In this busy world in which we live, time and space are at a premium, especially for city-dwellers, whose choice of home is often dictated by their occupation.  Many people dream of having their own outside space, in which to grow, not just flowers, but fruit and vegetables.

For years, people working in offices and living in high-rise apartments, took it for granted that gardening was out of their reach but now, with hydroponic gardening becoming mainstream, this is no longer just a dream and is, in fact, easily attainable.

The science behind hydroponic gardening sounds daunting, but is really quite simple, and a system can be set up in the smallest of indoor spaces, when outside growing space is unavailable.

The word ‘hydro’ is Greek for ‘water’; ‘ponos’ means ‘labor’. The term hydroponic gardening refers to the cultivation of plants without soil, and this is the basic premise for the method.. It is the perfect system for the gardenless gardener.

The most basic hydroponic garden can be set up with a minimum of fuss, and using materials that can be found in the family kitchen. Ideal for children, it is easy to construct and maintain, and, as a bonus, educational. For those new to this method of gardening, it perfectly illustrates the way it works.

Take a clean jar, a piece of paper towel, folded so it fits around the inside of the jar. Pour a little water into the jar to wet the towel, so that it sticks to the inside, then place a bean between the damp towel and the side of the jar. Within a day, you will be able to see the bean alter, just slightly at first, then the roots will find their way to the water, and, before long, you will have a plant. The most important point is to remember to keep the towel damp at all times, so your system will need daily inspection and topping up. Keep a little water in the bottom of the jar so that the towel has a ready supply. It will act as a wick to soak up the water and provide the bean with enough to keep it growing. This process is called ‘capillary action’.

Plants can be grown hydroponically all year round, with no regard to the changing seasons, so that fresh fruit and vegetables can be available even when they would normally be out of season. The plants are bigger than they would be if grown outside, and produce far larger crops. The nutrients they need are added to the water in which their roots grow. In the outside garden, these roots would have to search deep into the soil for these nutrients, so the energy saved by eliminating the need for soil, can be put to better use, growing the plants themselves. They do not have to contend with insects and disease, because their environment is carefully controlled. Their essential needs are very basic; just water, nutrients, light, humidity and temperature control, all of which can be provided easily and, if necessary, automatically, once the initial system has been constructed. A system can be set up in a spare room and, once automatic timers have been set, will have little need for human touch. The hydroponics gardener will be able to leave his garden, not just for days at a time, but weeks. He will have the luxury of being able to take trips away from home, safe in the knowledge that his plants are being taken care of, without having to arrange for someone to look after them in his absence.

The simplicity of hydroponics gardening belies how rewarding it is, both in terms of the satisfaction that can be gained from growing, harvesting and eating your own food, to the wonder that it can all be done without any outside space.

Article content distributed by HydroponicSearch.com - The Hydroponics Gardening Community Site.