What plants can you grow in a hydroponic garden?

The short answer is that you can grow almost anything hydroponically. Depending on the plant, you may need to adjust your setup. To know what you can or should grow, it helps to know what you cannot.

What can't you grow hydroponically?

The biggest limit is the size of the plant. In theory you could grow a full-sized tree hydroponically, but it would need a large amount of light and nutrients to stay alive. A mango tree, for example, takes 3 to 5 years before it fruits, so the electricity to run grow lights would be too costly to justify the mangoes, no matter how sweet. You would also need to feed it nutrients for years and potentially run pumps or aerators.

Our indoor hydroponic systems are designed to be the perfect herb garden, growing plants up to about 20 to 40cm tall.

What can you grow on the Sun Shelf 3?

The Sun Shelf 3 has grow lights built into every level, so it suits moderate-sized plants, preferably wider rather than tall:

• Basil
• Coriander
• Mint
• Dill
• Sage
• Chives
• Lettuce, spinach and kale
• Strawberries

You can choose from most of our seeds.

What can you grow in the Heirloom Basin?

The Heirloom Basin turns a Sun Shelf level into a growing bed, which suits slightly larger plants:

• Tomatoes (customers have grown tomatoes in our larger gardens)
• Lettuce
• Spinach
• Kale
• Chard or silverbeet
• Chinese broccoli

What can you grow in the Heirloom Planter?

The Heirloom Planter does not have the height limit of the shelf systems and uses natural sunlight, so you can grow bigger plants. Customers typically grow:

• Indoor plants such as monstera or elephant ear
• Small fruits such as strawberries
• Tomatoes, chillies, capsicums and eggplant
• Herbs and leafy greens

If you are using a bigger unit or your own home setup, the possibilities are endless. A little trial and error is involved, but after a few attempts you will be able to grow whatever you like. Browse all our hydroponic gardens.

What we would use

The Sun Shelf 3 has lights built into every level, so you can start growing herbs and greens straight away.

More: hydroponics basics

• Why grow with hydroponics? The benefits explained
• Types of hydroponic systems: NFT, flood and drain, deep water culture and Kratky
• What nutrients do plants need? The 17 essential elements
• How to stop algae growth in hydroponics

Written by the gathera team. Last reviewed October 2026.