Black Bamboo

I'm not quite sure whether an article on hydroponic gardening belongs on this site or not - hydroponics gardening is rather a technique to try in specific situations than an approach to garden design. It is the practice of growing plants without any soil, so doesn't lend itself easily to your average backyard! It is an interesting, if limited approach to growing certain plants. Remember growing mustard and cress on tissue paper or cotton wool when you were young? There you are, you are almost a hydroponics gardening expert already.

On the plus side, you never get your hands dirty with hydroponic gardening! The theory is that you can control the exact flow of nutrients and water to the plant, which should give enhanced results. The temperature, pH and light levels can equally be controlled carefully. Some enthusiasts setup computer operated control systems to ensure their plants are growing in a 'perfect' environment, but that isn't at all necessary.

In place of soil various substances and products are used. These can include sand, gravel, coconut fibre, even rockwool, and some hydroponics techniques use air-based plants.

Typically a beginner starts with a kit from a garden centre supplier, which includes advice on regulating the chemicals and pH - the two most critical elements in hydroponic gardens. The vital minerals include magnesium, cobalt, boron, iron, sulphur, calcium, manganese, copper and zinc, without which plants can't grow. The pH is important because it controls the ability of the plant to absorb these minerals.

There are many different approaches to hydroponics gardening the most common include: water culture, ebb and flow, water and aeroponic methods.

Although a little outside the mainstream, once mastered the techniques of hydroponics gardening can ensure you have a good supply of flowers and herbs all the year around, and the knowledge you gain about the needs of plants will be beneficial in your more 'mainstream' gardening efforts.