Just a quick reminder, hydroponics is a technique of gardening without soil in which the plant is raised on nutrients within a controlled environment.

Here are the basic fundamentals to growing hydroponic tomatoes:

What exactly do I require to begin growing hydroponic tomatoes?

Essentially hydroponic tomatoes are grown indoors within a greenhouse environment in which the growing variables may be carefully controlled. In the event that you do not have a greenhouse, it is possible to still develop a hydroponic as long as you have a quality grow light.

If you’re new, then I would suggest beginning with a small hydroponics basic starter kit that utilizes drip irrigation – these may be bought for less than $100 and will include all of the basic supplies to get your hydro system up and running. Drip irrigation is actually a process where your plant will be given its nutrient solution in drip form by way of a pipe. A good starter hydroponic kit is the Black Bucket Deep Water Hydroponic System, which is essentially just a 5 gallon bucket with a bubbler system.

Additionally, you will require a nutrient kit to blend your own nutrient solution that you’re going to nourish your plant with. If you don’t want to come up with your own homemade hydroponic fertilizer, then you can purchase the nutes readymade – General Hydroponics Flora Series is a trusted brand by many hydro enthusiasts.

Just how do I get my own hydroponic tomato plants growing?

You begin your tomato seeds in little “Rockwool Cubes”. Rockwool is actually a fiber produced from mineral perfect for supporting roots and retaining water and air that can help nutrient uptake. As soon as your plants are 14 days old they may be moved to your final growing pots. Be sure you permit sufficient room between plants so that they don’t overcrowd one another when more substantial – about 2ft is perfect.

Overseeing your hydroponic tomato system:

You need to keep track of the PH degree of your nutrient solution consistently and keep it within the appropriate range. A lot of starter kits include a PH measuring kit – ultimately tomatoes have a preference for a PH range from 6 and 6.5.

Pollination:

Hydroponic tomatoes will not bear fruit except if self pollinated. With the plants indoors you cannot depend on natural methods to pollinate your flowers therefore will need to do it manually. You’ll have to hold back until your plant produces flowers prior to it being ready. A straightforward method simply entails pushing the petals together lightly to shift the pollen. One other popular technique is to make use of an electric toothbrush positioned at the rear of the flower to disperse the pollen.

Plant Assistance:

When your tomato plants develop higher than 2 feet chances are they will demand some support. The simplest way to get this done indoors would be to suspend a string over your plant and secure it on the stem. After this you wrap the plant across the string as it develops. Using this method you’ll improve your plants size and tomato crop simply by subjecting the leaves towards the light source.

Company: Amazon via seller Hydrofarm; seller rating – 4.1 out of 5 stars

Price Range: $140-200

Who Would Buy This: Hydroponic enthusiasts who have either tried their hand with a smaller hydro system and want to scale up, have previous hydroponic growing experience, or beginner’s who just want a super easy way to get a high crop yield would find the Hydrofarm MGSYS Hydroponic Megagarden System useful.

The purpose of the Hydrofarm MGSYS Megagarden is to allow hydroponic gardeners the ability to set up multiple types of plants in an automated system for maximum production. The MGSYS Megagarden System is well suited for a variety of indoor garden plants, including hydroponic orchids, beans, tomatoes, lettuce and tomatoes.

Pros:

The Hydrofarm MGSYS Hydroponic Megagarden System is perfect if you’re looking for an affordable and space-efficient alternative compared to some of the other ebb and flow hydroponic systems out on the market.  An ebb and flow hydro system is one of the best ways to set up almost fully automated hydroponic system because everything is controlled, from the nutrient solution to the timed watering schedule.

If you’re looking for a super easy setup that doesn’t require a lot of extra supplies, then the Hydrofarm Megagarden System would be an ideal fit. It’s a full hydroponic kit that comes with almost everything you need already included, like the plastic grow pots, quality grow media, a water level indicator, a test kit for the pH and other nutrients, and a submersible pump with its own timer.

