Hydroponics gives new meaning to watering the plants

A different style of growing plants is budding in Wrangell, though it might take a while to bloom.

Hydroponics, a technique that doesn't require soil, only water and nutrients, could be a more sustainable approach in places where viable soil and ideal weather are harder to come by.

While some green thumbs on the island have tinkered with the method, one grower took hydroponics to a commercial level. Kelsey Martinsen, owner of Happy Cannabis, has used a flood-and-drain system to grow his marijuana plants since opening more than three years ago.

"The roots always have the availability of whateve...