Hydroponic gardening is a method of growing plants without soil, using a water-based nutrient solution instead. The roots of the plants are either suspended in the solution or grown in an inert medium such as peat moss, coir, perlite, or clay pebbles. Hydroponic gardening is used to cultivate ornamental crops, herbs, and multiple vegetable types including cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, and tomatoes.

Hydroponic systems can be designated as either liquid (closed) or aggregate (open or closed), with the closed-types requiring nutrient management techniques. Hydroponic gardening is space-efficient and takes less water than gardening in soil. It also reduces the risk of plant pests and diseases since there is no soil for them to survive in.

Hydroponic gardening is becoming more popular among small farmers, hobbyists, and commercial enterprises. Many experts in agriculture consider hydroponic gardening to be the future of food production, as hydroponic gardens can be made to fit just about anywhere and can be used to grow produce all year round.

To grow hydroponically, you need plants, a container, water, a way to anchor the plants, nutrients, and a light source. Hydroponic plants are often grown in inert media that support the plant’s weight and anchor its root structure. Hydroponic cultures lead to the highest biomass and protein production compared to other growth substrates, of plants cultivated in the same environmental conditions and supplied with equal amounts of nutrients.