What is Hydroponics?

When you grow a plant hydroponically, all the nutrients and all the water is readily available to the plant (traditional potting mixes only release about 70%). Thus in hydroponics the plant does not have to work hard to get its food and water. It can therefore spend all it's energy on growing vegetation and setting flowers and fruit, instead of growing roots. In soil a big network of roots is necessary in order for the plant to be able to find enough food and water.