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Indoor gardening has been a favorite pastime of people for several years. People maintain gardens indoors for business or pleasure, in greenhouses and kitchens, for food and for therapy. And recently, hydroponic gardens has become a common alternative to the conventional indoor gardening.

The idea on hydroponic gardening - or the growing of plants without soil - isn't really a new one. History is rich with hydroponic gardening instances, with the Hanging Gardens of Babylon as one of the best examples. But today, technological advances have made hydroponics more common and accessible. Governments have been sponsoring hydroponic growing while many hobbyists are keeping them right in the confines of their homes.

In hydroponics, plants are grown without soil. The term comes from two Greek words which, together, means "working water." In this alternative, soil is not used as the anchor for the roots, rather, it's substituted by other alternatives; the nutrients are supplied through a water solution. What's more, natural light, artificial lighting or a mixture of the two is used in hydroponic indoor gardening. There is more control to the growth and the yield of the plants since the nutrient solution and lighting are closely observed.

There is an endless list of advantages of hydroponics. By taking away soil in the equation, plants can be grown in almost any controlled environment - in the dead of winter, in seasons of extended twilight and in places where soil is infertile. Secondly, hydroponics reduces water usage by 70-90% since the water solution is used over and over again as it washes the roots. Of course, the grower is given more influence on the yield of the plant by manipulating the following: lighting and the nutrient solution. Hydroponics can also be in large part educational for young people and adults alike, as you are given a firsthand look at how plants respond to water, nutrients and light.

Starting your own hydroponic garden isn't as expensive or complicated as you might think. With the many ways on how to set up a hydroponic system, it is easy to find a relatively inexpensive and user-friendly option. There are also many products available to help simplify the process. Indeed, you can learn a whole new method of indoor gardening by familiarizing yourself with the fundamentals of hydroponics - one that's both fun and satisfying.

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"Hydroponics" comes from a couple of Greek words meaning "working water." Simply, hydroponic basics entail the practice of growing plants in water, without soil.

The concept behind basic hydroponics is to provide plants with the essentials they need for growth essentials they usually obtain through the soil through alternative means. In order to grow, the following elements should be present:

* Light
* Water
* Nutrients
* A growth medium (i.e., an anchor for the roots)

Plants typically rely on the soil for three of these 4 elements water, nutrients and an anchor. However, the only thing the soil directly provides is the growth medium (water and nutrients come through the soil, but are not provided by the soil). So, if you provide an alternative anchor for the roots, you do not really need soil as long as you provide water, light and nutrients to the plant.

In hydroponic basics, plants are anchored on substitute medium such as Rockwool and vermiculite. Simple pump-and-recycle systems are normally used in providing the plants with ph-balanced solution of water and nutrients. Add lighting to that (natural, artificial or a combination of the two), and you can grow plants without soil! In fact, your plants could grow better as compared to using traditional techniques so long as you maximize the provision of these elements.

Of course, all of this begs the question from some: why go to all this trouble when you can just grow plants in traditionally? The responses to this inquiry are simple:

1. With hydroponics, we can grow plants almost anywhere. As long as we can create a controlled environment, we can grow food; we're not anymore limited to places with soil and sunlight. People in the urban areas who do not have access to a garden may then be given the chance to grow their own food. The possibilities are infinite: in the dead of winter, in the arctic regions, even in space!

2. Hydroponics is a helpful solution for hostile growing environments. For example, in parts of the world where the soil is devoid of nutrients or contaminated by pollutants, it's preferable to grow food hydroponically. Not only can it protect people from contaminants, but the plants can also be fed richer nutrients to yield better harvests than growing in the soil of these areas.

Indeed, hydroponics opens up new doors to both individuals and societies. Not only are governments such as Holland and Canada using hydroponics to grow food on a larger scale, but with a knowledge of the hydroponic basics, individuals now have the ability to benefit as well.

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Avid fans of hydroponic growing often design a special grow room in order to cater to the cultivation of several plants. Grow rooms can be as tiny as a closet or as big as a greenhouse. While doing so requires planning, time and money, if done correctly, it would be all worth it.

The space you need, the number of plants that can comfortably grow in the space, ventilation and proper arrangement, plumbing, electricity, insulation, lighting and the form of hydroponic system to be used are but some of the issues that you need to consider when creating your grow room. The need for professional help is imperative especially if you are still new to this method of growing plants. Your hydroponics retailer should be able to advise you on what you need.

Several grow rooms depend solely on artificial lighting, and plants require various forms of lighting at different phases of growth. Identifying the number and types of grow lights and the amount of wattage is also necessary when designing your grow room. To closely replicate the day/night cycle for the plants, it's a great idea to use timers. Just make sure that your grow room's electrical system would be able to handle the load. Typically, it is best if your electrical panel can handle 200 amps or more. 240-volts outlets are better - even if 120-volts can very well handle a small space. Your electrician can help ascertain that your grow room is properly fitted. Also, lining your walls with reflective material like mylar or white plastic will maximize lighting and save on energy costs.

Ventilation is another important factor to consider when designing your room. Plants "breathe" carbon dioxide - in a short span of time, they can rapidly absorb all the carbon dioxide in the room. Without sufficient access to fresh air, plants can't function well, and eventually wither. The more plants you have, the better-ventilated the space must be. Be sure there's an adequate ventilation system to give your room plenty of fresh air. Oscillating fans will also help stir the air just as wind does, helping with both air flow and temperature control. Moreover, a carbon dioxide injector would be very helpful.

Indeed, planning is important - this eliminates dealing with and undoing mistakes later. Don't forget that an indoor grow room should be as close a simulation as that of the outdoor environment - so the room shouldn't be static, but it should be dynamic. Remember to have a healthy cycle of light and dark, water flow and airflow. Design your grow room with these things in mind, and you will be setting up a great space for your plants to be healthy and strong.