play a role in plant form and composition, as well as being a catalyst for the better use...
What is a Deep Water Culture System?
Standard water culture systems and deep water culture systems (DWC) are about the simplest types of hydroponic systems available, and they are also very efficient at...
Bioponics: A Strange Hybrid
Bioponics, a method of growing coined by hydroponics veteran William Texier, involves the use of certified-organic nutrients in a hydroponic solution along with a...
Keeping With the Flow: Hydroponic Irrigation Systems
Hydroponics relies on water flow. Here’s a look at how two of the main irrigation systems—drain-to-waste and recirculating—keep plants healthy and waste to a minimum in...
Tasty Tomatoes: Improving Flavor and Quality in Hydroponically Grown Tomatoes
Off-season tomatoes are usually dull, tasteless and way too firm. Thankfully, however, there is now research being conducted on how to breed that summer flavor in those...
Undergoing an Organic Transformation
Over the past few years, many people have become more educated in organic production techniques. Here’s a closer look at how this education has helped transform the...
Is Organic Hydroponics Always Better?
Is organic the only wise choice left out there? Let's start by deciding what it means to be truly organic in the first place, and then apply the concept of organics to a...
Perfecting the pH of Your Hydroponic Nutrient Solution
The pH levels in small hydroponic systems can often be overlooked if a grower is focusing more on monitoring a solution’s EC or TDS, balancing nutrients, providing...
Something Old, Something New: New Crops for Hydroponics
Plant breeders are continually coming up with new cultivars, but some of the most interesting new prospects for hydroponics are actually ancient crops with great...
Hydroponics 101: A Back-to-basics Guide
Hydroponics is the practice of growing plants, food crops or flowers in a liquid medium without the use of soil. Hydroponic crops can be grown indoors year-round,...
A Deep Look At Deep Water Culture
Deep water culture is a method of growing plants hydroponically where the plant's roots are suspended in a solution of nutrient-rich, oxygenated water. Here's everything...
Going Down: Gravity-fed Hydroponic Systems
Understanding the ups and downs of gravity-fed hydroponic systems.
A Tale of Two Hydro Systems: Drip Irrigation & Ebb and Flow
The two popular types of watering systems compared in this article are ebb and flow and drip irrigation.
Powering Photosynthesis: How to Maximize Light Usage in Hydroponic Crops
To achieve maximum yields, growers need to ensure they are providing the right amount and type of light and optimal environmental conditions for plants to...
How Grow Tents Work
A basic grow tent is comprised of a lightweight, six-sided fabric exterior installed over a rigid frame and includes a main opening and various apertures suitable for...
Defining Malnutrition in DWC Hydroponic Systems
From ‘more is more’ to ‘less is more’, deep water culture growers are now settling in the middle when it comes to plant nutrition.
8 Crop Micronutrients Growers Can't Ignore
Understanding the small role each micronutrient plays in the garden will help prevent gardeners from overlooking their importance.
Hydroponic Systems: Know When to Flush ’Em
There are two main reasons to flush a hydro system. You’re either flushing to clean out the system, or to rid your plants of excess nutrients.
Take Your Growroom to the Next Level
A hydro shop owner discusses all of the ways she helps her customers turn their basic growrooms into super growrooms.
Developments & Dialogue: Phytoponics
Phytoponics is a start-up company tackling food security and sustainability through a patent-pending, low-cost, easy-to-use and adaptable hydroponic grow bag called the...
Going Greener: Five Ways to Reduce your Growroom’s Environmental Impact
While growing your own food does wonders for the environment, hydroponic systems still use a lot of energy. Luckily, there are at least five ways you can reduce your...
The Do’s and Don’ts of Rockwool
As a growing medium, rockwool has been in use for more than 40 years and is one of the most commonly used substrates in commercial hydroponic productions across the...
Taking Control Using Control Systems
Right now there is a newer type of technology practically becoming essential for growing. All in all, control systems are a part of the indoor gardening industry that...
Between Hydro Crops: What to Do and What to Reuse
When you’re between crops in the indoor garden, it’s a good time to think about cleaning your system and sorting out what to keep and what to throw away.
Growing Fodder Hydroponically for Backyard Chickens
Chicken fodder, grown from seeds such as rye grass, millet, buckwheat, clover and kale, can easily and plentifully be grown in an ebb and flow system.
Eliminating Odors in the Growroom
Most growers have experienced a strong smell coming from their growrooms, caused by either their plants or products they are using. Here’s a look at some different...
