Growing herbs with no soil, all year round

In hydroponics, roots draw water and nutrients directly from a nutrient solution, with no soil. In an indoor garden, that means less mess, no daily watering to keep track of, and steady growth as long as there's enough light.

A home system brings together a reservoir, a small pump that circulates or oxygenates the water, baskets to hold the seedlings and, often, built-in lighting. You sow into coir plugs, fill the reservoir with nutrient-enriched water, and top up the level as the weeks go by. Basil, chives, parsley and lettuces are the simplest crops to start with.

Maintenance stays brief: topping up the water, renewing the solution at regular intervals, cleaning the reservoir between crops. The guide Indoor hydroponics, no jargon explains pH and nutrients simply, and basil in hydroponics covers a first crop.

Choosing your system

• Number of plants: six slots are enough for a few everyday herbs; twelve let you vary the crops or stagger the harvests.
• Reservoir volume: the bigger it is, the less often you'll need to top up the water.
• Lighting: a built-in lamp, adjustable in height and programmable, makes the system self-sufficient, even far from a window.
• Noise level: the pump runs continuously or in cycles; for a kitchen or living room, choose a quiet model.

Nutrients and seedlings

With no soil, plants depend entirely on the nutrient solution. The two-part A and B nutrients are poured separately into the water and never mixed together undiluted, to stop certain elements reacting with each other. Stick to the stated doses: too much damages the roots. For seedlings, coir plugs keep the seed moist and aerated until germination.

Maintenance routine

Top up the reservoir as the level drops, renew the whole solution every two to three weeks and clean the tank between crops. Trim the herbs regularly so they branch out.

Getting started

Read Indoor hydroponics, no jargon and basil in hydroponics.