6 Perfectly Simple Hydroponic System For Beginners

If you aren’t familiar with the hydroponic system. This hydroponic beginner article is for you. It might seem intimidating to set up your own indoor hydroponic system. You might think you’ll need a lot of special equipment. Or you could be thinking that it will be expensive to set up, or the process will be too complicated.

There’s a lot you can learn about hydroponics and there is no doubt some people have a sophisticated setup. But you don’t need to be an expert to grow your own plants hydroponically.

You can put together your own system that requires minimal effort for a very low cost. Check Out our Shop For some of our most  recommended equipment available on Amazon.

Is Hydroponic Gardening Worth it?

There are many reasons to garden hydroponically, but some of the most common reasons involve faster growth and Heavier yields.

In a properly functioning hydroponic system, your plant should get the perfect amount of nutrients, water and sunlight. When plants receive their basic needs without expending energy extracting nutrients from the soil, they can concentrate on simply growing.

Hydroponic is the most efficient way to grow your plants. Another reason to grow your plant hydroponically is the lack of soil.

Benefits of Hydroponic gardening

Indoor gardeners will appreciate all the space they can save by growing their plants spaced much more closely together. Roots wouldn’t need to spread out deep into the soil, looking for nutrients. And you wouldn’t take up space with large pots or drainage trays. Of course you may enjoy the look of your plants spread around the house in their lovely pots. But if you’re short on space and want to grow a crop of veggies, then what? You’ll appreciate the space you save with a hydroponic system.

Weeds are also  eliminated in the hydroponic system and pests are almost nonexistent. With no soil for weeds to grow or pests to inhabit, you won’t have to worry about these garden plagues. Pests might still find their way to your plants, but they’ll be less of an issue compared to soil gardening

How to choose the Perfect hydroponic system

We will cover the six main types of hydroponic systems to choose from. All systems use water and nutrients, they don’t use soil. Basic elements in these systems are the same but each system delivers these needs in a little different way.

Water Culture

One of the simplest and most inexpensive systems in hydroponics. The plant is placed in a basket above a reservoir filled with nutrient solution. From there the root hangs down, completely submerged in the solution. Because the roots are constantly submerged, they’ll require aeration to prevent suffocation. Aeration can be provided within an air pump, air stones, or from a falling water system that creates air bubbles.

Nutrients Film Technique (NFT)

The NFT is another simple setup that’s a popular choice for home gardens. The system involves a shallow stream of nutrients solution which flows through a downward sloping channel. The roots of the plants hang into this stream and absorb nutrients from the steady flow. This system is excellent for small fast-growing plants like lettuce, herbs, and baby greens.

Aeroponic

The aeroponic system creates an environment for the roots that provide as much oxygen as possible. The roots hang in midair within a growing chamber, without growing medium, so the entire root system can be exposed.

Within the growing chamber, the roots are sprayed at regular intervals with aeroponic misters. The mister provides a plant with a nutrient solution and also prevents the roots from drying out.

Ebb and Flow

The Ebb and Flow, or flood and drain technique uses a water pump on a timer. It floods and drains the root system with water and nutrients. The water reaches a height where it will soak the roots and the excess water drains through an overflow tube.

When the pump shuts off at the designated time, the water drains back down to the reservoir, it stays there until the pump turns on again. this system provides the roots with alternating periods of air and oxygen than water and nutrients.

Drip System

The drip system is a fairly straightforward concept and it works exactly as it sounds. The plant’s roots are placed in a growing medium such as perlite or gravel. Then, a water and nutrients solution is pumped from a reservoir, through tubes, to drip onto the roots. The growing medium and roots are soaked, then the solution drips back into the container and flows to the reservoir.

This system is great for large plants with an extensive root system. It works well because the growing medium retains some of the moisture and keeps large roots systems well hydrated.

Wicking

The wicking system is very simple. Plants sit within a wicking medium, such as vermiculite or perlite. They are in a container directly above the water and nutrient solution reservoir. A wicking rope or strips of felt are used to connect the wicking medium to the solution. As the medium dries out, more water and nutrients solution is pulled up via the wicking rope.

No pumps or moving parts are required with this technique. The wick will simply pull the moisture towards the plants as needed.

Supplies

Once you choose the type of system you want to create, you’ll need to get your supplies together. Some of the techniques mentioned use growing medium, some use pumps, some use wicking ropes. They all vary a little but you’ll need most of the following supplies to create your perfect hydroponic system.

