Now that we are in the middle of the dreary winter weather so common in the colder parts of the country, gardeners are quickly turning their attention to indoor gardening. Having plants growing indoors may help to improve one's mood until the gardener can get back outdoors and get the hands in the soil once more. Some gardeners prefer growing plants indoors over outdoors, and many are forced to garden indoors because there is simply no suitable growing space outdoors. Commercial growers often must utilize indoor gardening techniques to keep up with plant demand. Whatever your situation, this winter would be a great time to experiment with a new hydroponics system. You may want to investigate the ebb and flow models that are available for use indoors in a greenhouse, a plant room, or a corner of your home.

Ebb and flow systems require a few key components in order to get started. Besides the plants you wish to grow and appropriate lighting, you will want a reservoir, tray, pump and some type of aerator. Growing medium is also needed, as is plant nutrient.

The ebb and flow reservoir is typically filled with plant nutrient, the name of the plant food used with the hydroponics system. The plant nutrient is dissolved in water to form a solution.

On top of the reservoir is the ebb and flow tray. It is in the tray that the growing medium is placed. There are many different types of growing media, but they all share the common distinction in that they are soil-free. Once the medium is in the tray, the plants can be placed in the medium. A huge variety of plants can be grown in ebb and flow systems. Your ebb and flow system can be used to grow fruits such as strawberries, vegetables like lettuce or tomatoes, as well as flowers for use in decorating your home during the winter when not much is growing outdoors. Another key feature of the ebb and flow tray is that it has holes in it.

A water pump and aerator then goes into the ebb and flow reservoir, along with the plant nutrient solution. Ebb and flow hydroponics requires a water pump so that the plant nutrient solution can be pumped up and into the tray, and aerator to oxygenate the solution. As the solution level rises, the plant's roots are exposed to it, and they take in their nutrients. Because the crown of the plant can rot in an ebb and flow system if the solution were to remain in the tray, the liquid escapes through the holes in the ebb and flow hydroponics tray and returns to the reservoir where it is reused at certain intervals of time.

Online discount indoor gardening suppliers have more information about the ebb and flow system to help you get started.