Although easily and cheaply built, they are very efficient at growing an impressive array of fresh vegetables… or whatever other plants you might fancy. We explain and diagram each process so you understand how it works. Then we provide free plans so you can build your own plant setup. You can use some of the materials and equipment from your first project when you get ready to upgrade.
Now, on to the DIY plans. We suggest you explore all four of them before deciding which one would be best for your needs. Each system has its pros and cons, and what you want to grow will be a big deciding factor. The next step is to drill holes into the lid of the container where the net pots will sit. Pro-Tip: Place some wood below your lid when you drill your holes, this will prevent the saw jolting and breaking the plastic.
Assemble your air pump. The air pump must remain outside of the reservoir. It will come with a check valve, this ensures that the pump does not suck water back up if it is turned off. If it does not come with one, you must keep the pump above the water level. Connect the air stone and check valve with a length of tubing, ensuring the arrow on the check valve faces the air stone.
Then connect the check valve to the air pump in the same manner. Fill the reservoir, add nutrients and adjust the pH. The system can be quite heavy when full, so make sure you decide where your container will live before filling it up! Fill it almost full with water, leaving cm of space at the top.
Next you need to add your hydroponic nutrients to the water, following the instructions on your bottle. Mine advised me to add 2ml per litre of each A and B nutrients; using a measuring cup I added ml of each into my 55l container. We also need to adjust the pH of the water. Using a pH meter, measure the pH; tap water will be anywhere from 6. Most vegetables and herbs require a slightly acidic nutrient solution. You can bring the pH down to 5. Wear gloves when handling pH down and remember to mix the solution well after application.
Assemble the system. Plug in the air pump and place the air stone in the reservoir. Adding your plants is simple, I placed some plants grown in rockwool plugs into the net pots. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article parts.
Related Articles. Author Info Last Updated: November 15, Part 1. Cut out a piece of plywood measuring 1x1. This will be used as the bottom of the hydroponic bed. Cut two pieces of lumber 15xcm, and 5cm thick.
Cut a further two pieces of lumber 15x85cm, and 5cm thick. These will be used as the siding of the hydroponic bed. Screw the lumber border pieces together to create a frame, using two screws to attach each two lumber borders together.
Then drill a 2cm hole in the centre 1cm from the bottom. This will later be used to drain excess water, preventing the plants from becoming swamped. Screw the frame down onto the plywood.
Place the frame down and the plywood on top. Use enough screws to make it secure, about 1 every 20cm is enough. Use standard 6 millimetre black plastic to hold the water. Cut the plastic giving the box an extra 30cm on each side. That would make the 6 millimetre plastic 1. You also need to cut a hole in the plastic 44cm from the edge in the middle; this will also be used to drain water if it fills up too much, to prevent drowning the plants.
Place the plastic in the box, smoothing it out perfectly. It has to be a completely smooth bottom. Wrap the excess over the edges of the box and tape it for now. Be sure to make sure the hole in the plastic and the hole in the wood line up. Add wire. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article parts. Things You'll Need. Related Articles. Article Summary.
Part 1. Build the flood table. The flood table will hold the water for the garden. You can build a simple flood table out of wood. The width of the flood table will depend on how much you want to grow in the garden and how much water you want to use. Then, line it with a polyethylene plastic sheet. This will hold 20 gallons 75 L of water. You can also use a wide, deep plastic tray as the flood table. Pick a container that can hold 10 to 20 gallons 38 to 75 L of water.
You may want to line the tray with plastic to ensure it does not leak. Make a floating platform out of styrofoam. To prevent the roots and soil of the plants from rotting, make a floating platform so they can float in the water. For a small garden, use a 4 by 8 foot 1. Check that the edges of the platform can move up and down so the plants can float. Cut 2 to 3 inch 5 to 7 cm wide holes in the platform. Use a plant pot as a guide when cutting the holes with a saw.
Cut enough holes to fit all the plants you want to grow. Add drip emitters to the flood table. Drip emitters help to drip out water from the garden to ensure the water does not sit stagnant in the flood table.
You can find them in the irrigation supply section at your local hardware store or nursery. They come in different drip rates, based on maximum gallons per hour gph. So, get two drip emitters that have a rate of 2gph.
Puncture two holes in the bottom of the flood table. Then, push the drip emitters into the holes. Seal any gaps around the drip emitters with epoxy or hot glue.
Place the flood table on a stand with a bucket. The flood table will need to be elevated on a stand or stool. Place a bucket under the flood table, directly underneath the drip emitters. The bucket will catch the water as it drips out of the flood table. Position the flood table so it gets a maximum amount of sun. Fill the flood table with water. Pour enough water to fill the flood table halfway. Depending on the size you have chosen for your flood table, this may require 5 to 20 gallons 19 to 75 L of water.
Set up grow lights if you are growing indoors. Hydroponic gardens can be grown outdoors in warm climates, especially climates that tend to get year-round sunlight. If you are growing the garden indoors, you will need grow lights. Use metal halide lights or sodium bulbs. Get plant food. You will then need to add nutrient-rich plant food or fertilizer to the water so the plants can thrive.
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