Hydroponics is the practice of growing plants without soil, but all the normal requirements of those plants must still be satisfied, including water, nutrients and sunlight. Many hydroponics outfits are set up outdoors, where natural sunlight is abundant enough to meet requirements. Indoor hydroponics setups typically need supplemental sunlight, which can be provided using high quality grow lights
Since many fruit and vegetables are summertime crops, they typically require at least 10 hours of sunlight each day to maintain optimal growth. If you're in a northern latitude, keep an eye on a weather calendar to see how many hours of sunlight you'll have each day. Sometime between the autumnal equinox and the vernal equinox, you'll need to shut down your operations and allow your perennial plants to go dormant.
