You shouldn’t have to feel that you can’t grow plants just because you don’t have a garden. There are ways to grow very healthy, exceptionally vigorous vegetables, fruits, and flowers without the use of soil. This approach to gardening is called hydroponics, and you can make a very basic growing system of your own with only a few mylar rolls. A plant needs certain things in order to grow, but soil isn’t one of them. As long as the roots receive nutrient and the leaves get enough light and air, everything will be fine. You will, however, still need a large bucket in which to grow. It has to be a bucket with a fitted lid, and ideally it should be completely opaque. You don’t want the roots to see any light at all. The fitted lid will be very important in terms of maintenance as well as light exclusion. If you purchase some cheap plastic net pots, a few feet of aquarium hose, and an electric pump like you would use in a fish tank, you are nearly finished shopping. You should also buy a small air stone. It will probably be found wherever you got the other aquarium supplies. Using a sheet of mylar as a guide, cut out a hole in the center and make a lid. If you have done this correctly, the pots should slide in easily, but still feel securely wedged in there. Once this is done, drill a hole in the bucket near the lip. This hole should be positioned above the water line, and it is where you will thread the hose for aeration. A growing medium is going to be the last thing you need before you start your indoor garden. Many people like hydroton balls. They are inexpensive and easy to find. Rockwool is also used by lots of people, but it is a little more difficult to maintain correctly. With the lid off, fill the bucket to within an inch of the drilled hole with pH neutral water. Make sure that the hose is threaded through the hole, that the air pump is hooked up properly, and that the air stone is delivering a nice and diffuse cloud of bubbles when you turn it on. If all that looks good, snap the lid (without the net pot or hydroton balls) securely in place. Slide a net pot where it is supposed to go and make sure it’s seated firmly. Fill it two thirds of the way with your growing medium, then position the cutting or seedling that you wish to grow carefully. Use more medium to hold the plant in place, and fill the net pot the rest of the way. Congratulations! You have built a deep water culture growing system. There is more to learn, however. You will need to find out more about nutrient solutions, pH levels, and lighting if you are going to really succeed. Any good hydroponics supply store will be able to help you explore this amazing way to grow indoors.