Ikea is betting on indoor gardening in the US.The furniture retailer is introducing a line of products, part ofthe Krydda/Vxer collection, that'll help you start your own indoor hydroponic garden. Unlike regulargardens, hydroponic systemsdon't use soil to grow plants ' only water. That water is filled with nutrients tomake it a viable way to cultivate plants.Because light, nutrient and water levels are easily adjustable, hydroponic devices also allow for finer tuning of growing conditions. Thismakes the processless water intensiveand viable year-round. Plus, it helpsnovice gardeners skirt some common problems, including over- or under-watering, root rot, pests, and insufficient fertilizer.Ikea's collection offersa number of different indoor gardening units. There's a nursery unit, which has small holes that allow seeds to germinate, as well as acultivation unit, which houses matured plants. The collection also includesplant inserts, nutrients, and artificial lights, allowing customers to createkits with everything theyneed to grow herbs and greens indoors from start to finish.The UScollection will also includeseeds for18 types of herbs and salad greens, ranging from basics like lettuce, arugula, and chard, to slightly more exotic greens like chicory, amaranth, and mizuna.To take care of the plants, usersjust need to germinate them by placing them in water-soaked, nutrient-filled plugs in a nursery unit. Once the plants havematured, you can move them to a cultivation unit, where you give them fertilized water until they mature into harvestable greens.The company hopes to have the collection on saleby Spring 2017, though a spokesperson for the company said product shipments could be staggered based on supply. The collection is already availablein the UK, but the expansion to a much larger customer base in the US suggests the productshave thus far beensuccessful.With the release of its first hydroponic systems, Ikea is joiningnumerous companies that are already using hydroponic technology to create innovative indoor gardening products.The Calla, which raised over $85,000 on Kickstarter, is a modular hydroponic system that allows you to grow acountertop herb garden with very little maintenance. And company called Everblume is making an enclosed hydroponic growerthat controls the air temperature around your plants.ThoughIKEA's contribution to thatlistlacks thesmart functionality of some other similardevices, the fact that it's being sold by thefurniture giant will likelybringhydroponics even more into the public eye.The move suggests indoor hydroponic gardening is no longer ararefied hobby for environmentalists ' with the new units, it'll be something anyone can start doing for relatively little cost.Check out the video below to learn more aboutIKEA's hydroponic kit.SEE ALSO:This self-watering herb garden is completely idiot-proofJoin the conversation about this storyNOW WATCH: This garden-in-a-box brings fresh produce to apartment living
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