Help and support

Hydroponics is the growing of plants without soil.

The plants are supported in an inert media such as perlite, vermiculite, clay pebbles, or rockwool and are fed a nutrient solution. This means that the plants do not have to develop a large root system in order to feed. Soil based plants divide their energy evenly between growing upwards and growing downwards (rooting).

A hydroponically grown plant expends a greater proportion of its effort growing upwards because all the nutrients it requires are readily available.

Having all nutrients available benefits the plants by promoting quicker growth and, in the case of crop bearing plants, higher yields. Furthermore, hydroponically grown plants are healthier and more robust than their soil grown counterparts and when home grown fruit and vegetables taste superior to those found in supermarkets. Under the right conditions a hydroponically grown plant will grow between 2 to 4 times more quickly than in soil. For tomatoes commercial growers have realised yields per hectare of up to 40 times that of soil grown plants.

Due to environmental concerns regarding the reduction of water consumption and the worries over the indiscriminate use of nitrates and other fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides in soil based agriculture, the future of hydroponic methods of cultivation is assured.

Hydroponics has existed for years

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon used hydroponics and the US Army used the technique to feed soldiers during WW2 on the Pacific Islands. Today soiless gardening is rapidly expanding throughout the world and hydroponic installations can be found in all corners of the globe from Australia, the USA, New Zealand, Spain, Holland, Israel, Thailand and the UK.

Productive Hydroponics

Commercial crop growers are turning to soiless cultivation more and more.  The speed of growth combined with the control over the growing environment means higher quality crops.  Worry about soil borne pests and diseases are reduced dramatically, and weeding is a thing of the past.  For commercial growers rapid harvests and higher yields are great reasons to grow this way.

The techniques used by commercial growers are now available to the home gardener. All of our systems give you the advantages of commercial style hydroponics in easy to use kits and nutrients. All you need to add are seeds and water!!

Setting up a system is quick and easy and, once running, maintenance consists of monitoring the nutrients and periodically adding more nutrients and water. The system does the work! You spend the time literally enjoying the fruits of your labour.

Hydroponics can be done anywhere

Soiless gardening will be used by NASA to feed astronauts on long space flights with fresh vegetables; even lettuces are grown on submarines using these techniques.

Due to the different sizes of systems available and the unlimited design that systems can be made into, you can grow in any location where there is sufficient light. As the systems are self-contained and clean they can be used indoors during the winter, in a conservatory, greenhouse, cellar, attic, garage or kitchen. Because there is no messy soil and the systems are usually quite light in weight, any indoor location is suitable. They can even be moved outside in the summer.

Grow all year round

Add a Power Plant HID lighting unit and you can grow literally all year round. Easy, clean and productive, you can enjoy fresh herbs and produce even when it is cold and raining outside. By altering the time grow lights are on you can simulate winter or summer day lengths, enabling the plants to fruit or flower earlier or later in the season. You are in control.

The Benefits of Hydroponics

• Year round gardening
• Conserves water.
• It is clean - indoor cultivation possible.
• Digging/weeding is eliminated.
• More plants per given area.
• Enhanced flavour of crops.
• Plants grow quicker with increased yield.
• Soil borne pests are eliminated.
• Reduced Pesticide use.
• Interesting and educational.