Many think using pesticides to eliminate spider mites in their hydroponic gardens is a good idea, but the use of pesticides in hydroponic gardening is discouraged and usually not necessary. Hydroponically grown plants are not immune to spider mites, but they are more pest resistant than plant grown in soil. The actual temperature for the particular plant you are growing will vary. For optimal growth, the amount of light your plants receive can be the difference between life and death. Too many lights can dry out your plants while too few can have your plants stretching desperately towards the lights. All plants respond differently to light depending on the intensity, wavelength and duration it receives. Starting Small – What Hydroponic Beginners Typically Grow First Hydroponics is the concept of soil less gardening. The word hydroponics comes from two Greek words, “hydro” meaning water and “ponics” meaning labor. This concept has been around for thousands of years and many countries, including China, Holland, Germany, and Australia have used hydroponics for crop production with results that are quite amazing. Many small greenhouses cost anywhere from $500 to over several thousand dollars, depending on the add-ons you choose. The basic items you need after you decide on either a grow room or greenhouse include a temperature control unit, exhaust fan, heating mats, light fixtures for your blue and red spectrum lights, an aeration system (an aquarium system works well for small gardens), pearlite, marble and Styrofoam work well as a beginning medium and rockwool, oasis or Rapid Rooters. The environmental good that hydroponics produces with its decreased water consumption is somewhat negated by the amount of energy needed to support hydroponic growing. Much hydroponic growing happens in greenhouses, where significant amounts of electricity are used trying to give the hydroponic plants all the light the need. The sterile medium used in hydroponic systems give home gardeners the benefit of not having to remove weeds, and minimizes soil-borne pests and diseases. 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.