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Learn Hydroponics

Grow leafy greens and herbs in water and nutrients, starting with a simple jar and scaling up.

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Hydroponics grows plants without soil by feeding their roots a balanced nutrient solution. Removing soil gives you control over water, nutrients and oxygen, which lets leafy greens grow fast indoors year round, but it also removes soil's buffer, so mistakes in pH or nutrient strength show up quickly. Beginners usually start with a passive Kratky jar of lettuce, then move to deep water culture or nutrient film systems. Learnr builds a personalized course of short lessons on systems, nutrients, pH and EC, lighting and troubleshooting, tied to what you want to grow and the space you have.

How to learn Hydroponics, step by step

Start with a Kratky jar of lettuce. A Kratky setup is a lightproof container of nutrient solution with a net cup in the lid, and no pump. As the plant drinks, the water level falls and roots get air. It teaches nutrients and pH with almost no equipment.
Learn nutrient solution, pH and EC. Use a nutrient product made for hydroponics, mixed to the label's strength for leafy greens. Most crops absorb nutrients best in a mildly acidic range, often around pH 5.5 to 6.5. A pH meter and an EC or TDS meter show what the roots are getting.
Germinate seeds in a clean medium. Start seeds in rockwool cubes, coco plugs or similar, kept moist but not waterlogged, then move seedlings into net cups once roots appear at the bottom. Lettuce, basil and other herbs are reliable first crops.
Give plants enough light and air. A sunny window rarely provides enough light indoors, so a full-spectrum LED grow light on a timer is usually worthwhile. Moderate temperatures and gentle airflow help prevent mold and leggy growth.
Move to an active system. Deep water culture adds an air pump and air stone to oxygenate roots in a reservoir. Nutrient film technique runs a thin stream along channels. Keep pumps, cords and outlets well clear of water and use a properly protected outlet.
Check, log and troubleshoot weekly. Record pH, EC, water temperature and plant growth. Brown slimy roots suggest rot, often from warm, poorly oxygenated water; green film means light is reaching the solution. Short Learnr lessons on plant nutrition help you read leaf symptoms.

What you'll learn

Compare Kratky, deep water culture, NFT, ebb and flow and drip systems
Mix nutrient solution and measure pH and EC
Start seeds in rockwool or plugs and transplant them
Choose and position grow lights for leafy crops
Diagnose root rot, algae and nutrient problems

What's inside your Hydroponics course

A sample path Learnr builds for Hydroponics. Your real course adapts to your goal and level.

1. How plants feed without soil
2. Hydroponic systems compared
3. Nutrients, pH and EC
4. Germination, media and transplanting
5. Lighting and environment
6. Troubleshooting and scaling up

How long does it take to learn Hydroponics?

A first Kratky lettuce takes about a month from seed to harvest and a weekend to set up. Running a recirculating system reliably usually takes two or three grow cycles, and fruiting crops like tomatoes add more complexity and time.

What you need before you start

No gardening experience required. Comfort with simple measurements helps, and you will need a pH test kit or meter and a hydroponic nutrient product.

Common mistakes to avoid

Skipping pH testing, then blaming the plants when nutrients lock out. Test and adjust the solution regularly.
Using clear containers, which let light in and grow algae. Make reservoirs and jars lightproof.
Starting with tomatoes or peppers, which need more light, support and nutrient management. Begin with lettuce and herbs.

How Learnr builds your course

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Hydroponics questions, answered

Is hydroponics better than soil?

It can grow leafy greens quickly in small indoor spaces with less water, but it needs more equipment and attention. Soil is more forgiving. Many growers use both for different crops.

Can I use regular plant fertilizer?

Most garden fertilizers are designed to work with soil and may lack nutrients that soil normally supplies. Use a complete fertilizer made for hydroponics and follow its label.

What is the easiest crop to grow?

Loose-leaf lettuce is the classic first crop because it grows quickly, tolerates modest light and needs no pollination. Basil, mint and other herbs are close behind.