Dialing In Your Greenhouse
For commercial greenhouse growers, providing the optimal growing conditions for plants is vital to success.
Hydroponics 7 Ways: Tips for Setting Up Common Systems
Considering switching to hydroponics? Having a good understanding of how the different hydro systems work will help you get the best results possible.
Waste Water and the Hydrologic Cycle
We take you on a tour of our planet’s water cycle—which may or may not include alien motherships.
Delectable Delights: Growing Hydroponic Melons & Eggplants
Fresh, sweet, vine-ripened melons, exotic eggplant varieties and the lesser-known, fragrant pepinos are just some of the culinary delights we have come to expect from...
The Future of Hydroponic Crop Production: The Membrane Meniscus Method
The membrane meniscus method is an innovative hydroponic growing method that proponents say has the potential to drastically change the way growers view hobby and...
Disposing of Growroom Waste
Responsibly disposing of growroom waste isn’t always easy, especially with regulatory discrepancies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Still, we all want to do our best...
Choosing Your First Hydroponic System
For growers trying out hydroponics for the first time, choosing the best system can be a daunting task. Are you up for the challenge?
Seasonal Greenhouse Maintenance
Greenhouses are an effective way to control the environment of your plants and protect them from a host of ill fates. The downside is that greenhouses are the perfect...
Extreme Greenspaces: 21st Century Greenhouses and Urban Gardens
The planet is running out of arable land to feed an ever-increasing population, but that’s not stopping innovative problem solvers from coming up with solutions.
Hydroponic Hygiene
The “kill everything” approach to sterilizing a hydroponic system during a massive cleanout is an outdated idea. After all, you don’t want to kill the good microbes that...
Good Greenhouse Planning
A greenhouse can provide growers of all skill levels with some fantastic, additional growing space. With the proper design, greenhouses can give green thumbs extended...
Hydroponic Illumination & the Daily Light Integral
Working out your garden’s daily light integral, or the total amount of light your plants receive during a 24-hour period, is an illuminating process that provides some...
Troubleshooting in the Hydroponic Garden
Most common problems experienced in hydroponic gardens are caused by one of four main things: nutrition, the plant’s growing environment, pests and pathogens and—less...
Top 10 Troubles in the Beginner’s Growroom
Many of the following 10 common mistakes in the growroom can be prevented with a little diligence during the initial stages of plant growth.
Algae and Hydroponics
Many fans of hydroponics regard this method of growing as a form of weed-free gardening, but that doesn’t mean hydro growers are in the clear where weeds are...
Gardening 101: A Back-to-Basics Primer for Growing
All gardeners start out the same way—not knowing how to garden, and then learning. Here is the first in a series of articles written for those just starting out. Read on...
Physiological Disorders of Indoor Gardens
Indoor gardening offers to plants conditions that are fully under the gardener’s control. So, when physiological disorders strike, they can seem strange, mysterious and...
Green Blueprints
Good planning is as an important factor when it comes to thinking about your garden space as the location, water, soil, plant variety and weeding.
A Basic Guide to Aeroponics
Aeroponics is a method of hydroponic gardening that grows plants in an air or mist environment.
The History Of Hydro
We always hear that history repeats itself. This is so true when discussing hydroponic and aquaponic gardens.
The Modern Farmer’s Guide to Artificial Lighting
The following guide explains how LEDs work, how efficient they have become for indoor gardens, and some of the often overlooked factors when choosing LED lighting...
Slow & Steady: Slow Sand Filtration for Hydroponics
Sometimes taking your time truly does produce better results, which is why microfiltration using sand is one of the best defenses against nutrient-borne pathogens.
Lessons In Hydroponics
From ways to stretch a dollar when it comes to your lighting system, to effectively monitoring your pH levels, to scaling up your hydro system, the following article...
Aquaponic Worms FAQ
Much to everyone's surprise, worms are an important part of the ecology of an aquaponic system.
Choosing the Right Hydroponic Substrate
Today’s hydroponic substrates come in many different forms. The type you should be using depends on the needs of your specific application. Consider the following five...
Growing Organic
As Kermit the Frog says, it’s not easy being green. But when it comes to gardening organically, the reward is knowing what you’re eating is not filled with chemicals,...
Advanced Aeroponics: Setting Yourself Up For Success
Growing plants in an aeroponic system is simple if certain environmental parameters are met. For example, if your water temperature never reaches above 64°F, bad biology...
