If you’ve tried growing an edible garden but couldn’t make it thrive through the Texas heat, consider growing it indoors! Hydroponics is a method of growing plants using a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil. Hydroponics can be as simple as regrowing lettuce in a cup of water or as complex as large commercial farming. Almost any plant can be grown hydroponically, however, this method is most often used for growing herbs, vegetables, and microgreens. Growing your food hydroponically saves water, uses fewer chemicals, and protects the earth’s soil. Keep reading to find out how to set up your very own system!
There are two options for growing plants hydroponically. The first option is to grow plants in a container filled with a soil-free medium like clay balls, sand, or coconut fiber, then mix in water. The other way is to freely submerge the roots of the plant in nutrient-rich water without a medium. Hydroponic growing kits and nutrient solution can be purchased online, or you can also make your own!
The simplest way to grow plants hydroponically is to take a cutting of a plant and submerge the base into a cup of water. Because this method does not have soil to stabilize the plant, a bottle or jar with a thinner neck is recommended to provide support. Old sauce jars and glass bottles make perfect propagation pots. This method works best for vegetables and herbs with shallow roots like lettuce, celery, green onions, basil, and rosemary. Additionally, some house plants, like pothos, monstera, and philodendron, can be propagated by placing cuttings in water.