Hydroponic gardening is a way to grow plants with water and nutritious fluids without using soil. Hydroponic gardens can be easily made at home so you can garden all year round. There are many different styles of gardens you can build, the most common choices being the wick system, deep water culture, and film nutrition techniques. With simple tools, you can easily have your own garden at home!
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Method 1 of 3: Creating a Simple Axis System
Step 1. Cut a section that is about 10 cm in the top area of \u200b\u200bthe plastic bottle
Use an empty 2 liter water bottle. Use scissors or a utility knife to cut off the top of the bottle, just above the label, or about 10 cm down from the very top. Cut in circles until the top of the bottle is completely separated.
This drink bottle can accommodate 1 plant. If you want to grow 10 plants or less in a hydroponic garden, consider using a large plastic 76 liter container instead
Step 2. Make a hole in the bottle cap with a screwdriver
Place the bottle cap on a firm surface such as a cutting board. Grasp the sides of the bottle cap with your non-dominant hand, then pierce the center with a screwdriver. Make a hole about 0.6 cm in diameter.
- Heat the tip of the screwdriver over the flame of the candle to melt the plastic bottle cap if you have trouble getting it through.
- If you are using a plastic case, use a drill with a hole punch attachment to make 3 to 4 holes in the center of the lid.
Step 3. Insert a piece of string into the hole in the bottle cap
Cut a piece of string with scissors so that it is no more than 30 cm long. Thread the end of the thread through the holes at the top of the bottle until each side of the hole is filled with 15 cm of string. Once inside, put the bottle cap back on.
If you are using a large container, you can use a thicker rope as a wick to move more water
Step 4. Fill the bottom of the bottle with nutritious liquid
Visit your local gardening store for hydroponic garden specialty nutrient mixes. You can use the same product for all types of plants. Fill the bottom of the bottle with 950 ml of tap water. Follow the directions on the nutritional liquid package to determine the right dose. After putting it in the water, stir the water with a stick.
- Use purified water sold at gardening stores if the tap water in your home contains high levels of minerals.
- If you can't find a nutritious liquid in a store, order the product online.
Step 5. Put the top of the bottle upside down until most of the attached rope is submerged in the water
After mixing the nutritious liquid, screw the top of the bottle upside down so that the cap is pointing downwards. Make sure there is a 2 inch (5 cm) strip of string between the bottle cap and the surface of the nutritious liquid that is not exposed to water.
If you are using a plastic container, use a container about 8 to 10 cm deep from the lid. Drill a hole in the top of the plastic container to line up with the hole in the container
Step 6. Insert the planting medium and seeds to the top of the bottle
Look for growing media that is easy for water and nutrients to pass through, such as perlite, coconut husk, or vermiculite. Spread two handfuls of growing medium over the top of the bottle and compact it with your fingers. After adding the planting medium, you can start planting the seeds at the depth recommended on the sales package.
- You can buy a wide selection of planting media from the nearest gardening store or garden care store. The planting medium can be used for all types of plants to be grown.
- Nutritious liquid will be absorbed by the rope and into the growing medium to become a source of food and water for your plants.
- The wick system works well for beginners and doesn't require much maintenance, but it's not suitable for large plants. The wick system works great for growing herbs or lettuce.
Tip:
Plant a minimum of 3 seeds to increase the chances of successful germination. After one plant is growing more fertile than the other, prune the less fertile plants.
Method 2 of 3: Establishing a Deep Water Culture System
Step 1. Make a hole in the lid of the plastic coffee container with the same size as the net pot
Mesh pots have holes so water can flow through them. Print the shape of a mesh pot onto the lid of the coffee pot with a pencil or marker. Use a craft knife or utility knife to make a hole that will hold the net pot firmly in it. Smooth the cut sides so that the rim of the pot is flush with the top of the lid.
A coffee container can hold 1 plant. If you want to create a larger hydroponic garden, use a large plastic container instead of several net pots
Step 2. Make a small X on the edge of the cover to attach the air hose
Find a section about 1.3 cm from the edge of the cover, then mark the area with a pen or marker. Insert a craft knife through the lid of the container to make small incisions. Rotate the flap at a 90 degree angle and make another incision in the same place to form an X.
Make sure the holes are the same as the straw holes in the lids of drinks sold at fast food restaurants
Step 3. Insert a 15 cm long air tube into the X-shaped incision
Use a 0.6 to 1.3 cm diameter air hose in your deep water culture system. Thread the end of the tube through the X incision until the tube is 15 cm long or until the tube reaches the bottom of the container. Leave enough air hose at the top to connect to the bubbler, about 46 cm long.
Step 4. Fill the coffee pot one-third full with the nutritious liquid
Ingredients for making nutritious liquids are sold at gardening stores or online stores. This product is suitable for all types of plants. Fill the coffee pot until it is one-third full with tap water. Follow the directions on the package label to mix the nutritious liquid with water in the right ratio. Use a stick to mix the nutrients into the water. Replace the coffee container cover.
