Hydroponic gardening can be quite complicated (at least if you're going to be successful). Most people don't realize the complexities and, once they do, quickly give up. After reviewing this book, I'm convinced that it's a must-have tool for learning about and beginning to practice hydroponics. As a retired educator, I especially admire the way that information is presented: text narratives plus the generous use of tables, photos and diagrams to help the reader understand the concepts. The organization is very logical and not overwhelming. For example, the author presents several hydroponic methods, objectively giving pros and cons for each. This allows the reader to select the method that works best for their resources and skill level. Helpful tables include "Things That Grow Well" and "Things that Don't Grow Well." Plain and simple! Other sections of the book describe the materials needed, as well as a hefty section on troubleshooting problems, including pests and disease. And again, those sections also have an easy to use table that summarizes the information for quick reference. I wish all "how to" books were as thoughtfully organized as this one. I highly recommend it!

Thank you to Fox Chapel Publishing and NetGalley for providing an advance review copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

This was a great book for growing hydroponically. The author gives many hints and ideas about how to set up your hydroponic garden. I am into hydroponic gardening and I recommend this book for all those interested in hydroponics.

Guide to Hydroponic Gardening was such an informative book! After having recently been gifted a hydroponic gardening system, I was desperate for more information. This book compared different systems and discussed system maintenance, plants, diseases and pests. This book is an essential resource for anyone interested in hydroponics!

Guide to Hydroponic Gardening is a well organized and formatted theory guide with some tutorials by Kiri Martin. Due out 7th April 2026 from Fox Chapel on their Creative Homeowner imprint, it's 192 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

The author has a friendly upbeat style of writing and is encouraging throughout. There's a real "this is doable" vibe. The content is written in everyday layman accessible language that is easy to understand and not overly technical. The early chapters explain the basic concepts of hydroponics, what it is, and the (very) basic working parts of a functional system. She spends a fair bit of time going over what is *really* needed for a successful system and what readers can expect in terms of production and troubleshooting. The last chapters include tutorials on plant selection, seed starting, growing, and maintenance.

It's an all-purpose book, and although (all!) gardening guides show super optimistic pics of healthy plants full of appealing fruits and vegetables, readers really could get a good start with indoor soilless growing hydroponics armed with this book and a basic setup.

Photography is superlative throughout; clear and easy to understand. There are also highlighted text-boxes throughout the book with relevant hints and tips.

Four and a half stars. Well written. It would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, home library, for smallholders, community gardens, extension libraries, and similar.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Alchemy – this was my first thought on reading this book. What started as a vague curiosity about potentially growing a few extra winter salads quickly turned into sheer fascination with the science, chemistry and physics of hydroponics.

Kiri Martin’s “Guide to Hydroponic Gardening: How-To Grow Food in Any Space without Soil or Sunlight takes something I’d never seriously considered and makes it feel both magical and completely achievable. Coming from a background of houseplants, container gardens and allotments, hydroponics had always seemed niche and intimidating, but this book makes extending the salad season sound genuinely exciting and very doable.

The real joy is how clearly the “why” behind everything is explained. Nutrient solutions, water flow, light and plant health are broken down with just enough detail to feel practical without becoming overwhelming. As an introduction, it is superbly clear for a complete hydroponic novice. Every stage is covered in a well-structured way: choosing or building a kit, picking seeds, setting up systems, and dealing with common problems. The writing is engaging, Martin’s enthusiasm is infectious and the layout makes it easy to revisit sections as you start your own setup.

The visuals tie everything together. Photos, drawings, tables and lists distil key ideas and show how systems actually look and work, making the leap from page to practice much less daunting. By the end, hydroponics no longer felt like a mysterious high-tech niche, but more a slightly nerdy and sciency little cousin of home gardening and I will add a starter kit to my birthday wish-list.

Thank you to Fox Chapel Publishing, NetGalley and Kiri Martin for an advance reading copy of this book.