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Look: Hydroponic Gardening
Austin

082208hydro-01.jpg While it would be lovely to getaway in your very own private backyard garden retreat, not everyone has the luxury of an available outdoor space for planting. Not everyone has the luxury of continuous sunshine either! Luckily, a lack of a yard doesn't mean you can't enjoy a beautiful garden...

 
 

082208hydro-02.jpg Hydroponics certainly isn't a new concept (there's evidence that ancient civilizations experimented with it), but the idea of a soil-free way to garden indoors is an idea worth revisiting. Basically, hydroponics is the method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions rather than soil.

082208hydro-03.jpg The advantages of hydroponic gardening are impressive. According to some experts, soil-free gardening means no soil-born diseases, soil loving pests or weeding. Hydroponic gardening also tends to give quicker harvests and higher plant yields. While some might be turned away by hydroponic gardening because of the amount of equipment (and know-how) involved, the ability to grow your own herb or plant garden in a small house or apartment might be the incentive to investigate this cool gardening method!

082208hydro-04.jpg In Austin, there are several hydroponic supply store locations to help anyone looking to learn more about hydroponic gardening.

Are there any AT readers that are avid hydroponic gardeners and have any advice for beginners? Please share your tips!

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Comments (6)

I figured Austin would be a big center for hydroponics ;-)

I think this is how I'll be going this winter for my herbs. No more of those little bugs.

I'd love to know though how I could avoid those bugs because I'll have a couple of house plants that will have to come inside.

posted by art on August 22nd 2008 at 7:47am
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Has anyone used an AeroGrow?

http://www.officialaerogarden.com/default.aspx?adid=ggl1002.1&OVRAW=indoor%20countertop%20garden&OVKEY=indoor%20garden&OVMTC=advanced&OVADID=26508344012&OVKWID=218342485012

I see these in the inflight catalogs all the time....

posted by bepsf on August 22nd 2008 at 7:52am
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Bepsf...
I've never used one, but a friend of mine has one in her kitchen and loves it! It always smells good too :)

posted by SCADanielle on August 22nd 2008 at 8:16am
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what is that gel stuff? I'd love to have a glass herb garden in my kitchen.

posted by fischbowl on August 22nd 2008 at 8:53am
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Adrienne,
Have been so enjoying your posts about stuff local to me in Austin. I don't always get a chance to check out AT though, so if you don't mind, would you drop me an email about sustainable finds at cristina@livinghouseaustin.com? I'm in the process of building a website (www. livinghouseaustin.com) that will hopefully serve as a central place for all info. green in Austin, and eventually be a forum for all our groups to exchange info. Feel free to send suggestions too! Thanks,
Cristina

posted by cristina on August 22nd 2008 at 10:28am
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That's just so tempting...I grew bibb lettuce outdoors this spring and with the trees dropping little seeds all over the ground while they were growing, dirt splashing up when I watered, and slugs, I only enjoyed two heads before I gave up. I think I have to look into this.

posted by gibbylet on August 23rd 2008 at 10:36pm
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