Increased Growth

• Hydroponically grown plants may grow up to 50 percent faster than plants grown in soil, while also producing a larger crop of fruit or vegetables. This could be due to an increased amount of oxygen in the growing liquid as compared to general garden soil.
  
  

Environmental Benefits

• Hydroponics gardening reduces the amount of water and pesticide used, and when applied to large-scale commercial farms can eliminate the problem of topsoil erosion.
  
  

Costs

• The materials needed for hydroponic growing include a liquid nutrient mix designed for the specific plant and growing media such as sand or gravel. Many hydroponic growing systems require specialized greenhouses. Altogether, these supplies can add up to a prohibitive cost for many gardeners.
  
  

Environmental Control

• Hydroponic gardening systems often require intensive control of the temperature, lighting, air movement, humidity and other factors. Many gardeners and commercial farmers find these environmental factors difficult to control.