The Benefits of Hydroponic Gardens

In the past, hydroponic methods of growing food were restricted to commercial farms or those well-versed in building their own systems. Thankfully, it's never been easier to grow your produce with indoor garden units, which are now readily available and suited to gardeners of all abilities. 

If you are new to the wonders of growing fruit and vegetables indoors, be sure to check out our list of hydroponics benefits and the reasons why you should consider buying a HydroGarden. 

Advantages of Hydroponics

There are many benefits of hydroponics, from being simple and easy to use to providing growing outlets to those without ample garden space to grow their produce. Join us as we discuss the reasons why an indoor hydroponic garden is worth it. 

Water Saving

The first advantage of a hydroponic garden is that it directs water to the delicate root zones exactly where needed. This ensures moisture is not lost to evaporation or runoff. Any excess water remains in a reservoir and will be utilised later.

Less Maintenance

Most systems will have a decent amount of time before you need to top them up with water again, which allows you greater flexibility with your garden. Some units have the nutrients and hydroponic seeds built into the growing medium; all you have to do is pop in the pots, fill with water, and wait for your delicious crops to grow. Hydroponic gardens also feature ‘’soilless’’ mediums that are free from mess and weeds, saving you time!

Fresher food

It is no secret that supermarket produce can be weeks old before it hits the shelves. Once you take it home, it often ends up in the crisper, with some items forgotten and left to wilt. With hydroponic gardens, the food is always fresh, as you harvest as required, meaning those important nutrients and great texture remain.

Mess free

Some people love getting their hands dirty in the soil, while others prefer things neat and tidy. For tidy gardeners, hydroponics provides the perfect solution. It uses clever growing mediums that give stability to the plant's aeration and moisture to the roots, all while being mess-free. Some use loose mediums such as vermiculite, but for the ultimate mess-free solution, try out ones that feature hydroponic accessories such as refillable grow plugs or lingots.

Great Growth

In hydroponic systems, plant roots have untapped access to rich nutrients. This accelerates the speed of growth as the nutrients are not leached away. At-home units are also kept indoors, which means you can expect significant growth rates even in cooler months. Whilst vegetable seeds and fruit seeds typically have a growing season, a hydroponic garden is the perfect solution to grow your favourites all year round.

Excludes Pests

Hydroponic gardens are kept safely inside, away from many pesky critters, such as caterpillars and snails. So you do not have to deal with pests or share your crop with anything else!

Portable

At home, hydroponic units are lightweight and portable, taking up very little counter space. This is a perfect way to garden, particularly for short-term rentals or apartments. If you ever have to move, take the unit with you and continue growing wherever you go.

No Sun? No Problem!

A frequent issue in many vegetable patches, flower gardens, and balconies is a lack of sunlight. This is common in urban areas, where buildings and fencing shade out critical hours of sun needed to produce delicious veggies and have your flower seeds bloom. Hydroponic gardens feature powerful LEDs that provide the necessary light to grow these crops, and they are also on timers so they receive the optimal amount of day/night.

Living Décor

Hydroponic gardens can be quite an attractive piece of décor in the home, bringing some much-needed greenery inside. Many smaller annual flowers work well in these systems, too, so you can have a living centrepiece of blooms that will last much longer than cut flower arrangements.

Grow All Year Round

Grow a range of herb seeds, veggies, and flowers all year round, regardless of season. You don’t have to say goodbye to those delicious summer basil seeds during the cold, frosty months or have stressed bolting lettuce in the middle of summer. Enjoy your favourites whenever you want them. With an indoor garden, you can beat the seasons and be the one in control of your kitchen pantry!

Compare the Mr Fothergill's Hydroponic Smart Gardens

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FAQs

Got more questions before deciding if indoor hydroponic gardens are worth it? We answer everything here!

What is hydroponics?

Hydroponics may seem like a new, super-efficient method of growing plants, but it has been around for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Hydroponics is simply a method of growing plants without soil. Usually, plants obtain nutrients and water from the soil. They must expend energy competing with weeds and other plants for these resources. However, with hydroponics, resources can be more evenly distributed directly to the plants, allowing them to put more effort into growing and yielding rather than fighting for nutrients.

How can I grow hydroponic vegetables indoors?

Do you want to grow your own vegetables but don’t have room at home for your veggie patch? An indoor hydroponic garden is a space-saving and highly efficient way to grow delicious, home-grown vegetables. At Mr Fothergill’s, we proudly stock a range of indoor hydroponic supplies that are great for home gardeners and gardening with children looking to learn more about the science of growing plants. Begin growing your own herbs and vegetables indoors with a hydroponics kit from Mr Fothergill’s.

How long does it take to grow hydroponic vegetables?

Because hydroponic garden plants use less energy to search for food and water than they would if they were planted in soil, they can put more energy towards growing and yielding a delicious harvest. With the right hydroponic parts, you could have leafy greens ready for eating in as little as three weeks and veggies in as little as six weeks.

What vegetables, herbs and flowers can I grow hydroponically?

You can start almost anything in your Mr Fothergill's HydroGarden, but if you wish to grow them to the harvesting stage, there are a few things you will need to consider, such as height, fruit size, and the plant's root system. 

Our favourites to grow are dwarf-fruiting crops such as Cherry Falls tomatoes, Fire and Ice chilli seeds, and strawberry seeds. Leafy greens grow well hydroponically, such as lettuce seeds, bok choi, and spinach seeds. Grow herbs such as basil, parsley, mint, and dill hydroponically so you have them at your fingertips while cooking. If you're more into flowers, then there's a huge range of varieties suitable for your HydroGarden, such as Pansy, Alyssum, Dichondra, and even dwarf Sunflowers!

Are Indoor Hydroponic Gardens Worth It?

If you live with limited space or have a favourite snack that only grows for a short window of the year, then YES, an indoor garden is perfect for you. A HydroGarden also makes the perfect gardening gift for friends and family. If you value your health and that of your family, there is no better way to ensure you’re growing the freshest, nutritious produce than growing your own at home. Be sure to browse our great selection of indoor gardens on offer at Mr Fothergill’s and garden smarter with a smart garden. Have more questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us and our friendly team will be happy to help!