• Many types of plants survive when grown in water.water plants image by dinostock from Fotolia.com
  
  Many plants thrive when grown using unorthodox methods. Growing plants in water, a process called "hydroponics," provides plants with plenty of nutrients and often leads to large growth. The hydroponic gardener grows plants without soil using plant food dissolved directly in the water the roots sit in. Plants form smaller roots but live healthily. Inert material also helps with plant support. Many plants grow well using hydroponics, including several food sources.
  
  

Tomatoes

• Tomatoes thrive when grown using hydroponics.three fresh hydroponics tomatos image by Flashon Studio from Fotolia.com
  
  Tomato plants grown hydroponically yield high growth with only little care, making them one of the most popular crops to grow in water. Greenhouse varieties grow best. Recommendations include geronimo, conchita, red picolino and yellow locarno tomatoes. Start seedlings using the traditional peat cube method and transplant into a hydroponic system after approximately five to six weeks. Tomato plants still need proper training, and vertical plants must be staked and supported to grow to their proper height. Watch the pH value of the nutrient solution to keep it between 6.0 and 6.3 so that the tomatoes grow correctly.
  
  

Cucumbers

• Hydroponic gardens often include cucumbers.cucumbers image by dinostock from Fotolia.com
  
  Cucumbers grow very well in hydroponic systems. The most common variations of cucumbers chosen for these systems include European (Long English), Beit Alpha, and Japanese or Persian pickle cucumbers, though other options also exist. Cucumber plants are relatively delicate, however, so they need constant maintenance and training to avoid tangles and production loss. Seedlings are started using traditional growing methods and transplanted into the hydroponic system after approximately two to three weeks. The pH level should be kept between 5.5 and 6.0 for proper growth.
  
  

Bell Peppers

• Bell pepper plants grow in water just as well as in soil.bell peppers image by OMKAR A.V from Fotolia.com
  
  Bell peppers prove to be a slight challenge for inexperienced gardeners, but thrive when grown hydroponically. Common varieties include red cubico, orange fellini, and yellow fiesta peppers, but several others produce good results as well. Start seeds as though preparing for standard growing and transfer seedlings into the hydroponic system at three weeks. Peppers need extensive and frequent training for correct growth, more than tomatoes and peppers. The pH level needs to be between 5.8 and 6.1, and should be monitored daily.
  
  

Lettuce

• Lettuce grows well using hydroponics.Iceberg Lettuce image by Antonio Oquias from Fotolia.com
  
  Lettuce, the fourth most common hydroponic vegetable, requires an extensive amount of care but is in high demand for the gourmet restaurant and upscale grocer market. Common varieties include bibb and European buttercrunch variations. Hydroponic gardeners start seeds off as though preparing for standard growing methods. After following a detailed method to produce seedlings, gardeners transplant the seedlings into the hydroponic system after two to three weeks, when the lettuce seedlings reach the 2-leaf or 3-leaf stage. Lettuce requires a pH between 5.5 and 5.8 to ensure survival.