How to Start a Hydroponic Garden: 5 Methods

Wick System

The wick system is the simplest hydroponics system mechanically, as there are no moving parts or electrical components. However, this system is not ideal for water-hungry plants like lettuce or tomatoes, as they might use up the nutrient solution faster than the wicks can supply it. This hydroponics setup works best for microgreens, herbs, and peppers.

Instructions

1. Set Up a Water Reservoir

   Create a reservoir in a bucket or basin filled with water and hydroponic fertilizer based on your plant's feeding requirements. This reservoir will sit beneath the tray holding your plant and growing medium.

2. Connect Wicks to the Growing Tray

   Connect one or two wicks through holes in the bottom of the growing tray. If you need to make holes in the growing tray, use a drill or screwdriver. The wicks will soak up water from the reservoir and draw it up to the growing medium in the tray.

3. Set Up a Growing Tray

   Set the growing medium in the tray, containing a seedling, above the water reservoir. Use a medium that won't drain too fast and will utilize the capillary action of the wick most effectively, such as vermiculite, perlite, and soilless mixes.

4. Set Up a Light Fixture

   If you're using natural light, skip this step. Otherwise, set up a light fixture above the growing tray. If using incandescent light bulbs, set them 24 inches from the plants. LED and fluorescent lights are not as hot; place them 6 and 12 inches, respectively, from the plants.

Water Culture (Lettuce Raft) System

A water culture, or lettuce raft, system is another one that's easy to set up. The plants are placed in a Styrofoam platform that floats on top of the reservoir with the nutrient-enriched water. However, unlike with the wick system, you will need to aerate the water with a raft system. This system is best for growing leaf lettuce, but very few other plants grow well in this system. It is not recommended for long-lived plants like tomatoes.

Project Metrics

• Working Time: 45 minutes
• Total Time: Add water-fertilizer solution as needed
• Material Cost: $50 ($100 if using a grow light)

What You'll Need

Equipment/Tools

• Drill, rotary tool, or X-ACTO knife (optional)

Materials

• Bucket or basin for water reservoir
• Water
• Hydroponic fertilizer (dry or liquid)
• Air stone and pump
  
• Styrofoam sheet
• Seedlings in net pots with a growing medium
• Grow light (optional)

Instructions

1. Set Up the Water Reservoir

   Fill the reservoir container with water and fertilizer based on your plant's requirements. The container should be opaque and at least 12 inches deep. A good example is a 14-gallon Roughneck tote.

2. Aerate the Water

   The most common and inexpensive aeration system is an air stone and pump. The air stone, the same bubbler found in home aquariums, is placed in the water and connected to an air pump outside the reservoir. The pump pushes air through the stone, which blows out tiny bubbles to distribute oxygen through the water.

3. Set Up Your Growing Raft

   Cut a floating Styrofoam platform to fit inside the top of the reservoir. Cut holes to insert net pots. Net pots are plastic containers with perforated bottoms that contain a growing medium (coconut coir, perlite, clay balls) and seedlings. The roots will need to be in contact with the reservoir water.

4. Set Up a Light Fixture

   If you're using natural light, skip this step. Otherwise, set up a light fixture above the growing tray. If using incandescent light bulbs, set them 24 inches from the plants. LED and fluorescent lights are not as hot; place them 6 and 12 inches, respectively, from the plants.

Ebb and Flow System

An ebb and flow hydroponics system, also called the flood and drain system, is slightly more complex in design but is extremely versatile. This hydroponics garden works by flooding the growing medium with a water-nutrient solution. Then, it drains back into the reservoir.

Project Metrics

• Working Time: 1 hour
• Total Time: Refresh the water-fertilizer solution every week
• Material Cost: $75 ($125 if using a grow light)

What You'll Need

Materials

• Bucket or basin for water reservoir
• Water
  
• Hydroponic fertilizer (dry or liquid)
• Two tubes (fill tube and drain tube)
• Submersible pump
• Electronic timer
  
• Growing tray
• Stand for growing tray
• Seedlings in net pots with growing medium
• Grow light (optional)

Instructions

1. Set Up the Water Reservoir

   The reservoir is placed directly below the flood tray's stand with the water and fertilizer. You can use the same water for about a week at a time, making sure to renew the nutrients every time you change the water.

2. Connect a Fill Tube and Drain Tube

   Connect the reservoir to the tray via a fill tube and a drain tube. The fill tube attaches to a submersible pump with a timer, which controls the flow of water up into the flood tray. The drain tube allows gravity to pull the water back into the reservoir after flooding, so the water can be reused.

3. Connect a Submersible Pump and Timer

   A submersible pump with a timer allows for a lot of control in this type of system. You can customize the length and frequency of watering based on your plant's needs.

4. Set Up the Flood Tray

   The plant tray, or flood tray, is a large, shallow container on a tall stand. Plant your seedlings in perforated pots filled with a growing medium, such as perlite. The pots that your seedlings are in should be about twice as deep as the flood tray.

5. Set Up a Light Fixture

   If you're using natural light, skip this step. Otherwise, set up a light fixture above the growing tray. If using incandescent light bulbs, set them 24 inches from the plants. LED and fluorescent lights are not as hot; place them 6 and 12 inches, respectively, from the plants.

Nutrient Film Technique

The nutrient film technique uses a water-nutrient solution that constantly flows in a loop from a reservoir through a growing tray, where plant roots are suspended and absorb nutrients as the solution flows by. This system makes the ebb and flow system a continuously flowing system, never taking periodic breaks. A nutrient film system works best with fast-growing, shallow-rooted plants, such as lettuce, spinach, radishes, and herbs.

Project Metrics

• Working Time: 1 hour
• Total Time: Refresh the water-fertilizer solution every week
• Material Cost: $85 ($135 if using a grow light)

What You'll Need

Equipment/Tools

• