Hydroponic gardening is growing in popularity and if you are interested in this type of gardening there are a few basic information points that you should be aware of. In this article we will introduce you to four of the most important categories of hydroponic systems. The basic hydroponic systems are water culture, drip, wick and nutrient film technique but there are multiple variations that are used.

Hydroponic Systems #1 Water Culture

If you are just getting your feet wet in terms of learning hydroponic systems, try the water culture method first as it is the easiest method. You have a tank or storage area filled with the mineral and nutrient liquid solution in which the plants are floating in on a Styrofoam platform. An air pump aerates the water of this holding tank and the bubbles provide a way to bubble up not only the oxygen needed in the roots but also the nutrient solution as well. While this is the easiest system, especially for teaching, it is not conducive to large scale growth projects.

Hydroponic Systems #2 Drip System

With drip hydroponic systems, you again have your plant growth tray with the medium and plants in it and then suspended over the holding tank with the liquid nutrients. There is a submersible pump in the holding tank running on a timer which kicks on at various intervals to drip a nutrient solution at the base of the plants. Excess nutrient liquid runs off and back into the holding tank for recycling and an air pump is still needed for aeration.

Hydroponic Systems #3 Wick Method

The wick method of hydroponic systems is fairly easy to operate as well and is known as a passive technique in which to keep your plants watered with the proper nutrients. You have a growing tray with a medium like pea gravel which is situated over a holding tank containing the liquid nutrient solution. There are wicks which go from the holding tank to the growth medium to carry the needed water and nutrient solution in a steady manner.

Hydroponic Systems #4 Nutrient Film

Hydroponic systems which use the nutrient film method are very similar to the drip method except that the solution is dripped in the bottom of the plant growth tray instead of at each plant base. The flow is constant with no timer and a submersible pump is needed to keep up the constant flow with a drain for excess liquid to go back into the holding tank.

But as said before there are many other hydroponic systems that you can use today, best thing to do is to contact a hydroponic systems profesional and ask a little bit of his time to instruct you in the fine art of hydroponic systems.

Need a new challenge in your gardening hobby? Hydroponic gardening can be just the thing your looking for. Hydroponic Gardening is relatively new way of plant growth, it is not difficult and the rewards of this kind of gardening can be quite fruitful. You need to do some work before you can start and for growing plants without soil you need to lean a lot, but it is very rewarding.

Soil or no soil, the necessities for plant growth

Both soil-based and hydroponic gardening plants require the same requirements when it comes to plant growth, the only exception lays in the fact of how they are delivered.

For a great success of plant grow in hydroponic gardening, you need to ensure that you have all the elements you need for success:
- water level
- temperature
- light
- nutrients
- oxygen

Water levels are important when it comes to hydroponic gardening just as they are important to terrestrial based plants. You should have a system in place which controls the water levels to ensure that the plants do not get too much or too little.

Temperature is important; each type of plant has an optimal range of temperatures for which they thrive. You will have to create growing conditions which mimic the proper temperature needed for the best plant growth.

When it comes to light sources, a huge amount of sunlight is often needed for growth. When it comes to hydroponics, chances are they plants are in an indoor environment, necessitating the need for intense artificial light sources to mimic the sunlight.

Of course, the nutrients are among the most important things needed for plants growing without the benefit of soil. Each plant requires different nutrient mixes so you would have to be prepared to segregate your plants to ensure that each type gets the nutrient mixture they need. You should really look to your local garden center that has an expert in hydroponic gardening to lead you to the right combination of minerals and other nutrients for your individual plant varieties.

Oxygen is essential to plant growth and most soil conditions offer this, but with hydroponic gardening, you may have to use a machine which will add air bubbles to the nutrient mix. Carbon dioxide is necessary for the production of plant carbohydrates which serves as food for the plant.

What do you need for Housing Soil-free Plants in a Hydroponic Garden

You can use Hydroponic Gardening in the outdoors but if you want a "house" for your hydroponic gardening it must be made of certain materials, and the materials used may in no way leach harmful chemicals or substances which could interfere with proper plant growth. Popular are Cement or concrete, but it must be treated with a type of asphalt with no tars or creosote substances. You may need a aerator to pump oxygen to the roots and a light source this can be in the form of special lamps.