I tried growing house plants hydroponically many many years ago, and I can't even remember why I gave up on it.

It seems to me that you will be unable to take a plant that's lived in soil and get it's roots to like being in water. I could, however, be dreaming.

You may want to research that part first before trying.

I think there might be a hydroponics forum here too =:)

Yes there is a hydro forum. It's expensive to run and can wreck your house, so most people don't bother unless they're raising something worth a lot of money. Ahem. Like winter tomatoes.

I remember the roots of the plants being really wrapped around each little clay pellet and just throwing them all away after my plants died. My problem could have been lack of light. The pellets were fairly expensive, although I'm sure you can use other things and not have to purchase the pellets. I also recall the store where we bought the pellets smelling awfully "funny". Ahem. My plants, had they lived, would have never given off any type of strange odour whatsoever. =:)

I thought I would try the best of both worlds. I found a source that will automatically water all my plants on a recycled basis. Our heated shed has no water source but maintains a regular temperature. We are now in the process of installing the grow lights (florescent tubes) so that I can move my greenhouse plants into the shed. It's starting to get cold already at night and I want to over winter geraniums, fuchias,and keep my tomatoes growing. Also trying my hand at african violets. The wood heat in our house is difficult on many of my houseplants and as our summer has been so horrible I don't want to lose all that money without giving it a try at least to enjoy my plants.