Jamshedpur: Be it a tiny apartment nook or balcony or one of those spacious gardens, hydroponics can give you the ultimate design and space saving way to grow a beautiful garden irrespective of size.

The science of soil-less gardening is called hydroponics, which involves growing healthy plants by using a nutrient like a mineral-rich water solution instead.

Popular globally, hydroponics is the new takeaway at the 29th Annual Flower Show organised by Horticultural Society Jamshedpur and Jusco and supported by Tata Steel.

On Sunday, the attractive hydroponics arena at Gopal Maidan drew huge crowds. People were curious about this wonder technology and how to replicate it at home.

Terrestrial plants may be grown with only their roots exposed to the mineral solution, or the roots may be supported by a medium such as perlite or gravel, explained Md Chand Khan from RS Products, Delhi, a company that builds hydroponics systems.

"It is a way through which people, especially in cities, grow gardens. Structures can be as tall as 10 feet. You can grow flowers, chilli, brinjal, lady's finger and other varieties, though we demonstrated mostly with money plants."

"I liked the idea. Excellent for terrace gardens also," said Kaushal Anand, a Tata Cummins executive.