Making the Switch to Organic Hydroponics
Organic growing takes a little bit more work, but for those who do it, the end result of healthier crops is worth the extra effort. As the interest in organic produce...
Growing 101: Choosing a Hydroponic System
So, you’ve decided to give hydroponic gardening a try. Now what? First of all, you need to decide which hydroponic system to use.
Buffering Up: Adjusting the Cation Exchange Capacity in Coco Growing Media
The widespread use of calcium and magnesium supplements in the indoor gardening industry is an indication that many growers have discovered the cation exchange capacity...
Why Grow in a Greenhouse?
While some growers employ small greenhouses as part of their hobbies, real commercial-scale greenhouse production has the potential to generate a higher-value crop than...
The Aquaponics Revolution: How to Get Started
Aquaponics is an appealing method of gardening that is catching on in a big way across the United States.
Winter Lettuce Production
Head lettuces, such as iceberg lettuce, are not usually recommended for hydroponics, but there are many leaf lettuces and other leafy vegetables that are well-suited for...
Adventures In Vertical Gardening
If you can’t grow across due to a lack of space, try growing up. Vertical gardens are easy to set up and maintain just by applying the basic principles of container...
Garden Everywhere! Creative Spaces for Your Next Indoor Garden
There is always room to grow, even if you live in an apartment or every spare room in your house is spoken for!
A Delicacy From the Dark: Hydroponic Forcing of Witloof
Belgian endive, also known as witloof, is unlike any other vegetable grown hydroponically and its unique value and sophisticated flavor are two reasons why it is gaining...
Hydroponic Croponomics
Nutrient management is one of the vital components of a successful hydroponic garden.
How to Grow Aquatic Crops Hydroponically
Aquatic plants are easy to grow in modified hydroponic systems and provide both great indoor displays and exotic food crops to tempt the taste buds. Better yet, aquatic...
Essential Components for Starting an Indoor Garden
The first step to a healthy, vibrant indoor garden is to build a growroom with the hardware required to ensure plants are supplied with the essential elements for growth...
Daily Duties: Keeping Them All in Check
Much of the equipment that provides environmental manipulation and correction in a growroom should be checked every day. Automation has its place, but nothing replaces a...
The Evolution of a Growing Industry
The indoor gardening industry is constantly growing and evolving as new technologies emerge. Over the past couple of decades there has been a significant spike in growth...
Growing Up: How to Create Living Walls of Edible Plants
A properly designed and well-maintained living wall is a beautiful thing to behold and gathers many a compliment for the grower willing to put in the time and effort to...
Hydroponic Growing in Drought Conditions
Want to conserve more water? Recirculating water in your growing system for longer periods of time carries a few risks, but by following the guidelines in this article,...
Water Conservation and Hydroponics
As hydroponic gardeners already, we all understand the importance of conserving water—a hydroponic garden uses less water than a traditional, soil-based garden, and many...
Solutions for a Sustainable Future
The future of agriculture is making a gradual, and hopefully a positive, shift. People are embracing the possibility that they can take food production back into their...
Deep Impact: Dive Into Deep Water Culture
As the outdoor growing season nears its end, many growers will be considering their options for moving indoors. Might we suggest deep water culture?
Glazing Your Greenhouse: 5 Ways to Cover Up
A greenhouse glaze is the transparent cover material used over the frame that allows light to reach the plants inside. You may be surprised to learn there are several...
Ebb and Flow Hydroponic Systems
An ebb and flow hydroponic system maximizes nutrient uptake and available oxygen in the root zone. Here's how these systems work and why this method of hydroponic...
Optimal Nutrient Reservoir Parameters - Understanding the Heart of Your System
Getting the nutrient solution just right is important to ensure a successful, thriving garden. Read on to learn how to make your nutrient reservoir the best it can be.
New Trends in Hydroponic Growing: What to Expect in 2016 and Beyond
Technological advancements in the hydro industry are happening, fueled by the growing demand for fresh produce that’s cultivated closer to home.
Maintaining Healthy Hydroponic Root Systems
While root growth and health may go largely unobserved by many indoor gardeners, well-functioning root systems are vital to plant productivity.
Strands of Gold: Growing Saffron
Saffron is not difficult to grow indoors and saffron bulbs are readily obtainable at the right time of year for those who want to grow some of their own exotic spice.
