Hydroponics (Latin for "working water") is the practice of growing flowers or edible plants using water instead of soil. When people think of hydroponics they usually envision huge greenhouse-type commercial enterprises with lab-coated scientists wandering about making adjustments. But hydroponics is actually very simple and a growing number of people are gardening and farming in their homes using hydroponics. Some of these farmers turned their hobby of hydroponic farming into profitable enterprises.