Small grow rooms for the beginning hydroponic gardener are usually slightly larger than a closet and can be completely installed in under an hour. The cost ranges from several hundred dollars to over $500, depending on the add-ons that you think you will need. A small greenhouse can cost considerably more because you will need to either include a cement floor and drainage system or lay other types of flooring such as gravel before you build the greenhouse itself. The pH is the most important factor to monitor because the pH of a nutrient solution reads the outcome of an electrical battle between the roots and everything that surrounds them. The run off from growing plants in pots is the best place to measure the pH level. The protein and enzyme molecules in a plant are structured in very specific shapes in order to catalyze a chemical reaction to build the plant cells. Examples of hydrocarbon fuels are propane, butane, natural gas and alcohol. Fuels that contain sulfur or sulfur compounds cannot be used because they produce harmful by products when they burn. Dry ice can be used in small greenhouses, especially if a cooling effect is also desired. Dry ice, which is solid carbon dioxide, is effective when used in a well-sealed area. The basic nutrients needed in any hydroponic solution are potassium phosphate, potassium nitrate, calcium nitrate and magnesium sulfate. All of these salts must be thoroughly dissolved before being allowed to circulate around your root systems. Micronutrients are also needed for proper growth of your plants. Because hydroponic growers produce their own nutrients mixes, it takes the guess work out of figuring out which plants will grow best in a field and what nutrients need to be added to the soil. The nutrient mixture is the right one for the plant, in the right ratios, every time. The fear of soil-based diseases is eliminated, because, of course, there is no soil. No Dirt Dished Here – How to Grow Something the Hydroponic Way Hydroponics is the system in which plants are grown without soil. Using hydroponics to grow plants can be beneficial for many growers. Hydroponics allows plants to be grown faster and with less of a hassle. In hydroponics plants are grown in a solution consisting of water and nutrients required for a particular plant, or within a system that uses a substrate or growing mix medium.