Building up the Brix for Healthier, Nutrient-Dense Crops
The best organic farmers often boast about growing nutrient-dense, high-brix plants. Brix is a measurement of the sugar content in the sap, expressed as a percentage....
What’s the Problem? Hydroponic Troubleshooting
Many of the problems we encounter in a hydroponic garden are fairly easy to identify. But sometimes the problem plaguing your plants isn’t so clear. Here we diagnose...
Starting an Outdoor Hydroponic Garden
Summertime gives indoor growers the opportunity to take their hydroponic gardens outdoors, as plants, like their owners, also benefit from all of that free sunshine....
The Micro Revolution: Growing Hydroponic Microgreens
With just days between seed germination and harvest for many varieties and ideal for small spaces, microgreens are increasing in popularity amongst even the most...
Recipes for Success: Plant Diet Basics and Formulation Fundamentals
Experimenting with various nutrients and boosters is not just for commercial growers—thanks to the wide range of products available today, the hobby gardener can try it...
Contain Yourself: Seven Reasons to Consider Container Gardening
If you’ve grown something in a Styrofoam cup as a child you’ve already done some container gardening—but there’s a whole world of new possibilities out there for today’s...
Your Guide to Ceramic Metal Halide Grow Lights
Ceramic metal halide grow lights are an up-and-coming technology in the indoor gardening industry that come with many advantages. Here’s your guide to understanding...
The How-To of Organic Hydroponics
Growing organically means different things to different growers, but there are some basic principles at play when it comes to applying the concept to hydroponic systems.
How Soilless Agriculture Differs from Soil-based Agriculture
Whether plants are grown using soilless or soil methods, all crops require essential nutrients to grow. But is one method of delivering nutrients better? Read on to...
Perlite Revisited for Hydroponics Gardens
Anyone looking for a hydroponics system addition that is reliable, easy to use, and is budget friendly, should try growing their next crop in perlite. Read on to...
Finding a Happy Medium: Soilless Grow Media Tips & Tricks
Finding a good balance among different products and processes is the key to a successful indoor garden, and plant media is a prime example. Here’s some more info on all...
Considerations When Selecting a Systemic or Non-systemic Pesticide
No grower wants pests in their garden, but how they are dealt with can have varying consequences on plant health, your health, and the environment. Make the right choice...
The Future of Drones in Agriculture: Here Come the Agridrones
With more and more applications possible all the time as the technology improves and expands, agricultural drones are poised for takeoff, both outdoors and indoors. Here...
Reduce Your Overhead Costs with Greenhouses
Here is Jonathan Valdman with his take on how greenhouses can help a grower maximize profits and grow better crops.
With a Little Help From Your (Many) Friends: Beneficial Microbe Populations in the Indoor Garden
Millions of beneficial microbes live in and around your plants’ roots and root zone. Even though you can’t see them, these little guys can make or break your garden.
Preparation of Fertilizer Stock Solutions for Hydroponics
Stock solutions are time- and labor-saving liquids that also offer gardeners a lot of control. Here’s how to go about making your own.
Grindo: Indoor Quality, Outdoor Quantity, Greenhouse Grown
In a greenhouse, you have the ability to cultivate plants efficiently with indoor quality and outdoor quantity while greatly reducing your overhead and environmental...
Organic and Hydroponic Food Safety
As many as 76 million people in the United States report coming in contact with some form of foodborne illness every year and of this, around 5,000 cases result in death...
Is Organic Hydroponics Even Possible?
When is an organically grown hydroponic tomato not organic? When it’s Canadian, apparently.
Where Water Comes From: Sourcing Water for Your Hydroponic Garden
There are many places where water comes from, and each source affects your plants differently. Read on to learn about the different water sources you are likely to...
Balancing Growth in the Garden
In hydroponic systems, it’s not uncommon to see extremely lush vegetative growth at the expense of fruit yields, or plants that take forever to produce flowers—or don’t...
Low-Maintenance Hydroponics: Self-Watering Containers
Thinking about that summer vacation? Well, sub-irrigation—with its concealed water supply hydrating the growing medium—might be the key to some well-earned time off....
Blushing Hydroponic Tomatoes
Many of us are familiar with the benefits of eating locally and seasonally. Fortunately, by taking advantage of the technology used in hydroponics, we can all enjoy...
Going Pro: The Advancement & Commercialization of Indoor Gardening
The indoor horticulture market is rapidly expanding and becoming progressively more competitive. Thinking about going pro? The first thing to look at is streamlining...
