by John Boguhn

Created on: July 12, 2009

There is a sense amongst those who are uninformed that Hydroponics is an elaborate and complicated system of gardening. It can be, but it doesn't have to be. Yes our Space Program has tried to developed it for extended mission, and the pictures of commercial gardens often look like some science experiment gone wild. But those are the extreme examples. Hydroponics in it's simplest terms is anything but complicated. Chances are you may have already had a garden and didn't even know it. If you have ever taken a sweet potato, stuck tooth picks in it, suspended it in a jar of water and then waited for roots to grow you have already had a Hydroponic garden.

Granted that little 3rd grade science experiment defines the concept in it's simplest terms, but it is still alternative gardening. And after all, that is what this strange horticultural phenomena is, an unconventional way of growing plants. Don't fear the use of nutrient solutions and alternative growing mediums. It's not some mystical event or some high tech gadgetry. It's a method of raising plants in a way that the average person can accomplish. A way of growing fruits, vegetables and flowers even if your surroundings don't offer you fertile ground and perfect weather. It even applies itself to drought prone areas, as Hydroponics uses less water than conventional gardening.

A back deck, a hall closet or even a small space on your kitchen counter can serve as your planting field. See plants need five basic things to grow; food, water, air, light and a little darkness. ( Bet you didn't see that one coming did you. Even plants need to sleep, especially when they're producing product.) They really don't care what system supplies these essentials as long as delivery come in a comfortable manor and the quantities are in manageable amounts. A tomato plant will grow in a field that gets lots of sun and regular water, or in basket were it's roots dangle in aerated nutrient rich water with artificial light. As long as they get there 5 needs filled without a lot of stress healthy growth will come. And that is why Hydroponics works so well; it supplies plants with basic needs thru untraditional methods, allowing a person to have a nice garden anywhere.

As far as getting started, you need to first decide what method to use. There are basically two types of systems; passive and active. This refers to how they get the nutrient solution. ( Don't be afraid; that is just the term for water that has had plant food supplements

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