'Hydro' is the Greek word for water and 'ponics' refers to the Greek word for labor; thus hydroponics, or the method for cultivating plants in a water solution that contains nutrients, was born. Hydroponics offers a simple way for everyone, regardless of the type of soil or lack of soil you have, to garden and grow vegetables, fruits and flowers.

Which hydroponic system should I use?

Your choice of hydroponic system will depend on the amount and kinds of supplies, including lights, that you would like to use, and the degree of complexity you wish to pursue in this gardening method. You might choose a hydroponic system that relies on a wick to bring the plant nutrient to the plant roots, or you might want to invest in a pump that gets the nutrient solution moving around the plant's roots and keeps air in the liquid as well.

Nutrients are the plant food used in hydroponics. The type you use depends on the plants you are growing and what they require. All plants, those using a hydroponic system and not, require all of the macro and micronutrients to thrive and mature.

The choice of growing medium will also play a part in which hydroponic system is right for you. Hydroponic plants are never grown in soil. Instead, they can be grown in water with a system of support for the crown of the plant, or they can be grown in peat moss, coir, sand, gravel, vermiculite or other types of media.

Plants need light for proper photosynthesis to take place, and those grown with hydroponics are no exception. There are a wide variety of lights you can choose from for inclusion in your hydroponic equipment; a hydroponic supply store can offer you any that you would want. Metal halide, high pressure sodium, high intensity discharge and other types of lamps can be used in hydroponics. All of these require the use of a hydroponic supply called a ballast, in order to regulate the electrical charge to the light bulb so that it functions properly. Many gardeners are making the shift to LED lights, which are more lightweight and longer lived than other types of grow lights, but typically come with a higher price tag.

Other equipment you might need for hydroponics would be some sort of fan for good air circulation for your plants. You might also choose a reflector to use with your light in order to increase the area of adequate coverage that your light can produce.

Hydroponics allows you the distinct advantage of growing great plants even if you live in an apartment or live in a desert or tundra area, because plants are grown under controlled indoor conditions.