Growing Plants Hydroponically

There are various mediums you set up for hydroponic growth, using only liquid nutrients, water and oxygen. Growing mediums range from gravel, rockwool, sawdust, coconut fiber, expanded clay pellets (also known as hydrocorn), lava rock and sand and sphagnum moss. Using this way, even those who want to start with the simplest setups can do so with low out of pocket cost. Mediums such as expanded clay pellets, sphagnum moss and coconut fiber may cost more and add more of an eye catching appeal to your growing area, but are not a necessity when first starting out, especially in your times in 'trial and error'.Vegetables, Fruits and More

Vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, broccoli, cabbage, snow peas, spinach, squash and much more grow well in a hydroponic setting. Other plants, such as fruits can be grown as well; strawberries, watermelons and cantaloupes are just to name a few.Herbs, Flowers and Trees

Herbs, flowers and small trees can be grown in hydroponic systems. Once your seedlings are two months old or more, you need to transplant them into their final hydroponic growing container. Without having to fight to get the nutrients from a soil based medium, your seedlings and plants gain strength and momentum in their growing process. The result: Bigger and better produce and more amazing blooms from your trees and flowers.Hydroponic setups; drip systems

There are several different ways you can get your new plants set up hydroponically. You have your drip system, ebb and flow, wick systems and a form which edges into 'aeroponics'.

Drip systems entail taking a water pump, such as you might have for a fish tank, with the tube coming up from the bottom of your plant container to the top. At the top of your container you have a 'T' that will be attached to a ring, with holes in it that can be bought at most gardening centers or hydroponic stores online. You turn your pump on to its lowest setting, so the water will slowly 'drip' over your plants, with the water flowing over the medium, back down to the bottom of your plant container. You can even buy a timer, which you plug your pump into, to set to water at intervals, such as for 5 or 10 minutes every hour.Hydroponic setups: ebb and flow

When using an ebb and flow hydroponic set up, your plants are put into a container, such as a pipe, or small pots, placed into a small 4 to 6 inch tall container up on a table. Below the container you would have a reservoir that holds water with a pump in it, with its setting set to medium or high. This pump would most definitely have to be attached to a timer so that the water would flow for at least ten minutes every hour and then stop. From the reservoir, you have your tubing go up to your upper container, with the plants in it, going in through the bottom of your container. On the other side of your plant container, you have another hole, half way down or further, with a tube that releases the water back into the reservoir as it fills up to the point specified above. This way your plants are being flooded with your liquid nutrients for certain times throughout the day, and then allowed to 'dry out' a bit in between feedings.Hydroponic setups: wick

In a wick system, one of the simplest systems to have, you have a wick, which is also called a hydroponic absorption wick that can be bought at most garden supply centers. With this system you will work with two pots; one for your plant and one to hold your liquid nutrients. You place your wick into the pot your plant will be in, before placing your medium in it, having it extend out of the bottom of your pot a 3-4 inches. You then place your medium and your plant in the pot, keeping the wick as close to your plant as possible during this process. The second pot will be filled with water far enough up, so that when your first pot is placed into it, the wick will be sitting in the water 2-3 inches. Set your plant pot in your water pot and just keep on eye on your water levels and this system is set up and ready to go.Hydroponic setups: aeroponics

In an aeroponic set up you should only start with plants that already have established roots that will reach out of the bottom of your plant pot. You place your plant in the pot, carefully pulling the roots through the bottom of your pot, and then fill it with your growing medium. You have a second pot in which you have water added about half way and aquarium pump with no tubes attached. You turn the pump on high enough for the water to 'splash' up from the top of the water high enough to reach the roots of your plants once the pot is placed into the water pot. You can set your pump on a timer to go on about every 15-20 minutes for 5 minutes at a time. This way your plants are getting their thirst quenched with the liquid nutrients, while having some time to 'dry out' and grow, eventually growing to 'reach' the water. When this time comes, you can change your pots out to bigger pots so that your plants root system has room to grow bigger and this they will most definitely do in this type of system.