If the tap water at home is too high in minerals, use pure water sold in stores to fill the container
Step 5. Insert the planting media and seeds into the net pot
Fill the pot to the brim with perlite, coconut husk, or vermiculite. Plant the seeds 1.3 cm deep in the planting medium.
- Choose small green plant seeds or herbs instead of using large plant seeds.
- All planting media can be used, regardless of the type of plant you are growing.
- The depth of the seeds when planted can change, depending on the type of plant. Read the seed sales package to find out if the plant needs to be planted shallower or deeper.
Step 6. Connect the other end of the air hose to the bubble machine, then turn it on
This machine serves to add oxygen to the liquid so that the plant roots do not sink. Connect the end of the hose protruding from the container to the port on the bubble machine, then turn on the machine. Keep the engine running all the time while the plant is in the process of growing.
- Nutritious liquid will be absorbed into the growing medium in the pot and provide the water and food plants need to grow.
- Deep water nutrition systems do not require much maintenance and are easy to make at home, but they are not suitable for plants that take a long time to grow.
- Bubble machines can be purchased from your local pet store or aquarium store.
- The bubble machine has to be kept on so that the plants don't die.
Method 3 of 3: Using Film Nutrition Techniques
Step 1. Connect the pump to the air stone at the bottom of the water reservoir
Make a hole about 5 cm from the top of the 76 liter plastic container with a utility knife. Place the air stone in the water container, close to the side of the hole and the hose to which it is attached. Connect the hose to the air pump.
Air pumps and air stones can be purchased at a pet store or aquarium store
Step 2. Attach the submersible water pump to the opposite side
Install the water pump on the side of the container opposite the air stone. Make a hole in the side of the container, about 5 to 8 cm from the top, large enough to fit the power cord and 0.6 cm diameter hose. Insert the hose and power cord through the hole.
Water pumps can be purchased at your nearest pet store
Step 3. Fill half of the container with the nutritious liquid
Use 38 liters of tap water or purified water to fill the container so that the pump and air stone can sink to the bottom of the container. You can use any brand of nutritional liquid for any type of plant. Put the nutritious liquid according to the amount listed on the package into a container of water. Stir with a stick.
Nutritious liquids can be purchased at your local gardening store or online
Step 4. Install a drain or paralon between the two saw bases to create a channel
Use a drain or paralon measuring 1.2 to 1.8 meters. Attach a 5 x 10 cm board to secure each saw base and secure it with 2 screws or nails. Leave a distance of about 1 meter between each saw base so that the load container is placed in the middle, then install a paralon or water line on top.
Make sure the end of the canal is closed to prevent water from spilling out
Step 5. Make a hole in the top of the canal to hold the pot
Use a drill with a special attachment to make a 5 to 8 cm diameter hole in the top of the canal. Space each plant about 30 cm so that the roots have room to grow. Place 1 net pot in each hole that has been made.
- The canal can accommodate about 4 to 6 plants, depending on the length.
- Special attachments for drill holes can be purchased at your local material store. Make sure you choose a special attachment for punching holes in the material you are using.
- The size of the hole you make will depend on the size of the netting pot you are using.
Step 6. Make a drain hole at the end of the canal and in the lid of the water container
Drill a 3 cm diameter hole with a drill in the bottom of the canal, about 2.5 to 4 cm from the edge. Make another 3 to 5 cm hole in the lid of the water tank, just below the drain hole to keep the water circulating.
You can put the hose between the drain hole and the lid of the container, but this is not mandatory
Step 7. Insert the water pump hose into the higher end of the canal
Use a drill or hole saw to make a 0.6 cm hole in the center of the high canal. Insert the end of the 5 to 8 cm hose into the canal to keep it firmly in place.
- You can also make a hole in the top of the canal if you don't want to insert the hose from the side.
- The size of the hole depends on the thickness of the hose installed.
Step 8. Fill the pot with planting media and plant seeds
Use a suitable planting medium for hydroponic purposes, such as perlite, coconut husk, or vermiculite. Fill each pot to one-third full before planting the seeds. Place each seed 0.6 to 1.3 cm deep in the pot.
Hydroponic gardening techniques are suitable for growing small green plants or fresh herbs
Step 9. Plug in the water pump to keep the water flowing
Make sure the water pump can deliver nutrients through the bottom of the canal and there are no leaks. The liquid will flow through the canals and plant roots to deliver nutrients constantly before returning to the water storage container.
- The film nutrition technique constantly pumps a thin layer of water through the canal so the plant can grow without drowning its roots.
- This system allows you to grow several plants at once and has a constant flow of water to reduce waste, but you have to keep the pump running so the plants don't die.
- Plug the pump into an automatic timer that turns on every 2 to 3 hours if you don't want the pump to run continuously.
Tip:
Plant roots can grow long enough to clog drains or drains. Check the channel at least once a week to make sure all functions are still normal.
