Hydroponic vegetables are vegetables grown without soil. Any food the plants need, such as nutrients or fertilizer, is dissolved in water, where it can be absorbed directly by the roots. Since there is no soil, the need for many of the common chemicals used in vegetable growing is reduced. For example, since there is no soil, there are no weeds, and therefore no need for herbicides.

On the Other: Hydroponic Nutrients May Not Be Considered Organic

Hydroponic plants need added nutrients, since they can get none from soil. However, these added nutrients are probably not technically organic. Though most nutrient solutions are usually not completely composed of artificial chemicals, they are concentrated, modified and ph-balanced, which would make them inorganic, according to some definitions. Also, there is no guarantee that the grower of the vegetables did not use chemical pesticides, as insect problems can still occur with hydroponic plants.

Bottom Line

Hydroponic vegetables may or may not be organic. This depends on whether the grower decided to use chemical pesticides and on your personal definition of organic. If organic simply means no added, unnatural chemicals, then most hydroponic vegetables can be considered organic. If it means that nothing modified or altered be given to the plants, then more than likely hydroponic vegetables are not organic.

Source:

Hydroponic Vegetable Gardening: Enjoy Effortless Vegetable Gardening

Simply Hydroponics and Organics: Hydroponics or Organics: "What's the Difference?" Roger H. Thayer