IN THE YARD: For hydroponics, think outside the box (and soil) | Lifestyles

There is yet another type of gardening that can be done indoors in the winter or outside in warmer weather. It does not take up a lot of space and should be fairly easy for someone with a good level of gardening knowledge and plant growth basics.

Hydroponics has been around for a long time now. If you go to Disney World and have a hamburger with lettuce and tomato, there is a good chance that the veggies were grown in Disney’s hydroponic greenhouses.

There are at least six different hydroponic methods in use today. The one thing they have in common is they use no soil for the plants’ roots. Nutrients, water and oxygen are delivered through a closely controlled environment where the roots live.

A somewhat newer process, called aeroponics, is one of these hydroponic methods. In short, the things the plants require to be taken up by their roots are delivered through a fine mist in a controlled chamber. In this system, the gardener is 100% responsible to make certain that the plants’ needs are met. This requires specialized structures to deliver the mist and to provide physical support for the plants.

One such structure I have seen is called a tower garden. This is a complete plant growing system that is fully self-contained. The gardener selects what plants to grow and then proceeds to manage a garden that is contained in a large tower. This system will work in a sunroom, on a patio or any place that has enough room to accommodate the structure. A grow light is available for low-light environments.