How to Create a Hydroponic Garden
Hydroponics used to be synonymous with growing lots of weeds in your apartment effortlessly, but these days, hydroponic gardening is simply cutting edge technology for sustainable farming . And while it seems like test-tube farming is a bit out of touch with nature, it is actually touted as a convenient way to grow fresh produce at home.
You can create your own hydroponic system or purchase ready-made kits where all you have to do is care for the plants. Sounds simple, but how convenient is it? Here are the facts about hydroponic gardening and what it takes to grow it at home.
What is hydroponics?
Without going into the details of science, hydroponics is the process of growing plants submerged in water without using soil. Nutrient-rich water and growing lamps give plants everything they need to grow in a confined space. Having a controlled environment encourages rapid growth without the use of chemicals, uses less water than the average farm or plant, and indoor growing means you can grow fresh produce in the midst of a northeastern winter.
When the world was locked out, interest in hydroponic gardening skyrocketed , and the pandemic personally inspired me to learn how to grow my own foods. Knowing how to grow food without soil would be a good skill in what felt like the apocalypse.
How to create your own hydroponic garden with your own hands
There are several different ways to accomplish hydroponic gardening. all of this requires some combination of the elements listed below The Spruce :
Bucket or basin for water tank Grow light (optional) Water Hydroponic fertilizer (dry or liquid) Cotton or nylon cord Growing medium Seedling Grow tray Drill or screwdriver (optional)
Wick hydroponics (difficulty level for beginners)
The wick system has no electronic parts, but uses a string of wicks (like a candle) to help the water travel up to plant roots to grow. There are no mechanical systems here, making it the best option for apocalyptic skills.
You will need a container for the cultivation , the pelvis to the tank with water , wicks , the nutrient medium (similar to the block for the moss plant roots), and nutrient solution . You can purchase most of these items online through Amazon and it will cost you about $ 82 in the end (about $ 20 more if you buy grow light instead of using natural light). The wick system is best for fast growing plants such as lettuce and greens.
Ebb and flow method (medium difficulty)
Slightly more sophisticated than the wick system, the ebb and flow option uses gravity and a water pump to circulate water in and out of the nutrient solution reservoir below. This style is considered an intermediate-tier hydroponic option, but once set up requires moderate attention. This is most useful for those who want to change plants from time to time without disturbing other seedlings in the system. With the addition of a submersible pump and electronic timer, this system can cost around $ 130 (including a grow lamp).
Nutrient Film Technique and Aeroponics (Advanced)
More sophisticated DIY options are a continuous water flow nutrient film technique , such as the Aeroponic suspension system, in which plant roots grow in the air. According to The Spruce , these systems can cost you over $ 150 if you build them yourself. It takes a lot of work to create these types and you are probably better off buying a pre-assembled kit.
How to buy a ready-made hydroponic garden kit
Finding all of these components is straightforward, but assembling any type of system can be a delicate process. If you don’t have the patience (like me), buying a ready-made kit is the faster and easier option.
On Amazon, the beginner’s hydroponic wick system is more affordable than the DIY option and costs around $ 50 , while the Advanced-level Aeroponic system can cost anywhere from $ 599 to $ 669 depending on the source of the kit. The popular aeroponics option is a sleek plant tower that is easy to set up and can be matched to your decor, but in some stores it can cost you $ 499 . Rise Gardens offers a wide range of self-irrigation and app-controlled hydroponic systems for $ 279 per custom size as a smaller option. Larger, three-family indoor garden systems can cost nearly $ 950 .
The kits include all the necessary materials and detailed installation instructions. The budding gardener can grow and grow quickly, but you’ll need to decide if the cost of the convenience is worth it. If you’re looking to get started on your planting journey, it’s safe to say that hydroponics is no ordinary walk in the park. The various systems require a lot of effort and money, but can be great if you get the job done.