Aromatic Adventures: Growing Exotic Herbs and Spices Hydroponically
Many people value the distinctive flavors that herbs and spices from faraway places add to a dish and the good news is many of these tropical and subtropical plants...
Organic Concepts: Their Theories and Practices
About 150 years ago, investigators proposed a concept known as the humus theory. While the original hypothesis was undermined years ago, this theory remains the base for...
Conservation Starts in the Garden
Every little bit helps—and Casey Fraser explains how you can help preserve the environment by using just a little bit less of everything in your garden.
Perfecting the System
Lee McCall walks us through the set-up for a comprehensive new growing system that he thinks just might be the start of something big in the grow biz.
Happy Ginger (in Hydroponics)
Globally loved ginger is normally grown in tropical/sub-tropical soil. Here's how you can grow this rhizome using hydroponics.
What is the best way to grow an avocado plant using an aeroponic system?
Congratulations on building your first aeroponics system! Here are the answers to your questions in order.The best nutrients to use with aeroponics are typically...
How can I reduce the cost of starting an indoor garden?
Thank you for your question, Nick. Most of your indoor gardening costs should come from a combination of environmental conditioning and artificial lighting, so those are...
What types of nutrients do hydroponic melons require?
Fruiting plants such as muskmelons being grown on this scale really do need to be provided with different vegetative and fruiting nutritional formulations as they move...
How can I tell if the biofilm in my hydroponic system is beneficial?
Biofilms usually contain a number of different microbial species, some of which may be pathogenic (but usually many which are also beneficial or benign in a healthy...
I have organic sources of N-P-K on hand already. How would I go about mixing them to the correct N-P-K ratios?
Hello, Page. Thanks for the detailed information. Unfortunately, it’s not just a case of simply switching from normal hydroponic fertilizer salts to organic products in...
Cucumber flavor more resembles water than cucumber. Any suggestions?
Hello Scott, Unlike tomato fruit, cucumbers don’t tend to develop a particularly strong flavor: however, they shouldn’t taste like water. There can be a number of causes...
What is the ideal nutrient ppm concentration for watermelons, and what special care is needed to grow square watermelons?
Watermelons grow extremely well in hydroponic systems. Provided conditions are warm enough, plants will produce large, sweet fruit. The elemental levels for growing...
What advice can you offer about making a hydroponic garden out of an old shipping container?
Shipping containers have been turned into highly successful hydroponic systems in many different climates and they can be a good choice for a compact and productive...
What is the recommended color temperature for growing wasabi?
There are more than 20 varieties of wasabi known in its native habitat, Japan, where cultivars are often region specific. In the United States, the main cultivars grown...
How do I determine if my hydroponic nutrient solution is the right concentration for my plants?
Most hydroponic fertilizer companies will include application directions in their product literature that are broken down by specific plant sizes and stages of...
Can you give me some tips on setting up a small and inexpensive aquaponic system?
Aquaponics, which is the use of a live fish farm to feed the hydroponic garden set-up, is a great way to garden that helps conserve water and maximizes yields...
What is the difference in start-up costs between hydroponic and aquaponic systems?
You should take comfort in the fact that there are literally tens of thousands of people scratching their heads over these exact problems right now. If you’re very quiet...
What should a new grower know about nutrients?
When growers are choosing a base nutrient, they will quickly discover there are one-part, two-part or three-part options. Although these base nutrients vary by the...
Where can I get wasabi seeds?
Unfortunately, there probably isn’t much available in the way of wasabi seed at certain times of the year, as when the plants would typically have only just finished...
Can you grow potatoes hydroponically?
We know many readers have been experimenting with growing different crops hydroponically. For this special Ask the Experts section, we went to the experts at Hydrofarm....
What are the best plants to grow with an ebb and flow (flood and drain) hydroponic system?
The best varieties for a small, hydroponic greenhouse in your climate would be hybrid types of tomato and cucumber plants, and heat-tolerant cultivars of lettuce. Hybrid...
How should I mix hydroponic nutrient solution concentrates when cultivating ginger hydroponically?
Standard practice when making up hydroponic nutrient concentrates, which are stock solutions that you then further dilute with water to working strength to apply to the...
Which nutrients should I provide to grow ginger in a hydroponics garden?
Ginger grows extremely well in hydroponics and there have been a number of research trials investigating the best methods of production as well as plant nutrition. A...
