Hydroponic Systems

• Your daily gardening routine depends somewhat on the type of hydroponic system you use. While more advanced systems include pumps and timers to deliver nutrient solutions to plants and switch on lights automatically, the most basic systems require you to feed your plants manually, sometimes up to three times per day.
  
  In general, there are two types of hydroponic systems: water culture and aggregate. In water culture systems, plant roots are suspended directly in the nutrient solution. In aggregate systems, an inorganic substrate, similar to soil, provides support for the roots and undergoes periodic drenching with nutrient solution.
  
  

Plant Nutrition

• The nutrient solution you formulate for your hydroponic garden will determine the success or failure of your garden. Plants normally extract dissolved mineral nutrients from the soil along with their water. Removing the soil component, as in a hydroponic garden, requires you to provide plants with all the nutrients they need and aren't getting from soil. Because traditional fertilizers often don't provide the full spectrum of micronutrients plants need, use solutions specially formulated for hydroponics or mix your own from individual elements.
  
  

Nutrient Testing

• As you use a nutrient solution over time, the water evaporates, leaving it more concentrated. Plants deplete some nutrients faster than others, and the resulting imbalances can change the pH. While growing hydroponically means no more daily battles against weeds and bugs, testing your nutrient solution at least once per day becomes part of your gardening routine. Monitoring solution volume, pH and electrical conductivity lets you spot problems before they damage your plants. Starting with fresh solution every two weeks keeps nutrient levels properly balanced.
  
  

Maintaining the Environment

• Although some hydroponic enthusiasts grow their gardens outdoors, the ability to garden indoors and without worrying about pests and soil-borne diseases attracts most people to hydroponic gardening. As with plant nutrition, you maintain all aspects of the plants' environment. Providing adequate light, especially, can pose a challenge. While some ornamentals grow well in indoor lighting, many vegetables require high-intensity lighting in order to thrive indoors. You also need to monitor and maintain the temperature at ideal levels for the plants you're trying to grow.