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It's the new wave in dirt-free gardening...

As the population grows and the available amount of earth shrinks, more plants are being raised hydroponically than ever before.

Hydroponics — the growing of plants in a mixture of water and nutrients — is an easy and more efficient way of keeping your plants healthy since nutrients are fed directly at the root base, without the need for large containers or big bags of gardening soil.

How to grow hydroponics plants

Remember your childhood class project growing avocado pits and sweet potato tubers in water jars? With just the right nutrients, any plant can be grown in much the same way.

The "flood-drain" system is probably the most popular method for growing hydroponic plants, involving a simple pump system that baths plant roots in water & nutrients, then drains during the day to expose roots to much-needed oxygen.

Some do-it-yourself gardeners have devised cheap ways to create homemade hydroponics systems indoors or out, although ready-made hydroponics kits are becoming ever more affordable in home garden centers as their popularity grows.

More about hydroponics around the Web:

Around the Web, find out more about hydroponics including resources, professional tips & how-to advice for beginners, plus a bit of history behind the art & science of hydroponics gardening...

What is Hydroponics? - "If it ain't Hydro - it's Dirt" Indeed. With the complete explanation for beginners at Hydro U also offering weekly tips, online system plans, pictures, and what's touted as the simplest hydroponics method on earth, the hand water bucket.

Hydroponics for Beginners - Step-by-step guide to starting your own hydroponics garden indoors with photos, instructions, insider tips and more, from Instructables.com.

The Growing Edge - The online magazine devoted to all things hydroponics, aeroponic & aquaponic gardening with feature articles, news and updates, pictures and interesting facts, tips and advice, and more at the Online Hydroponics Q&A Archive.

Worm's Way Tips & Tricks - Hydroponics - An extensive library of feature articles and guides including indoor basics, pictures, outdoor growing tips, a short course in hydroponics meters and monitors, and related kid-friendly projects for a rainy day...

Overview of Hydroponics - Online tutorial from the University of Arizona featuring related history, along with pro's and cons of commercial hydroponics systems, and its future prospects.

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