Easy Hydroponics: Growing Potatoes in a Glass of Water

One of the best ways to illustrate how easy hydroponics growing can be is to take one of those basic ideas that schoolchildren use for a science project: the potato in a glass experiment. As simple as this process is, it has a lot to teach us about how practical and effective hydroponics setups can be in helping those who don’t have a lot of land to produce quite a lot of vegetables and other foods.

The Potato Experiment

As anyone knows who has tried this method, growing potatoes in a glass is not complicated or difficult. Simply install a frame to keep the potato at a distance from the bottom of the glass (many suggest toothpicks) – then add water until the potato is partially submerged. Place in a sunny area, and you’ll soon see new signs of life.

The Takeaway

What you can take away from this simple experiment is that hydroponics can really break down what a plant needs to the most basic level. Plants take nutrients, water and sunlight and transform those into new growth through the miracle of photosynthesis. You can also see this miracle at work for yourself in a number of more sophisticated ways, using full-featured grow box and grow chamber kits. These will allow you to grow, not just potatoes, but nearly any kind of vegetable or plant food imaginable, without a lot of hard labor or complex scientific work.

Take a look at what today’s hydroponics market can offer you if you are interested in experimenting with growing different kind of vegetables, as a scientific project or a way to actually grow food for yourself, as fresh organic produce becomes more of an expensive commodity for today’s average family.