Frequently asked questions

Hydroponics is growing plants without soil. The roots sit in water or an inert medium and get everything they need from a balanced nutrient solution. Because you control the inputs directly, plants often grow faster and cleaner than they would in the ground.

Most beginners do well with deep water culture or a simple recirculating setup. They are forgiving, cheap to run and easy to understand. Once you are comfortable managing water and nutrients you can move up to NFT channels or aeroponics.

Plants need the major elements nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium plus a range of trace elements. A good two-part base nutrient covers the essentials. From there you can add supplements for a specific crop or growth stage, but keep it simple to start.

pH controls how well roots can take up nutrients. Aim for roughly 5.5 to 6.5 for most crops and test every few days. EC tells you how strong the solution is. Start on the lower end for young plants and build up as they mature.

If you are growing indoors, yes. A full spectrum LED gives plants the light they need without the heat of older lamps. In a greenhouse you may only need supplemental light through the darker months.

Top the reservoir up as the level drops, and do a full change every one to two weeks. Fresh solution keeps the balance right and stops salts building up. Always check pH and EC after a change.

That is usually root rot, caused by warm water with too little oxygen. Keep the reservoir cool, add an air stone or extra flow, and consider a beneficial microbe product. Healthy roots should be white and firm.

Yes. Indoors with lights and a little heating you can grow through winter, and a controlled setup keeps conditions steady no matter the weather outside. The key is managing temperature, humidity and airflow.