Hydroponic Equipment: Homemade Versions

The Hand Watering Method

This is the simplest method available and includes just a few items as follows:

• grow bags

• soilless mix

That’s it! The idea is to have the water stay in the soilless mix as long as it would stay in a soil mix.  This is accomplished with the right mixture of ingredients in your mixture.  Vermiculite and Coconut coir both hold water well.  With this method you will have to water each day so it does require more time then some of the other ways to grow hydroponics.

The Resevoir Method

This is also a relatively easy method of hydroponic farming in the home.  All you need is the following:

• a plastic storage tote
• a small fish aquarium air pump
• a few air stones

It should be set up something like the image below when you are done.  Then you just put in your plant containers and watch them grow.  

The Ebb and Flow Method

This method is also know as the flood and drain method and requries more materials as follows:

• two large plastic storage totes
• an aquarium air pump
• an aquarium water pump
• a timer
• a set of flood and drain fittings
• plastic tubing

With this system you get the results of an expensive hydroponics setup for only a fraction of the cost.  This system allows the nutrient solution to drain back into the fitting with the plant roots to keep the growing medium wet with nutrient solution.  It takes a bit more time and research to set up, but in my opinion is well worth the effort.

Happy Gardening,

Renee