Whether you’re just looking at trying your hand at indoor vegetable gardening or you’re completely dedicated to staying indoors during the colder days of winter and missing out on your fresh greens, there’s never been a better time to try your hand at an indoor garden system. There are so many benefits to having an indoor garden, and here are a few of the major ones.

Harvesting and storing all your fresh greens is a snap with indoor garden systems. You can grow all your vegetables without worrying about pests and diseases getting in, and no matter how much of a fuss you used to make in the outdoors, your indoor garden system will keep the soil healthy, clean, and nutrient-rich. You can add water anytime you like, so no more waiting until it’s raining before you dig up your crops. Just check your hydroponic supplies, and you’ll be able to water your plants automatically every time you need to.

Many indoor gardens also come with self-watering trays that keep your plants from drying out. This is especially a good setting if you have very temperate climates where the summer temperatures are unbearably hot. The winter temperatures are cold, making the plants inside susceptible to drying out and dying. By putting a tray of water in the bottom of each plant pot, you can avoid this problem altogether. The best indoor gardens always use trays for their plants, as any other design would simply let the soil dry out, and the plants would never get an opportunity to grow properly.

Indoor gardens can also benefit from the lights that they are given, as the best indoor garden system designs maximize the amount of light that reaches each plant. Artificial lights are available for any budget, and most kits include a starter set of lights for your first planting. For more experienced gardeners or those who want to expand their growing area, fiberglass lights can also be purchased separately. These lights are available in different sizes, so you can get the perfect setup for your space.

Many people are turning to hydroponics because it is less expensive than traditional garden methods. Some also consider it easier because hydroponic systems involve very little equipment. Indoor gardening just requires a water pump and plant pots. However, a disadvantage to a hydroponic system is that the nutrients needed by the plants for growth are supplied only to the roots. Once the roots are full, the nutrient solution dries up, and the plants stop taking nutrients. If you wish to fertilize your plants regularly, you will have to either replant or water the plants every few days to keep their roots nourished.