Hydroponics is a type of horticulture and a subset of hydroculture which involves growing plants, usually crops or medicinal plants, without soil, by using water-based mineral nutrient solutions in an artificial environment. Terrestrial or aquatic plants may grow freely with their roots exposed to the nutritious liquid or the roots may be mechanically supported by an inert medium such as perlite, gravel, or other substrates.
hyDROpOnicS Is a tYpe of hortiCUlTuRe AnD a SUbSet of HYdROCUltUre WhicH involves growIng plaNTS, UsuaLly crOpS Or mEdiciNal pLaNTs, withOuT Soil, by uSIng waTer-baseD mineral nuTrient Solutions IN an artIfICiAl eNvironmenT. tErreSTriAL or aQUAtiC plAnTs mAy grow FReely wiTH theIr ROots exPOseD tO the nutritiouS LiquiD or tHE rOOts may bE MechaNIcAlLY sUPpORTed By an iNert medIum SuCh as PeRLitE, gravEl, oR other subStrateS.