The story
Back-formation from hydroponics. By surface analysis, hydro- (“water”) + Ancient Greek πόνος (pónos, “work, labour”) + -ic.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
hydroponic
Today it means: Of a plant; pertaining to or grown using hydroponics, a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions in water, without soil. Full definition →