15 Reasons Why You Should Try Hydroponic Gardening This Year

Hydroponics and vertical greenhouses are sprouting up around the world. Gardeners everywhere are ditching the soil for pure water. The word hydroponic stems from the Greek words “hydro,” meaning water, and “ponos,” meaning labor. Together they describe a soil-less way of growing crops. 

Hydroponics have been around since the early 20th century, but because of their early high cost, it wasn’t until recently that everyday gardeners started switching over. 

From indoor ag-tech projects to greenhouses and vertical gardens, hydroponic systems come in various styles. Below are the 15 reasons why you should try hydroponic gardening this year. 

Water Conservation

In the drought-stricken U.S., water conservation is arguably the biggest reason to switch over to this new gardening system. Between 10% and 50% of the US remained in a drought in 2024, especially in states such as California and Texas. 

Hydroponic systems are water savers when liquid circulation is involved. First, water is mixed with a nutrient-dense solution that’s often organic. The nutrient-dense moisture moves through the growing tray, delivering nutrients and water to the plant roots. After soaking the roots, the solution is recycled back into the system and the water is reused without leaking into the ground.

If you live in a dry area, you can save a lot of water using this system. Farmers in some of the world’s driest regions are switching over to conserve precious drinking water. This convenient way of growing crops could end up saving lives and the environment. 

You Won’t Need Soil

If you’re like me and struggle with making picky plants happy with making the right soil, then this advanced growing system may be for you. Don’t get me wrong, planting crops in soil and getting your hands dirty is fun. But once you try growing your produce in water, you’ll be hooked. 

Soil is a touchy subject in the world of agriculture. Modern industrial agriculture involves inputs that bleed nutrients from the soil and pollute nearby water systems. 

This is why growing your food in water and hydroponic growing media is often better than soil. You won’t have to worry about healthy soil, worms, or using the right combo of sand and perlite again. 

You’ll Have Pure Control

If you hate surprises and love having control, you’ll love gardening hydropically. You’ll wield the power of the environment. Your plant’s success depends on you and your system, not Mother Nature. 

This modern growing technique gives you the reins for controlling water usage, nutrient solutions, humidity, and temperature. In automated systems, you’ll be able to program your ideal growing schedule. 

Vertical gardens, greenhouses, and indoor setups keep your plants away from pests and diseases. Even temperature swings and frosts will be a worry of the past. 

Say Goodbye to Seasons

Unless you’re growing your hydroponic garden outdoors, you can control the temperature and the light. Indoor grow lights and greenhouses allow you to control the light. Greenhouses and indoor setups also give you control over the ambient temperature. 

As the seasons change, you won’t have to worry about plant rotation. As long as your plants are getting the nutrients, light, warmth, and water they need, they’ll flourish regardless of the season. 

No More Pesticides

Because you’re not gardening outside or in the ground, pests and diseases will have a tougher time reaching your plants. You won’t have to spray for pests as much. It’s still worth being aware of pests that tend to pop up indoors, though.

Without soil, these systems use special hydroponic growing media to grow. Pests, fungi, and bacteria will find it harder to infect these systems. 

Because you won’t have to spray, your plants will be pesticide-free. This is better for your health, especially if you’re growing food. 

Predictable Environment

Gardening is anything but predictable. From early season frosts, pest damage, and strong gusts of wind can damage or destroy your precious plants. All that hard work can be wiped away in the blink of an eye. 

Hydroponic gardens offer a solution. These systems create a more predictable environment for your plants. 

You’ll be able to predict entire yields effortlessly. Say goodbye to crop failures and harvest exactly what you planted. 

No More Weeding

Your hydroponic-circulating systems will contain nutrients, a growing medium, your plants, and absolutely no weeds! These native perennials will have trouble germinating without soil. 

Plants generally don’t like to compete. Weeds use precious nutrients and water that would otherwise nourish your garden.

Without worrying about weeds, you’ll save a ton of time and energy. No more weeders or toxic weed spray or backbreaking digging work. 

Grow a Bigger Variety

Variety is important to most gardeners. Who wants to snack on the same lettuce variety over and over again? Although traditional gardening gives you more options when it comes to species and plant sizes, hydroponic systems make it easy to expand the varieties you grow. 

For these water-efficient gardens, you can grow multiple varieties and cultivars side by side. As long as the plants aren’t too big or energy-consuming, you’ll grow endless varieties. 

Plants such as herbs, leafy greens, and small vegetables and flowers thrive in these modern gardens. This includes most edible plants we enjoy today. If you want variety in your edible garden, hydroponics is the way to go. 

Optimize Your Space

You can build these water-saving systems vertically or above ground. This frees up a lot of space that a raised garden bed or outdoor garden bed will take up. 

If you have limited space, you can build these techy growing systems on walls, above your kitchen, or vertically in your yard. You can also turn an entire greenhouse into a hydroponic system. 

Grow More Crops!

These controllable gardens not only save space but also boost yields! Plants grow much faster and produce higher yields. This gives you more crops in a season. 

If you’re a foodie gardener like me, imagine the possibilities. Grow any type of herb, leafy green, vine, berry, or vegetable in more than half the time. You’ll get big, beautiful harvests within multiple growing seasons. 

If you’re feeding a family, this setup is incredibly valuable. You’ll have almost unlimited food to enjoy throughout the year. 

Less Food Waste

We sometimes waste a lot of our produce once we harvest it from the ground. Factor in what’s lost during transit times between grower and seller, and you could feed a nation. 

Growing a garden with these tech-savvy systems lets foodie gardeners like you harvest exactly what you want to eat. You’ll be able to clip off leaves or take entire bunches without killing your plants. They will sprout new growth without the need to propagate or take cuttings. 

Save Money on Maintenance

Yes, the initial cost of setting up one of these systems is higher than a traditional garden. You’ll have to invest in a few gadgets upfront. However, once you get started, you’ll start to see some savings. 

Traditional gardens need soil, fertilizers, seeds, garden tools, pesticides—preferably organic, and your time and energy. You’ll also have to rotate your annual crops and invest in new seeds and starters. 

Over time, you may end up spending more than if you started a hydroponic garden. If you can fund the initial startup costs, it may be financially worth the investment over time. 

More Ways to Experiment

Because crops grow quicker and there are fewer environmental problems to worry about, you’ll have more time to experiment. You’ll learn about the best companion crops and which crops respond the best to which nutrients. 

Treat your system as your own home science lab. Try growing plants you never thought you could. Push the boundaries of your climate and try rare and hard-to-find seeds just for fun. 

Keep a journal of your experiments. A few months of gardening hydroponically will give you a huge boost in horticulture knowledge. Kids can also learn how to grow their food soil-free and expand their knowledge about horticulture. 

Better for the Environment

Traditional farming practices can be wasteful. They can also harm the land through soil degradation and waterway pollution. 

Hydroponic systems recycle water and use few chemicals. There’s no need for harmful pesticides or weed killers. In fact, they make little environmental impact aside from the electricity they need to run. Some systems are even solar-powered, making them almost entirely energy-efficient. 

On a small scale, they’ll help conserve your land for native plants. On a large scale, these futuristic food systems can help solve our climate crisis one farm at a time. 

You’ll Save Time

The final reason you should try hydroponic gardening this year is to save time. We all have busy schedules and sometimes gardening becomes more of a chore than a relaxing hobby.