There is no single method that is always better than hydroponics. What works best depends on your space, your goals, and what kind of experience you want.
Hydroponics is usually better for indoor herbs, leafy greens, and year-round growing, especially in homes with limited sunlight. It offers consistent growth and fewer variables to manage.
In some situations, soil growing can be better. Soil works well for larger plants, woody herbs, or gardeners who enjoy hands-on care and more flexibility. Soil setups also have a lower upfront cost and do not require electricity.
That said, for me, hydroponics is the better option indoors. It avoids soil and mess, requires less day-to-day attention, and feels more relaxed overall. Because water and nutrients are delivered in a controlled way, you don’t need much experience to get good results, which makes hydroponics easier to stick with long term.
In real use, hydroponics works best when you want a clean, low-effort indoor setup with reliable results, while soil is better when you want scale, experimentation, or a more traditional gardening approach.
