Shipping fresh vegetables overseas during World War II the  was not very practical. The remote islands where troops were stationed were not places to start growing in the soil. Hydroponic technology was suggested as a viable alternative for producing fresh vegetables during this time.

It was in 1945 that the US Air Force built one of the first large hydroponic farms on Ascension Island in the South Atlantic.  There followed additional hydroponic farms on the islands of Iwo Jima and Okinawa in the Pacific.  They  used crushed volcanic rock as the growing medium and, on Wake Island west of Hawaii, used gravel. These hydroponic farms helped fill the need for a supply of fresh vegetables for troops stationed in these areas.

Growing plants has many shapes and forms. The traditional garden is the one with rows of seeds that have been planted in soil. People till the soil, plant the seeds, kill the weeds and protect it from insects and other animals. Then they  fertilize it and harvest the bounty of their work. If the soil loses its nutrients, plants cannot grow. Scientists and plant enthusiasts have come to the realization that it is not the soil that is necessary for growth but the nutrients and minerals stored there. Enter the world of hydroponics.

“Hydro” is Greek for water and “ponos” (ponics) is Greek for labor or work. Hydroponic gardeners grow plants without soil, letting the water or other solution do the work.

Growing hydroponically is a piece of cake once you have the system in place.  This usually comes in one of 2 two forms.  You can try and make your own system or you can buy a ready made closet from a reputable hydroponic websites.

If the term “hydroponic grow” sounds all Greek to you, you can always get a guide to read, there are many very good ones available.  Websites contain a great deal of information, not just products.

Don’t be put off from moving away from traditional gardening methods.  Growing hydroponically has many advantages.  It is based on sound scientific principles, is clean and safe.  If done correctly, it produces better and faster results.

Basicly, you’re producing crops in an environment that you control, which is perfectly natural, excluding the artificial lighting.  It is a mini eco-system that you create.

The beauty of growing hydroponic lettuce is that it is one of the easiest plants to grow int this “no soil growth movement”. It means that the yield for beginners could be quite promising. Hydroponic gardening is the growing of plants without the use of dirt or any type of soil at all. It has proven to be a successful way of growing more plants in a smaller, more controlled area.

An hydroponics grow cabinet is a handy item to use for growing plants indoors. The cabinets are compact units. Even if you want to garden indoors and live at the top of a very tall building in a small apartment, you can enjoy bringing fresh vegetables and flowers to life with a growing cabinet. Hydroponics enthusiasts love to use a grow cabinet for hydroponic gardening indoors as well.

Using an indoor growing situation such as that offered by a growing cabinet, you will be imitating what comes naturally in the outdoors, giving plants what they need to grow. Water, light, food and warmth are the four necessities for plants to live and thrive.

Here are some features that you should consider when looking at hydroponic systems.

Although you could grow plants in less space, it would be ideal to grow your plants in a vertical hydroponic system. Vertical hydroponic systems allow for about 4.5 feet of growing space. This is ideal for growing. You can grow some types of plants in grow boxes that allow for only 2 feet of growing space, but 4.5 feet is ideal.

Most grow boxes are about 3 feet wide. There is really no need to worry about the width when buying a grow box. Most manufacturers allow for 3 feet of growing space.

Nearly all grow boxes are 1.5 feet deep. Only a few grow boxes allow for 2 feet of depth. Although 1.5 feet of depth is ok, 2 feet is ideal.

The hydroponics grow closet is the perfect place to house your plants, be they flowers, fruits or vegetables. Hydroponic gardening is growing plant without soil.  The art of growing vegetables, fruits and flowers in a controlled environment. Time and again, hydroponically grown produce yields a better crop of vegetables and fruits and more flowers.  The produce is rich in nutrients and can be stopped and started any time of year.

There is no soil to contend with, no fighting the weather, no shrinking with embarassement as Nosey Mr Jones pokes his head over the fence pointing and laughing at your shrivelled cauliflowers.

You can choose to build your own little closet, if you wish, or you can fast track your new hobby and buy one. Whichever route you take, once you have the seeds and a good “how to” hydroponics guide book, you’re all set!

Indoor plants can do a lot to bring charm to your office or home. You might be more than happy to spend a bit of time tending plants indoors when the winter weather postpones other hobbies. Indoor gardening, especially if you use an hydroponic technique, is not at all hard to do.  Bring your garden inside and enjoy the hobby even though it’s bitterly cold outside.

There are many benefits to indoor gardening. The plants provide oxygen and take in carbon dioxide. They are also a welcome sight for those long and gloomy days of winter. A small hydroponic garden can be tucked into the gloomiest corner if you provide it with its own light and will reward you over and over again.

Hydroponics systems can be either closed or open. In closed systems, the same hydroponic nutrient solution is re-circulated and the nutrient content is monitored and adjusted.

Keeping the nutrient balance in such systems is easy and the hydroponic nutrient solution should be sampled and analyzed every week. The nutrient solution composition has to be adjusted according to the results.  Closed systems are more appropriate for indoors.

In open systems, a fresh nutrient solution is introduced for each irrigation cycle.  This is usually a technique for outdoors.