Most gardeners love to see their plants growing bigger and stronger. With DIY hydroponic gardening getting very popular, you can also build your own hydroponic system today so that you can to enjoy the satisfaction that these gardeners get.
On the internet, there is a plethora of information and supplies available to help you build your own hydroponic system and grow vegetables, herbs and flowers without the use of any soil whatsoever. This article will provide the basics of a hydroponic system so you can get started on your own special garden.
Collecting Supplies
One of the best things about learning to build your own hydroponic system is that it doesn’t take a huge amount of supplies to get started. First, you will need a container to house your plants. Any plastic tub or bucket will do the job.
Next, you need a planting medium that might consist of vermiculite, sand, Styrofoam or Rockwool. This substance will house your plants' roots as well as the water and nutrients. You also need a system to get the water and nutrients to the roots of your plants. This can be done through an active system like a pump. Or you can use a passive system that consists of a wick that absorbs the nutrients for the plants.
Setting it Up
Once you have all of your supplies collected, you are ready to learn how to build your own hydroponic system. The first step will be to start seeds indoors. Growing cubes might be the best solution for this step, since they can be easily placed in your growing medium after your build your own hydroponic system.
The container you choose for your plants should not let sunlight into the plant roots, so if it is glass or another translucent material, cover or paint it. Place your growing medium into your container and place your plants on top of the growing medium once they have sprouted. You will also need to install your nutrient distribution, whether you are doing that through a wick, drip or pump system.
Monitoring your Garden
After you build your own hydroponic system and place your plants inside, you will need to monitor it regularly to ensure your plants are getting everything they need to thrive. Regular testing of the growing medium will tell you if the plants are getting sufficient nutrition.
This is especially important with the pH of your water, so keep a pH test kit handy for just this purpose. The good news is that you should not need to worry about pests getting to your plants, since most pests originate in traditional soil conditions.
Learning how to build your own hydroponic system can be a great way to expand your green thumb. It is also the perfect solution for gardeners who have limited space or poor soil conditions. Once you know how to build your own hydroponic system, the sky will be the limit in terms of how and when you can garden.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
Homemade Hydroponic System- Supplies You Need To Build Your Homemade Hydroponic System
You will control the nutrients that go directly to the plant's roots, the water and even the oxygen pumped into the plants. A homemade hydroponic system makes sense as it can produce larger crops using less space. It is perfect for gardens of any sizes.
Below is a list of the basic supplies you will need to create a cheap hydroponic system sure to produce a bumper harvest.
Container
The first thing you will need for your homemade hydroponic system is a container to house your plants. The container will vary based on where you will place it and how many plants you want to grow. You can use an old fish tank or a large plastic bin.
Some even begin their homemade hydroponic system in an old plastic trash can. Make sure the container is clean and paint it or wrap it in paper if necessary so that light doesn't get to your plants roots. This ensures that algae don't develop in your planting medium and cause damage to your plants.
Growing Medium
While some use simply water and liquid nutrients in their homemade hydroponic system, most prefer to use a growing medium to house the roots, nutrients and water. This may be rockwool, perlite or sand. There are other types of growing mediums as well.
If you are just starting out with your homemade hydroponic system, it is a good idea to talk to someone experienced in the process about the best type of growing medium for the plants you will be choosing.
Plants
The plants for your homemade hydroponic system should be chosen based on the types that do particularly well in this type of environment. You can grow vegetables, fruits, flowers and herbs in your garden. If you are unsure what types of seeds to purchase, ask a hydroponics expert about the best plants for this style of gardening. For example, certain types of lettuce tend to do particularly well in a hydroponic garden.
Pump
The pump is used to get oxygen directly to your plants roots. This is much more difficult in a hydroponic grow system where the oxygen cannot simply penetrate the soil to reach the roots below. The size pump will vary based on how big your container is and how many plants it is housing. Ask your hydroponic supplier for recommendations on the right size pump for your homemade hydroponic system.
A homemade hydroponic system can provide hours of enjoyable gardening and a bountiful harvest. With just a few simple supplies, you can be on your way to a whole new gardening experience.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Make Your Own Homemade Hydroponics System
This post will show you how you can construct a homemade hydroponics system easily.
How To Construct a Homemade Hydroponics System
If you are one of those people who prefer not to invest in a sophisticated system or is one who enjoys the “do it yourself” method, then you should try making your own homemade hydroponics system.
Specifically, the homemade hydroponics kit uses common items found around the home. For example, rather than purchasing a self-contained unit, the do-it-yourselfer can simply use a large plastic tub or purchase grow bags that are available on the market.
This particular homemade hydroponics kit is known as the reservoir method and involves the use of an inexpensive aquarium pump and air stones. In addition, if utilizing this homemade hydroponics kit, it is important that the lid of the container fits snugly on the top of the tub.
One additional homemade hydroponics kit is known as the flood and drain method. This particular kit utilizes two large storage bins, aquarium water and air pump, a simple household timer, a drain and flood fitting and plastic tubing. This kit is assembled by placing one tub on top of the other with the bottom tub utilized as the reservoir holding the nutrients.
Additionally, the top tub is used as the storage bed for the seeds. Then, through the work of the pump, tubing, timer and fittings, the nutrient water will flow into the top container. Once accomplished over the recommended duration time, the water is drained back into the bottom tub leaving the roots saturated with the nutrients.
How To Construct a Homemade Hydroponics System
If you are one of those people who prefer not to invest in a sophisticated system or is one who enjoys the “do it yourself” method, then you should try making your own homemade hydroponics system.
Specifically, the homemade hydroponics kit uses common items found around the home. For example, rather than purchasing a self-contained unit, the do-it-yourselfer can simply use a large plastic tub or purchase grow bags that are available on the market.
This particular homemade hydroponics kit is known as the reservoir method and involves the use of an inexpensive aquarium pump and air stones. In addition, if utilizing this homemade hydroponics kit, it is important that the lid of the container fits snugly on the top of the tub.
One additional homemade hydroponics kit is known as the flood and drain method. This particular kit utilizes two large storage bins, aquarium water and air pump, a simple household timer, a drain and flood fitting and plastic tubing. This kit is assembled by placing one tub on top of the other with the bottom tub utilized as the reservoir holding the nutrients.
Additionally, the top tub is used as the storage bed for the seeds. Then, through the work of the pump, tubing, timer and fittings, the nutrient water will flow into the top container. Once accomplished over the recommended duration time, the water is drained back into the bottom tub leaving the roots saturated with the nutrients.