Plants

It’s unlikely that you’ll be building a hydroponic system and not putting plants in it. It is important to consider the potential types of  plants you’ll be growing. Make sure there’s room in your system for their roots and a strong enough frame to support your plant’s structure.

If you are new to hydroponic gardening, it’s best to start with a live plant rather than growing from seeds. If you choose a live plant or seedling, be sure to thoroughly rinse the soil from your plant’s roots. This will avoid contamination of your water and nutrient solution.

Support structure

You’ll need some type of support for your plants. This could be a section of wire mesh or a basket that will allow the roots to hang down.

Your plants will need a container for the roots to hang into as well. This could be a long piece of plastic piping or a big bucket.

When using a bucket with a lid, cut holes in the lid to place your mesh or basket in. This creates an enclosure that will prevent moisture from escaping.

Reservoir

So we’ve discussed the space where your plant’s roots will be exposed to water and nutrients. You’ll also need a reservoir where the water and nutrient solution is stored.
If you’re using the water culture technique, the water reservoir and root basin will be the same space.

Growing Medium

You may or may not require a growing medium, depending on the hydroponic system you choose. Should you need a growing medium, gravel, perlite, and vermiculite work well. The growing medium is placed around your plants roots, within a basket or on top of a fine wire mesh.

When starting your plants from seeds, hydroponic sponges can also be very handy.

Water Pump

Unless you are using the wicking system, you’ll likely require a water pump. This is the only piece of actual machinery you’ll need.

Simple water pumps can be purchased fairly cheaply. You can also use a water pump with a timer or ebb and flow system.

Tubing

Tubing is quite cheap and is incredible. Easy to find online or in any home improvement store. You’ll just need something that can transport your water and nutrients solution for your reservoir to your root basin and back again.

It’s important to ensure your tubing is the correct diameter to connect with any water pump or mister fitting you’ll be using. Also, be sure to look for tubing that won’t kink up and interrupt your water flow.

Nutrient Solution

Your nutrient solution is one of the most important supplies you’ll purchase and it’s crucial to choose a high quality solution that’s right for the specific type of plants you’re growing. Advanced hydroponic gardeners may even choose to make their own custom nutrients solution but if you’re looking for a good pre-made brand you can try general hydroponics or advanced nutrients.

Needing water for your plants seems like a simple and obvious thing, but the quality of your water can play a big part in how well your plant will grow. You could use tap water but for best results it’s best to go with fresh rainwater or filtered water.

Tap water may contain unwanted minerals or may have an undesirable PH level.

PH Control

PH is an important factor when it comes to caring for your plants. Especially in a hydroponic system, where your plants are nearly constantly submerged, you’ll want to ensure you stay as close to the range that your plant needs as possible.

Some plants prefer different PH levels but a typical zone to shoot for is around 6.0 to 7.0 you can purchase a PH testing kit.

In order to keep an eye on your levels and add
PH-UP or PH-Down to your water reservoir as needed to maintain the perfect PH.

Light

As a general rule, your plants should have at least 6 hours of sunlight per day so it is important to position them in a spot that receives ample light. Some plants require different growing cycles than others. It is important that you perform research on your crop variety before you began your hydroponic garden.

If your Hydroponic system is an indoor type then be sure you are using the correct lighting for your crops. If this can’t be done, you may want to purchase some grow lights in order to give them an added boost of sunlight that they’ll need to thrive.

Hydroponic kit

There are plenty of hydroponic kits you can purchase that will come all set up for you, or kits that will provide you with all the supplies you need to get started. Some Kits are good for personal use and grow small amounts of produce. There are also large systems that are perfect for feeding small families and even supplying small businesses! Prices range based on factors such as the size of the kits and Light Quality.

Conclusion

Hydroponics is very beginner-friendly.  There are numerous DIY strategies to perform Hydroponic gardening. There are also many sized Hydro setups that can be easily purchased from The Shop. The fundamentals are simple. Whether doing Hydroponic Farming or casually growing hydroponic flowers, the basic idea is simply to provide your plant’s roots with water, nutrients, and oxygen in the absence of soil; this can be done using any number of techniques previously mentioned. We encourage you to research thoroughly before deciding which style of Hydroponic Gardening is right for you. Stay awesome and Grow Greener. #BackToWork Funi Farmily!