Hydroponic gardening is an inexpensive and reliable means of producing fresh fruits and vegetables – even in the midst of winter. Hydroponics is derived from the Greek words "hydro" (water) and "ponos" (labor) and

refers to a method of growing plants with water, but without soil.

Hydroponics is an attractive indoor alternative to traditional outdoor gardening because it can be done year round, especially in cold climates or in conditions where water is scarce. Indoor hydroponics can produce impressive results although some of the methods require high maintenance, others can be relatively easy to use. In general, only basic supplies such as containers, growing medium, lights and liquid nutrients are needed to set up a small operation in your home.

Hydroponic specialists, such as Stealth Hydroponics, Inc., which offer budding hydroponic gardeners several growing options, sells startup supplies in easy-to-assemble hydroponic kits.

One of the simplest and least expensive hydroponic methods involves a “deep water culture” (DWC) system, which suspends the floating plants in the nutrient solution. Fast-growing, water-loving plants do well in this type of hydroponic system.

Stealth Hydroponics has improved on this basic system by adding even more oxygen to the source water through air stones. These stones hold down the plants and retain or distribute moisture to the roots as needed. Stealth Hydro’s trademarked Bubbleponics® feeding method delivers a highly oxygenated nutrient solution directly to the inner root zone. In addition, air tubes reach out of the oxygenated water to the root ball and feed the roots directly.

Another method is the “ebb and flow” system, also called the “flood and drain” method. It temporarily floods the grow tray with a nutrient solution and then drains the solution back into a reservoir. Ebb and flow systems use a grow medium, such as perlite or rockwool, to support the plant roots in the grow bed pots.

Stealth Hydroponics has also improved on this style of hydroponics with its trademarked Oxyponics® system. The improvement of Oxyponics® over traditional ebb and flow is again related to oxygen, which is a critical component to a healthy plant. Stealth Hydro’s Oxyponics® delivers oxygen directly to the root through bubblers at each plant, which brings oxygenated water flowing directly to the root.

While Bubbletronics® is more suited to kitchen herbs, greens (spinach, lettuce, etc), strawberries and peppers, Oxyponics® is better for tomatoes and other fruit-bearing plants that need more space between the plants.

You can get more information about and Hydroponic Growing Systems by visiting SH Hydroponics