As both small and large hydroponic farms were established in the late 1970s, it was proven that hydroponic culture could produce premium produce and be a profitable venture. As hydroponics attracted more growers, complete plant nutrient formulas, and hydroponic greenhouse systems were being marketed. Many people like to start with tomatoes or roses since they have many hardy varieties to choose from. Gardeners will also want to try using the blue and red spectrum lights to increase growth and the flowering of their plants. The temperature control units may also come in handy once you decide how many plants you want to grow in your space. 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. Hydroponic supply stores sell a variety of nutrient mixes for specific crops and growth cycles. Plants can be propagated by a number of methods. The grower can let a plant go to seed, collect the seed, and start the cycle all over again, which is called germination. Another method is to take stem cuttings, also known as cloning. If your plants are grown hydroponically, they will be healthier than plants grown in soil, because all of the growth elements and nutrients are made readily available during growth. Hydroponically grown plants also grow and mature faster, yielding an earlier harvest of vegetable, herbal and flower crops. The water consumption in hydroponic growing is significantly less than traditional growth methods; in many cases, hydroponic crops use a tenth of the water of equivalent traditional crops. Also, the water that is used is used more effectively; in hydroponics, weeds do not steal part of the crop’s water supply.