Aeroponic
Although aeroponic hydroponics is more technical, it is perfect for growing smaller leafy vegetables and fruit. Done properly, this method can create large, quick-growing plants and lots of fruit.
Perfect for:
Cherry Tomatoes
Chili Peppers
Strawberries
Blueberries
The Click and Grow hydroponic garden utilizes areoponics and makes the process very simple. Everything comes in the kit, just add water. Choose from mini tomatoes, chili peppers, basil, strawberry planters. Order Click and Grow for 59.95 at Amazon.
Drip
Drip systems are probably the most widely used type of hydroponic gardening system in the world. Operation is simple, a timer controls a submersed pump. The timer turns the pump on and an advanced nutrient solution is dripped onto the base of each plant by a small drip line.
Perfect for:
Rosemary
Cannabis
The Zero Soil Hydroponic Garden is an impressive looking hydroponic garden that sits perfectly on your counter-top or table. $44.95 at Amazon.
Ebb & Flow
A growth tray over a nutrient container, and a pump is used to flood the tray(s) with the advanced nutrient solution. The advanced nutrients that aren’t absorbed by the roots are drained into the reservoir and recycled.
Perfect for:
Cantaloupe
Watermelon
Chives
Oregano
Hydrofarms Megagarden System uses a flood-and-drain pump irrigation system which works by pumping nutrient solution up from a reservoir to a water tray where water levels are precisely controlled on a timed cycle. $151.31 at Amazon.
Deep Water Culture
The roots of the plants are suspended in a continuous flowing “film” of advanced nutrient solution; a pump sends this stream of solution into one end of the grow channel, running the length of the channel(s) and emptying it into the reservoir the opposite end of the grow channel. This method is great at nourishing roots but is also recognized as extremely technical and difficult to setup.
Perfect for:
Tomatoes
Grapes
Cannabis
In the Hydrofarms Emily’s Garden planter, it’s easy to rearrange or replace plants as each plant has in its own one-quart container which stands in a reservoir filled with nutrient solution. $77.79 at Amazon.
Nutrient Film
The roots of the plants are suspended in a continuous flowing “film” of advanced nutrient solution; a pump sends this stream of solution into one end of the grow channel, running the length of the channel(s) and emptying it into the reservoir the opposite end of the grow channel. This method is great at nourishing roots but is also recognized as extremely technical and difficult to setup.
Perfect for:
Basil
Sage
Kale
Lettuce
Wick
This is another very simple method, and no pump is required. A wick (such as an oil lamp wick or candle wick) simply draws the advanced nutrient solution from the reservoir to the growth tray, where the plant roots absorb the solution. This more passive method is low-maintenance, but it can often over-soak the roots, resulting to a smaller yield.
Perfect for:
Small House Plants
Modern Sprout’s hydroponic gardening systems comes in a variety of cool finishes. $130 at Amazon.