What does hydroponic gardening mean?

Hydroponics is a popular and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional gardening; and even if you have no yard, you can take advantage of its unique benefits in order to provide healthy, fresh produce for your family. Hydroponic gardening is perfect for city dwellers, commercial plant growers, schools, and farmers alike. Build yourself a hydroponic system, or buy one of many commercially available models, and you will be well on your way to enjoying a plentiful harvest.
Hydroponics is a centuries-old method of growing plants without the use of soil. The nutrients plants normally dervie from soil are delivered directly to the plants' roots. In a hydroponic garden, plants are suspended in growing trays. Without soil, the roots of the plant need not expand in an effort to seek out nutrients; therefore more plants can be grown in a smaller space. Plants no longer compete for root space or nutrients and grow faster and produce more fruit or flowers. Hydroponic systems often employ a growth medium such as Vermiculite, Rockwool, gravel or Perlite to physically support plants.
There are two basic types of hydroponic gardening: passive and active. In a passive garden, plants are suspended from a grow tray and their roots rest in a reservoir of water and nutrients. Alternatively, the grow tray may rest above the reservoir and the water or nutrients be passed to the plants via a wick. In an active garden, a water or nutrient solution is delivered from a reservoir to the plants at timed intervals via a water pump, drip line or spray line. In many active hydroponic gardens, the water or nutrient solution is recovered and returned to the reservoir for recirculation. In both active and passive systems, it is necessary to use an air pump to oxygenate the water or nutrient solution.

Hydroponic gardening