If you are a beginning hydroponic gardener you may want to use the pre-mixed nutrient solutions and observe their effects before you begin to make your own solutions. The basic nutrients needed in any hydroponic solution are potassium phosphate, potassium nitrate, calcium nitrate and magnesium sulfate. Hydroponic greenhouses produce millions of plant seedlings each year, which are transplanted and grown at other locations where they are later planted into soil. There are many benefits to growing your own plants in a hydroponics system. Many growers use hydroponic techniques for food and ornamental plant production. The energy saving poly greenhouse covers, the PVC pipe used in the feed systems, and the nutrient injector pumps & reservoir tanks were all made of types of plastic not available prior to the 1970s. 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. Hydroponics can be used to grow plants anywhere, even in your own backyard. Using hydroponics can grow anything from garden crops to flowers. Hydroponic gardening is considered to be a clean and highly effective method for growing plants. There is less mess and less maintenance. Hydroponic gardening helps to eliminate the need for weeding and helps to cut down on diseases and pests. 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. Usually, natural sunlight is used, but during the shorter and darker days of winter, many hydroponic gardeners use artificial lights to increase the intensity of light or to expand the daylight length. Different types of artificial lighting are selected for specific plant varieties and optimum plant growth characteristics.