Hydroponics is a cultivation technique that grows plants without soil. It involves a grow-bed container filled with chemically inert media like sand or rockwool that holds the plant's roots. Below the media is a nutrient reservoir that feeds a specially formulated hydroponic solution into the grow bed through a wick system, relying on capillary action and media absorbency to water the plants. While hydroponic nutrients are usually chemical-based, some groups have developed organic soilless systems that use natural materials.

1. HYDROPONICS - A CULTIVATION
TECHNIQUE WITHOUT SOIL
Hayley Ninnis

2. INTRODUCTION
 The founder of Hayley's Vintage Clothing and Jewelry,
Hayley Ninnis has a longtime interest in sewing and
making clothes. Hayley Ninnis also recently purchased a
historic brick townhouse in Chester County, Pennsylvania,
and is cultivating organic and hydroponic gardens there.
Unlike traditional gardening, hydroponics involves the use
of a grow-bed container filled with chemically inert grow
media that does not contain decaying organic matter.
Popular types of media include sand, rockwool, and mica-
based vermiculite. Peat moss, which does contain
partially decayed organic material, is also acceptable, as
it decays extremely slowly and retains water up to 10
times its weight.

3. HYDROPONICS
 Below the grow media is the nutrient reservoir, which is
positioned so as to accept the nutrient solution through
gravity after plant feeding. Slightly acid and composed of
a specially formulated hydroponic solution, the nutrient
fluid is drawn through a wick system into the grow bed
above. This relies on a combination of the wick material’s
capillary properties and the absorbency of the grow
media.
While nutrient solutions are typically derived from
chemicals, making organic hydroponics challenging, this
is not hard and fast. In recent years, a Canadian
government-funded group of Montreal rooftop gardeners
has developed a soilless vegetable cultivation system that
utilizes organic materials.