10 min read

Beginners Guide to Hydroponics: What It Is and How to Get Started

Hydroponics is growing plants without soil, with the roots fed by a nutrient solution in water. This guide explains how it works, the four beginner system types, the equipment to buy first and the mistakes to avoid.

Thomas BrownDirector, The Grow Superstore

Published 9 Jul 2025Updated 23 Oct 2026

Beginner hydroponics DWC system with basil in clay pebbles, net pot, exposed white roots, oxygen bubbles and nutrient solution, illustrating how hydroponic growing works without soil.

Hydroponics is growing plants without soil: the roots sit in water carrying dissolved mineral nutrients, or in an inert medium such as rockwool or clay pebbles that is fed with that solution. Hydroponics for beginners comes down to one simple system, a few meters and a weekly routine. This guide explains how it works, what to buy first and which mistakes to avoid.

Hydroponics might sound like something out of a science lab, but it's one of the most exciting and accessible ways to grow your own plants, whether you're aiming for juicy tomatoes or monster chillies. At The Grow Superstore in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, we've helped hundreds of growers, from beginners to experts, take the plunge into hydro. So let's demystify hydroponics and set you up for growing success.

Who this guide is for: UK home growers with a spare corner, shed or grow tent who are new to hydroponics and want to grow herbs, salad leaves, tomatoes or peppers without soil.

What is hydroponics?

Hydroponics is the practice of growing plants in a nutrient solution instead of soil. The RHS describes it as growing plants without soil by feeding them mineral nutrient salts dissolved in water. Two broad families exist: systems that give the roots a support medium (such as perlite, rockwool, coco or clay pebbles), and systems with no medium at all, such as nutrient film technique (NFT).

Roots still need water, oxygen and minerals; hydroponics just delivers all three directly. That is why nutrients and oxygen matter more here than in soil, where compost buffers mistakes.

How does hydroponics work?

A typical hydroponic set-up has four jobs to do:

Hold the nutrient solution in a reservoir or tray.
Bring it to the roots, by submerging them, flooding and draining, or dripping it on.
Keep the roots oxygenated. The RHS warns that the roots of most plants die in stagnant water, which is why an air pump and air stone or a regular drain cycle is built in.
Keep the solution balanced. As plants drink, the mix drifts in strength and pH, so you measure and adjust it.

Light, warmth and airflow work as for any indoor crop. In a tent, our guides to ventilation and humidity cover the air side.

Hydroponic terms in plain English

Term	What it means
EC (electrical conductivity)	How concentrated the nutrient solution is
pH	How acidic or alkaline the solution is; it decides which nutrients roots can take up
PPM (parts per million)	Another way of expressing nutrient strength, converted from EC
Run-off	The excess solution that drains from the root zone
Root rot	Root disease caused by poor oxygenation or a dirty system

What are the main types of hydroponics?

Beginners tend to meet four set-ups. Pick the simplest one that suits your crop.

Type	How it works	Best for	Beginner suitability
Wick	Passive: a wick draws solution up from a reservoir into the medium	Herbs, small leafy plants	Very easy, no pump, but slow and limited to small plants
Deep water culture (DWC)	Roots hang in aerated solution, usually in a bucket or tank	Lettuce, leafy greens, fast-growing crops	Easy to understand; needs an air pump and a clean reservoir
Ebb and flow (flood and drain)	A pump periodically floods a tray or pots, then drains back	Most small crops, including tomatoes and peppers	Versatile; needs a pump and a timer
NFT	A thin film of solution runs along sloped channels	Salad leaves	Works well, but the RHS notes that pump failure damages plants quickly, so it is less forgiving

Our IWS flood & drain systems and parts cover that route, such as the IWS PRO Remote 6 pot system with a 100L FlexiTank, while valve-controlled pot systems such as AutoPot and Easy Feed feed pots of coco or clay pebbles without hand watering. For the full side-by-side, including drip and aeroponics, read hydroponic systems compared. If you are unsure, our Systems, Parts and Testers collection is the best place to browse.

What equipment do I need to start hydroponics?

You need seven things. The system itself is the main spend.

Item	What it does	Start with
Grow system	Holds roots and delivers solution	One simple type from the table above
Grow light	Replaces the sun indoors; in the UK's temperamental climate, reliable lighting is vital	Full-spectrum LED grow lights
Nutrients	Supplies the minerals	A hydroponic feed from a range such as FloraMax, Canna or Atami
Growing medium	Anchors roots	Rockwool, clay pebbles or coco
pH and EC meters	Tell you if the solution is right	pH and EC testers
Air pump and stone	Oxygenates the solution, essential in DWC	Air pumps and accessories
Reservoir and tubing	Stores and moves the solution	Systems, Parts and Testers

To choose a medium, compare soil vs coco vs hydro, then see how to prepare rockwool, perlite and clay pebbles. For pot systems, read our pots guide.