The Hydrofarm MGSYS system also comes with a pretty awesome bonus illustrated success guide to help you get the most out of your purchase, which is especially handy if you’re still learning how to grow hydroponic plants.  You will still need to supply your own grow lights and liquid fertilizer.

Cons:

The only drawback to getting the Hydrofarm Megagarden System is the amount of space you will need to dedicate to your indoor gardening efforts – you will need at least a 2ft x 2ft area to setup your Hydrofarm MGSYS. This is still a perfect size for an indoor garden if you have a small house or equivalent, but it will probably make a smaller apartment feel pretty cramped.

If you are strapped on space and you don’t have any need to grow 15 plants at one time, then check out one of the smaller hydro kits, like the 5 gallon black DWC system. It’s a ready-to-assemble kit that comes with everything you need to set up your own deep water culture kit in the comfort of your own home; just supply the plant, nutrients and lighting, and you’re ready to start growing indoors! Click here to buy a DWC system.

Value for money?

If you’re looking for a quality ebb and flow hydroponic system that does all of the hard work for you, then you’ll love the Hydrofarm MGSYS Hydroponic Megagarden System kit! It’s made out of durable materials and will help you scale up your indoor garden production quickly.

Where to buy:

Click Here for the best price on a Hydrofarm MGSYS Hydroponic Megagarden System

Company: Amazon via seller BWGS; seller rating – 4.4 stars out of 5

Price Range: $6-20

Who Would Buy This:

Hydroponic enthusiasts who are looking for a quality grow media that not only allows sufficient oxygen in, but also provides excellent root support and moisture retention would love using Hydroton Clay Aggregate Grow Media.

The purpose Hydroton clay aggregate is to help prevent root rot because the root system cannot receive enough oxygen to prevent them from becoming soggy and the grow media bogged down with water.

Pros:

One of the primary benefits to using Hydroton Clay Aggregate Grow Media is the way it supports the root system of your hydroponic plants. It’s not too snug of a fit that it doesn’t allow enough oxygen in, and the clay balls also pack tightly enough that they provide amazing moisture retention compared to many other hydroponic grow mediums.

If you purchase Hydroton grow media, then you will most likely find that a little bit goes a long way; most people find that they can easily fill up their hydroponic net pots and still have plenty of clay aggregate left over for the next project.

Another great benefit to using clay aggregate over other grow mediums is that it doesn’t promote root rot or support pests, like fungus gnats. Make sure you take the time to wash off the clay balls before you add them to your hydroponic system because the grow media is not prewashed – if you don’t clean it first, you will chance unreliable nutrient/EC readings.

Cons:

The only downside to purchasing a package of Hydroton Clay Aggregate Grow Media is the price – at around $20 a bag, it can get a little bit expensive. However, considering the quality of the grow media, and the fact that you won’t be wasting money on plants that die from root rot because you’re using an inferior grow medium, you’ll quickly forget about the cost.

In the grand scheme of things, it’s much cheaper to buy a quality grow medium, like clay aggregate, in the first place than have to continually replace dead hydroponic plants. Just make sure you always purchase a quality liquid fertilizer, like the General Hydroponics Flora Series (link), because the clay hydro media does not contain any type of nutrients.

Value for money?

Hydroton Clay Aggregate Grow Media is a top notch product that will help ensure your success with your indoor hydroponic system. If you have more than one system to fill up, then you will get the best deal by purchasing your clay grow medium online because they cost a lot more at most local specialty shops.

Where to buy:

Click Here for the best price on Hydroton Clay Aggregate Grow Media

(Hydrofarm JSV2, Hydrofarm T5 Grow Light System, Hydrofarm JSV2 Jump Start)

Company: Amazon via seller Hydrofarm; seller rating – 4 out of 5 stars

Price Range: $40-$50

Who Would Buy This:

If you’re looking for an easy way to grow small plants indoors, like seedlings, herbs and flowers, then you’ll love the Hydrofarm JSV2 2-Foot Jump Start T5 Grow Light System.

