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Hydroponics isnt a new method of growing at all, it has been used for centuries , ancient egyptian art depicts growing plants in a stream, the hanging gardens of babylon, even the romans cultivated using water.

Now, combining new techniques and technologies, growing hydroponically has come on leaps and bounds, what with innovative systems that are designes to maximise the availability of nutrients and oxygen to the plant. You see the main difference is that , in soil the plant needs to use 50% of its energy in producing a large root system to be able to supply it with an adequate amount of water and minerals to grow.

Whereas, with a hydroponically grown plant, as the roots are always surrounded by ample food/water and oxygen the plants energy can be concentrated on growing foliage, the more foliage the more photosynthesis, which equals faster, more vigorous growth and strong healthy plants.

And Now with Newer techniques being developed for high yields, like DWC (Deep Water Culture). DWC, basically means the plant is normally suspended ,supported in a net /mesh pot or basket which is fitted into the lid of a 25 litre bucket. With an airstone in the bucket and half filled with nutrient solution, the roots are constantly bathed in highly oxygenated food source. With the help of a few very effective additives to prevent root rot and to promote vigorous rooting during vegative growth, so the plant can drink more nutrients during blooming, some remarkable results are being reported in various online forums and news groups.

Greenstream have developed the RDWC Kit(Recirculating Deep Water Culture)So you can have the same results at home too.

With this method, the plants are supported in an inert media, such as rockwool cubes or soiless peat, they are situated in a channel which has a shallow film of nutrients running along it, which is recirculated, the roots are always wet and have constant supply of food and oxygen readily available. see NFT Systems

The plants are usually supported in net pots which are filled with clay pebbles/perlite/coir or another inert media, the plants sit in a trough above a nutrient reservoir, periodically the trough is flooded , during this flood cycle the old stale air around the rootzone is pushed out as water rises and inturn, as the water drains again , pulls in fresh oxygen. This is repeated upto 6 times a day and is ideal for woody rooted plants.        see Ebb/Flood Systems

The drip system, where plants are supported in pots , either situated outside or near some form of drainage where the nutrients simply drain away ( called drain to waste) or is recollected for reuse ( recirculated). Usually the water/nutrients are delivered to the plants through drip lines , connected to a pump in a reservoir, similar to flood drain , periodically the pump is activated and the plants are watered/fed. This is usually the first method of hydroponics people try, isnt the most productive but is a simple way to try hydrioponics.   see Drip Systems

The simplest form of hydroponics is called passive systems, where the plants are sat in pots which sits on a capillary mat( absorbant matting) this mat, is usually supported above a shallow reservoir of water and feed and as the media supporting the plant dries out as the plant uses it, it draws more moisture from the capillary mat. very simple and effective, similar to plant watering trays , which are very useful when going on holiday for long periods , thus ensuring your plants are sufficiently watered.
                   see Passive Systems

Simply put, the plant roots are suspended in deep water (6-18") which is highly aerated with airpump and diffusers which keeps the water healthy and helps the plant process nutrients at a higher rate than normal hydroponic methods. If Using many Buckets it is a Must! to Link them all to a main header tank, with a way of pulling water from the last buckets back to the tank, so to pull the water through all the buckets inline.