Since it sounds like a hypothetical question, I'd recommend looking into a good, organic medium using a quality soil, good aeration methods, and organic nutrients. Hydroponic setups, while generally producing a final product a little quicker than soil setups, really aren't appropriate for a novice cultivator. They're finicky at best if you've had no experience with them in the past. If you're running a commercial grow show, they're more appropriate because of the hands-free watering regimen and the ease of supplying the plants with just the right nutrients. But, if you're only growing enough for your own personal supply, soil can be much more forgiving. The beneficial microorganisms that breed in good soil make over-fertilization less common. (But still possible.)

It was either Mel Frank of Ed Rosenthal who said something like: "Hydroponic setups are like a Porsche; when finely-tuned, they work very well. When not finely-tuned, they can be problematic and costly. Organic mediums are more like a Toyota sedan - very, very reliable, and cheap to fix when problems arise." Regardless of who originally said it, you know you can take their advice!