The purpose of the Hydrofarm JV2 is to help you bring the joy of gardening indoors with a super quick installation that requires minimal knowledge of hydroponic lighting.

Pros:

The Hydrofarm T5 Grow Light System provides the quality that your indoor hydroponic plants need to thrive – without the proper lumens and light schedule, you won’t be able to keep your plants thriving. Assembly is super quick, and it doesn’t require any special tools – you can put the whole grow light system together with just a screwdriver.

Along with its efficiency at getting the job done right, the Hydrofarm JSV2 takes things one step further by providing its own reflective fixture to help ensure your plants get as much light as possible – ordinarily, you would have to provide your own reflective fixture so that the light gets redirected back to the plants instead of absorbed elsewhere.

You can use the Hydrofarm JSV2 Jump Start system with a variety of different plants, which makes it a very versatile purchase. It’s perfect for smaller vegetable plants, like peppers, herbs – hydroponic basis is perfect for cooking! – and small house plants and flowers, like orchids.

Cons:

One drawback to the Hydrofarm JSV2 Grow System is the fact that it’s not suitable for large plants, or larger quantities of plants. It’s better used for small indoor hydroponics endeavors, and is especially suited for beginner hobbyists who are looking for an affordable, quality grow light to start off with.

Value for money?

At the price that the Hydrofarm JSV2 2-Foot Jump Start T5 Grow Light System sells for, it offers a lot of value for any hydro enthusiast; especially if you are just getting started and you’re looking for a cost efficient way to set up an indoor grow system. Compared to the grow light systems, the Hydrofarm JSV2 T5 System includes everything you need to get started, including a T5 high output bulb, a reflective fixture, and a stand – all in one super easy to assemble package!

Where to buy:

Click Here for the best price on a Hydrofarm JSV2 2-Foot Jump Start T5 Grow Light System

Company: Amazon via seller General Hydroponics; seller rating – 5 out of 5 stars

Price Range: $25-40

Who Would Buy This:

Regardless of whether you’re an experienced hydroponic grower or new to the hobby, you’ll love the value that you get out of the General Hydroponics Flora Series.

The purpose of the Flora Series is to provide all of the essential nutrients in one place, with easy mixing instructions, so that your hydroponic plants receive all of the best nutrients that they need to thrive. You can also purchase each of the nutes – Floragro, Florabloom, and Floramicro – separately; however, you’ll make it much easier on yourself if you get all three together.

Pros:

The General Hydroponics Flora Series is perfect if you’re new to indoor hydroponic growing because it takes the guesswork out of mixing up your own liquid fertilizer. Aside from light, a quality source of nutrients is the difference between thriving and dying plants, which is exactly what you get with the Floragro, Florabloom and Floramicro.

You don’t have to worry about getting the right ratios of Phosphorous, Magnesium, Potassium, Sulfur, Calcium, Nitrogen or the trace elements, because the Flora Series from General Hydroponics does it for you. If you already have experience with mixing up your own liquid fertilizers for your hydroponic system, then let the quality of the Flora Series do the talking – you’ll never go back to struggling with your own homemade fertilizers again!

The mixing formulas are provided so that it’s easy to get ratios correct for all stages of plant life, from seedlings to adults – which is another great benefit for inexperienced hydroponic growers. You don’t have to worry about messing up or killing your plants if you follow the directions correctly!

Cons:

The only downside to purchasing the General Hydroponics Flora Series is that you’ll quickly find yourself wanting more – especially if you grow a lot of hydroponic plants! If you find that you go through the kit quickly, then you should try to stock up on more liquid nutrients by purchasing them in bulk quantities.

Value for money?

Although the General Hydroponics Flora Series may seem pricey if you’re just starting out with hydro growing, you’ll quickly find that it more than makes up for it in the quality of the nutrients that you receive. Long-time hydroponics enthusiasts make it a staple addition to their systems because it delivers exactly what it promises; fast growth, high yield and excellent color, size and smell.

