Hydroponics is the science of growing plants without soil, most often in a soilless mix.
When using hydroponics such as an ebb and flow hydroponics system, the nutrient uptake and grow medium oxygen content can be controlled easily.
Being able to manage both of these aspects of growth gives the grower bigger yields in a shorter amount of time.
They inert hydroponic medium contains essentially no nutrients.
This means that all nutrients are supplied through a nutrient solution fed to the plant.
This nutrient solution is fed to the plant many times through a flooding system (as with the ebb and flow system).
The solution then drains away and leaves fresh oxygen trapped in the soilless medium around the roots which speeds nutrient uptake by the tiny root hairs.
The reason hydroponic gardening works so well is because the plants are able to intake the highest level of plant food/nutrients as possible.
Soil on the other hand lacks rich oxygen content which in turn limits the amount of food the plant can intake.
Some people think that hydroponic gardens often require less maintenance and care than a soil system.
This can be true depending on your setup, but chances are you will need to spend a bit more time in the garden to help maintain your hydroponic system.
The duties will be a little different.
You won't spend as much time directly watering the plants as in soil, but you will have extra time devoted to checking ppm and ph levels, adjusting tubing, filling the reservoir and just generally maintaining your system.
Also, when your plants grow faster, there will be more work to do to the plants and your environment to accommodate this rapid growth.
Because of this more productive growth, plants will produce a bit less foliage and more dense flower buds.
Plants are even ready for harvest a few days before soil gardens due to the faster growth.
Although the results are great using a hydroponics system, it is also important to remember that hydroponic systems, including ebb and flow hydroponics, are not as forgiving as soil gardens.
If you have a pump fail or other such problems, you could lose a whole crop in a very short period of time.
Just as long as you have the patience and knowledge, you will see great results from hydroponic gardening.