The word "hydroponics" is derived from the Greek word "hydro", which means "water," and "ponos", meaning "labor." Using this gardening technique, the roots of your plants will take nutrients from water, rather than soil.

Hydroponics gardening is as simple as growing produce the traditional way, in a soil garden. Plants require the same essential nutrients to stay healthy, whether they are grown traditionally or with hydroponics. These essential elements are light, water, temperature, and nutrients, and choosing the right hydroponics equipment will deliver them easily and efficiently.

The Internet offers a wealth of options to help you compare, choose and purchase the required equipment and supplies to build your own indoor garden. Here is a selection of online resources to help you find everything you need:

hhydro.com

Horizen Hydroponics is a garden center operating year-round out of Grand Rapids, Michigan. This hydroponics equipment shop offers complete hydroponics systems, as well as additional supplies like plant grow lights, digital electronic ballasts and indoor gardening controls. All of this equipment can be purchased through their website, hhydro.com. Traditional gardening equipment, flower fertilizers and organic fertilizers are also available.

Horizen Hydroponics caters to hobbyists, commercial growers and all types of gardeners. Their inventory of popular products features SaferGro Phosgard, Botanicare Power Flower and other popular nutrient solutions for hydroponics gardens. There is also a complete selection of hydroponics equipment including the iGSL iLS120-ON 120V On Switcher, a device that regulates the operation of hydroponics system power circuits.

hydroponicequipment.com

As the name suggests, hydroponicequipment.com is a great resource for purchasing indoor gardening systems, equipment and devices. This online market offers plant nutrients, grow lights, hydroponics systems, greenhouses, environmental controls, soil and soil less media, light movers and more. You'll find everything you need to maintain your indoor garden including literature, odor control products and devices for testing and measuring.

Located in the Rocky Mountain region of Colorado, Hydroponic Equipment has been serving the hydroponics market for more than seven years. Their current product line includes popular hydroponics choices such as the Blue Air Big Blue, an aeration device with ozonator capabilities to control odor. These ozonators are designed to work with existing exhaust fans to maximize the capability per watt of electricity consumed. This clever gadget, and other hydroponics equipment, is available through the Hydroponic Equipment website.

hydroponics.net

Greentrees Hydroponics is one of the best sources of plant grow lights and reflectors designed specifically for indoor gardening systems. Their homepage, hydroponics.net, offers buyers a choice of grow lights, reflectors and other types of indoor gardening equipment as well.

The comprehensive product list at hydroponics.net includes:

* Bulbs, ballasts and reflectors

* Complete hydroponics systems

* Plant nutrients

* Plant nutrient enhancers

* Propagation and cloning

* Hydroponic growing media

* Plant fungicides

* pH and TDS

* Water pumps

* Plant pots

* Hydroponics tubing and fittings

* Insect Control

atlantishydroponics.com

Operating from Athens, Atlanta and College Park, Atlantis Hydroponics offers hundreds of products for hydroponics enthusiasts and traditional soil gardeners. Since the company opened its first location in 1998 in Athens, Georgia, it has grown to become the preferred choice of all types of gardeners.

Their expansive product line features complete systems and hydroponics accessories, plus equipment, testing equipment, environmental controls and organic fertilizers. They also offer a selection of stimulants and additives, fertilizers, rooting hormones and solutions, pest control products and growing media. If you're looking for books and magazines on traditional soil gardening or hydroponics methods, Atlantis Hydroponics offers these resources, plus complete hydro growing kits and science fair kits. Browse atlantishydroponics.com for lighting equipment, pump and aeration devices, tools, irrigation supplies and foliage spray for indoor and outdoor gardens.

If you're interested in building and maintaining an indoor garden, there is a world of information available on the Internet. Try these websites and you'll find that choosing the right hydroponics equipment is as easy as growing great produce without getting your hands dirty.