Where to buy:

Click Here for the best price on General Hydroponics Flora Series

Company: Amazon via seller Viagrow; seller rating – 4.5 stars out of 5

Price Range: $20-$50

Who Would Buy This:

Hydroponic enthusiasts searching for an easy way to set up a DWC bucket system would be interested in purchasing the Black Bucket Deep Water Hydroponic System.

The purpose of the black bucket DWC kit is to make it easy for people to set up their own indoor growing system, no technical knowledge required. This particular DWC hydro system comes with a

Pros:

The Black Bucket Deep Water Hydroponic System is great for small scale hobbyists who want to grow a single plant at a time – it works great for hydroponic tomatoes, cucumbers or growing basil indoors! Make sure you decide to grow a veggie that you cook with a lot so that you can reap the full benefits of growing it indoors year round.

One of the primary benefits of a 5 gallon black DWC system is the fact that you can test the waters out (pun intended!) before you take your hydroponic growing full scale. Although, there’s no reason why you can’t maintain a small group of plants indoors each with their own 5 gallon bucket!

The best part about this 5 gallon DWC kit is that it literally comes with everything that you need to get started – you won’t have to run out to the hardware store late at night because you don’t have all of the parts to assemble your hydroponic system. Your package will include one black 5 gallon bucket, a fitted net pot, an air pump and all of the necessary air tubing and air stones.

However, you will need to purchase the nutrients separately, so make sure you go with a high quality product like the General Hydroponics Flora Series, which comes with Floragro, Florabloom, and Floramicro.

Cons:

The only downside of the Black Bucket DWC Hydroponic System is the fact that you can’t grow very many plants at one time. Ideally, this 5 gallon hydroponic system is suited for 1-2 plants; the more plants you add, the more work you will have keeping the water clean and the chemistry adjusted. For instance, maintaining the correct pH range may end up being difficult if you keep multiple plants in your 5 gallon DWC bucket system because they will deplete the nutrients very quickly – you will constantly have to adjust the water.

Fortunately, if you want to have multiple hydroponic plants set up, it’s super easy to just assemble another Black Bucket Deep Water Hydroponic System – if you’re more interested in maintaining many plants at one time, then check out the Hydrofarm MGSYS Hydroponic Megagarden System, which allows you to grow 15 plants at one time! And it’s only around $100 more, which makes it a no brainer because it allows you to quickly scale up your production.

Value for money?

If you’re looking for a super easy DWC hydro set up, then you should definitely consider getting the Black Bucket Deep Water Hydroponic System. It comes with everything you need, and it’s a breeze to set up. Just supply the plant and a source of high quality nutrients, and you’re on your way to eating fresh veggies or herbs all year round!

Where to buy:

Click Here for the best price on a Black Bucket Deep Water Hydroponic System

Here are a few of the most widely used hydroponic mediums:

1. Vermiculite. This a great hydroponic medium because it has the ability to draw in water and nutrients to the roots of your plants – this circulation happens as a result of the vermiculite “pebbles” absorbing the nearby water. You can find vermiculite at most home and garden stores for a relatively low cost – perlite can also be used, as well.

2. Gravel or sand. If you’re looking for an easy, low cost way to get started with a hydroponic garden, then you may want to consider checking out sources of gravel or sand. The type of gravel used in a hydroponic system is the same aquarium-safe kind that you will readily find at a pet store – just make sure you choose the smaller pebbles. Sand is easily obtained at pet stores, pool supply stores, and hardware stores – just make sure you wash it well, and plan on cleaning it in between uses, as well. If you’re trying to decide between sand and gravel, go with the bag of gravel because it drains better than sand does.

sand can be used as a hydroponic medium

3. Rock wool. If you’ve been researching how to make a hydroponic system, then you’re probably already familiar with the concept of using rock wool because it’s a very popular medium because it’s very efficient at circulating water and waste – another name for rock wool is mineral wool. However, it’s important to note that rock wool is classified as a potential carcinogen, meaning that it can cause cancer, which is one of the reasons that some hydroponic gardeners are reluctant to use it.

