Tulsa Business Teaching Local Gardeners The Science Of Hydroponics

If you've always wanted to grow your own herbs, veggies or flowers and maybe never have had the space, or you can't get outside like you used to, some Tulsa-area garden store owners may have another option available. 

It's called hydroponics and it allows you to grow your plants in something as simple as a bucket. The Groggs are also trying to change a stigma along the way. 

The big silver barn at 61st Street near Mingo is a unique sight on one of Tulsa's busiest roads. For the last few years, husband and wife co-founders Carla and Kelly Grogg have been selling plants and equipment with a focus on organic products.

"We've got heads of lettuce growing here, some herbs, some parsley, some kale. This was all just planted a few days ago," Carla Grogg. 

Maybe you've tried to grow things outdoors before, like herbs or veggies, and it just didn't work out. Or maybe you don't have a lot of space. Well, within the last year or so, Grogg's has been teaching people how to grow things with hydroponics. 

You can grow a tomato plant in your house, in a bucket. 

Kelly Grogg says the marijuana-growing stigma around hydroponics is one of the reasons they started offering the classes. 

Hydroponics is basically growing plants in water, without soil. You add in a water pump, a bucket, high-efficiency lights, and a medium, like pearlite beads and that is your basic hydroponic grow.

"There's a million different ways you can create a hydroponic system. For that do-it-yourselfer that just likes to tinker, its fun...it's like a science experiment," said Kelly Grogg,

Carla Grogg thinks hydroponics are especially useful for those without a yard or who have other limitations.

"Older people who are disabled and can't go outside to grow in the ground. We have a customer here that's growing one in his spare bedroom, setting that up for his wife. And it's great for apartment complexes for the same reason ...you just don't have to have the space," said Carla Grogg. 

They're so passionate about it, the Groggs helped start a hydroponics learning course for three year olds at Riverfield Country Day School. 

At the barn, Kelly Grogg built this elaborate setup, mainly for teaching. But a hydroponic garden can look more like ones at the day school and have the same results.

"They can grow tomatoes in the winter, they can grow lettuce in the summer. So they can have year long gardening indoors, without having to worry about the soil problems and the cold weather," said Kelly Grogg

For more info on classes at Grogg's Green Barn, check out its website.