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Link: http://www.billboardmama.com/creating-an-alternative-indoor-garden-with-hydroponics-p-494.html

For several years now, indoor gardens have grown in popularity - from large greenhouses to small gardens in flower pots. However, more and more people are considering hydroponics to be both a fun hobby and a creative option to the conventional indoor gardens.

To define, hydroponics is the growing of plants without soil, by directly giving the roots a water-nutrient solution in a controlled lighting environment. At first, the process looks too techie-a-thing, but in reality, this is quite a simple concept. And because this method of growing plants in gaining more and more in popularity, it turns out that the number of products out there is rising as well - thereby making the process a whole lot simpler.

In actuality, the only role of soil in growing plants is to provide an anchor for the roots - it is only a medium through which water and nutrients are fed to the plant roots. The nutrients actually are transmitted to the roots in a water solution, which seeps through the soil, but is not provided by the soil. So as long as you have an alternative to anchor the roots, soil isn't actually necessary to having a healthy plant. In fact, by providing the water-nutrient solution yourself, you actually have a bit more control over the plant's well-being.

Here are just a couple of benefits of growing an indoor garden with hydroponics as opposed to soil:

1. Hydroponics actually makes use of 70-90 percent less water than using soil. This is because in actuality, only a tiny percentage of water feeds the plant roots - the rest is evaporated. With hydroponics, however, water is recycled over and over again - therefore, this process entails far less water with greater foliage and food.

2. Hydroponics gives you better control over the plant's overall well-being and yield. You can control the elements of the environment at which the plant grows - lighting, nutrient content, to name a few. It is way easier to modify the environment when you control the growing elements directly. With a little knowledge, you can provide optimum conditions for your plants to thrive, flower, and (if you are growing food) yield a good harvest.

Keep hydroponics on your list as an option to indoor gardening. You can definitely use conventional methods, but hydroponics can be a fun, educational, and productive alternative to growing in soil alone.

Link: http://www.billboardmama.com/basic-hydroponics-supplies-what-you-need-p-493.html

Hydroponic growing - the method of growing plants without soil - needs a lot of supplies before it is set up. A hydroponic kit is a great way for you to start this hobby as it contains all the basic hydroponics. But a kit might not be enough for you if you want to set up a bigger space. Good thing that the rising popularity of hydroponics has made available a large selection of hydroponic supplies. Here are some of the basic things you need to consider as far as hydroponics supplies are concerned.

GROW LIGHTS
Proper lighting is key to getting good growth, and different lights achieve various results. Among the most popular lights for hydroponics are: metal halide bulbs (ideal for vegetation growth), high-pressure sodium bulbs (good for the flowering phase), and high-output fluorescent bulbs (great and less expensive substitutes of the two bulbs).

HYDROPONIC SYSTEMS
There are different methods utilized to keep hydroponic plants nourished, but they typically follow a consistent process of providing nutrient solution to the plant roots, draining and recycling the solution, and keeping the plants properly anchored in a medium. Plant growing trays, water pumps, reservoirs as well as drainage are all supplies that are common to these systems.

MEDIUMS
The primary function of soil is to anchor the plant roots; in basic hydroponics, when growing hydroponically (without soil), plants require an alternate medium to anchor their roots. Some of the most popular growing mediums used as an alternative of soil are Rockwool, vermiculite, perlite, coconut and expanded clay; there are a host of other substitutes available out there as well. Hydroponics supplies retailers should be able to provide you with some tips on this.

AIRFLOW SUPPLIES
Fans and blowers are an important component of hydroponic growing because plants need good ventilation and airflow. There are a large number of these on the market to choose from, as well as air purification systems and carbon dioxide injectors to keep your plants healthy and the air quality good for them.

NUTRIENTS
Because of the many nutrient combinations and additives available, this part of hydroponic growing is by far the most perplexing. The important thing to know is what sorts of nutrient solutions are best for the types of plants you're growing, and what products best serve those particular plants. Once again, do not hesitate to ask for suggestions from your retailer if you're not certain what to do.

There's indeed a host of basic hydroponics supplies that are available to you - the list can be never-ending. The ones presented above are what you need to get you started - as you become more accustomed to this method, then your need for supplies would also change.