Is there a hydroponics starter kit for beginners?

If you would rather not pick parts one at a time, a small, ready-to-go kit will help you learn the ropes. Our kit range changes, so if the kit you want is not on the shelf, start with a tent such as the Trojan Silver 120 x 120 x 200 cm grow tent, then add a light and extraction from Grow Tents and Sheeting. Our first shopping list goes through every item in order, and the grow room setup checklist covers the space itself.

How do I measure pH and EC in a hydroponic system?

Measure both every time you mix or top up. pH should sit between 5.5 and 6.2, and most growers aim for 5.8-6.0; EC tells you whether the feed is too weak or too strong; a combo meter such as the Bluelab Combo Meter reads pH, EC and temperature in one tool. EC creeps up between changes as plants drink, and the RHS notes that a solution can become salty enough to damage roots.

Our pH, EC and water quality guide has the full targets, calibration and a note on UK tap water.

What nutrients do hydroponic plants need?

Plants need nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, plus calcium, magnesium, sulphur and trace elements. Use a feed made for hydroponics, not a soil fertiliser, and follow the label. See plant nutrients explained, choosing a nutrient line and the FloraMax feeding guide.

Change the whole reservoir every 1-2 weeks. The RHS gives about two weeks as a rule; smaller tanks and thirstier plants need it sooner.

What can I grow with hydroponics?

Start with quick growers that need little support:

Lettuce and salad leaves, ready in weeks
Tomatoes and peppers, which the RHS lists among the usual hydroponic crops, though they need a bigger system and a stake or trellis
Herbs, such as basil, which many beginners also try in simple systems

Root crops and tree-sized plants are harder to grow in a beginner system, so leave them until you are more confident.

Is hydroponics worth it for a beginner?

Yes, if you want controllable growing and a simple routine. Why are so many UK gardeners swapping compost bags for bubbling reservoirs? Mostly for the control, but weigh up the trade-offs.

Why people choose it

Control. You decide exactly what the roots receive, so growth is steadier than in poor soil.
Water use. The solution is recirculated, so less is wasted than with hand watering.
Space. Compact and vertical systems suit flats, sheds and tents.
Fewer soil problems. No soil means fewer soil-borne pests.

What to weigh up

Set-up cost. You buy a system, light, meters and feed before the first harvest.
Electricity. Lights, pumps and air stones all run on power.
Power or pump failure. In recirculating systems, roots dry out quickly if the pump stops, and DWC roots lose oxygen if the air pump fails.
Constant monitoring. pH and EC drift, and the RHS rates the method as difficult.
Cleaning. Algae and slime build up in light-struck reservoirs, so clean the system regularly.

How do I set up hydroponics at home?

Choose a spot with power, a level surface and room for a light. A tent keeps light and humidity under control.
Pick one simple system and read its instructions before buying extras.
Mix the nutrient solution with clean water, then check pH and EC.
Start seedlings or cuttings in rockwool or a similar plug, as in our propagation masterclass.
Set the light and timer to suit the crop.
Check daily and change the solution every 1-2 weeks.

Can I run hydroponics through a UK winter?

Yes, but cold water is the problem. Keep the reservoir at 18-20 °C (64-68 °F), act if it climbs above 22 °C (72 °F), and do not let it fall below 18 °C (64 °F). In a cold shed or garage, a water tank heater is the usual fix. Our winter tips for your grow room cover room heating and condensation.

What are the most common beginner mistakes?

Ignoring pH and EC. Small imbalances cause big problems, so measure every time.
Choosing the wrong system. Don't start with complex set-ups. A small, ready-to-go kit will help you learn the ropes.
Skipping maintenance. Clean your system weekly and monitor plant health daily. Healthy roots are white and firm; see our root-zone health guide and troubleshooting yellow leaves, brown spots and root rot if something looks wrong.

FAQ

Do I need special seeds for hydroponics? No, standard seeds work well. Avoid seeds that have been treated with fungicides. Germinate them in rockwool or a similar plug; our propagation masterclass explains how.

Can I grow hydroponically outside? Yes, but you need weather protection and closer monitoring, because rain dilutes the solution and UK temperatures swing. Most beginners do better indoors or in a greenhouse.

How much does a beginner hydroponic system cost? It depends on the system and the number of plants. Budget for the system, a light, a tent if you want one, nutrients and meters. A simple one-bucket DWC costs far less than an automated multi-pot set-up, so start with the smallest system that suits your crop.

Are hydroponic plants organic? Not usually. Most hydroponic feeds are mineral salts, so home hydroponic crops are not normally described as organic. The plants are the same species as soil-grown ones.

How often should I change the nutrient solution? Every 1-2 weeks, depending on plant size and system. Top up with plain pH-adjusted water in between and check EC.