If you plan on using a hydroponic medium with your indoor garden plants, then you will need to make sure you still use a quality liquid fertilizer – just like you would if you were only growing them in a water suspension. None of the hydroponic mediums provide nutrients for your plants, and neglecting to add a fertilizer mixture will quickly kill them.

Here are few great beginner hydroponic plants that are both easy to grow and undemanding in care:

1. Tomatoes. You’ve probably already noticed that everyone recommends hydroponic tomatoes for beginners – and there’s a good reason behind this! Out of all the plants you can choose to grow indoors for the first time, tomatoes are definitely one of the easiest because they thrive in warm conditions, which your lighting system will provide, and they do best when their leaves are kept dry – which isn’t a problem because you won’t be watering your plant the tradition way.

The most important thing to remember about growing hydroponic tomatoes is that you will need to provide the plant with some form of support – a stake or cage works nicely. If you don’t, the tomatoes will become too heavy for the stems to handle, and you will not produce a hearty crop – in fact, you plant may end up dying.

2. Beans. If winter gets you depressed because you lose your source fresh beans, then just bring your plants inside – beans are a wonderful plant to grow with hydroponics! Just like if they were outdoors, you will still need to provide your hydroponic bean plants with some form of support so that the plant can support its own weight. Almost all varieties of beans will do well grown in a hydroponic medium, and you may even get a better crop yield than if your beans were grown in soil outdoors.

3. Lettuce. If you don’t have the money for expensive lighting, then you’ll love lettuce because the leaves don’t require a solid intensity to thrive! They can be grown easily with fluorescent lighting, which is much more cost effective than some of the other alternatives – just make sure that the light is close enough to the lettuce because the wave lengths from a fluorescent bulb don’t penetrate very far.

However, it’s important to note that you will want to separate your lettuces and

hydroponic tomatoes are easy to grow!

tomatoes, if you decide to grow both plants, because most varieties of lettuce will not thrive at 70-79 degrees F like tomatoes do – lettuce is not a warm weather vegetable, and as such, it does best with a cooler temperature.

In addition to the above three plants, you can also easily grow different varieties of pepper plants hydroponically, including hot and sweet peppers. If you have already tried your hand at growing hydroponic tomatoes, then most peppers will be super easy to get the hang of – if you haven’t, treat them like you would a tomato plant; warm conditions, manual pollination and a sturdy support system for the vines.

Fortunately, it isn’t nearly as difficult as it sounds – especially if you’re only growing a couple hardy types, like parsley and chive, at a time!

1. Choose the type of herbs you want to grow. It’s important to remember that some herbs are more difficult to cultivate indoors, like basil, and should probably be left until you have more experience with growing herbs indoors. Parsley, mint and oregano are a good place to start. If you decide to go with a difficult type of herb, then you will need to purchase the correct type of grow light – there are 3 different types used for indoor gardening: fluorescent grow lights, high pressure sodium grow lights, and metal halide grow lights.

2. Decide on the type of grow system you plan to use. Many herbs can easily be grown in just a pot filled with soil provided that they receive enough sunlight – if the leaves start falling off or wilting, then you will need to move them to an area that has a better source of direct light. However, if you would like to add more variety to your indoor herb garden, then you may want to learn how to make a hydroponic system because it will enable you to widen your selection – it’s isn’t difficult to build a hydro system at home.

grow basil indoors

3. Purchase your seeds and get started! There’s no wrong time to start planting seeds when you’re growing herbs indoors because the seedlings won’t be subjected to harsh temperature changes. If you don’t want to wait for your seeds to sprout and grow, then start with an older plant so you can start harvesting the leaves earlier.

However, when you grow herbs indoors it’s important to remember that some will not be robust enough to thrive inside regardless of your efforts because they require very specific conditions, like warmer temperatures and more light. Additionally, it will be easier to grow a consistent fresh supply if you group your herbs into planters based on their needs – don’t attempt to keep plants with drastically different grow requirements, like lighting and soil type, in the same container.