Hydroponics has two common associations, complexity and cost. I hope to show in this short guide the simple principles involved in hydroponics and how great results can be achieved at low cost using DIY systems. Understanding the basic requirements will enable you to construct your own systems out of everyday items. Understanding the terminology will make it sound like gardening rather than science.  The subject is an area of active worldwide research and there are many technological twists and techniques employed to enable commercial growers to maximize yields. We’ll happily ignore highly tuned systems for the moment and concentrate on keeping it simple so we can experiment in our own greenhouse and compare the results against more traditional methods without breaking the bank.

This guide contains the following sections:

• What is Hydroponics, Why Bother, and History – A little terminology

• A Description of Common Hydroponic Systems – Fundamental differences

• Media and Substrate – Talks about the many types of rooting material

• Nutrients – Plant food to you and me

• Lighting – Mimic the sun (at some expense)

• Propagation – From seed to seedling

• Growing On – Moving seedlings to the hydroponics system

• Pests, Diseases and Deficiencies – What can go wrong

• DIY – Make your own cheap and simple hydroponics systems

• Resources – Sources of materials and advice

* Special thanks to Roos Hunsche of Grodan NL for permission to use the image above as a background for the title and the seedling image in the Growing On section.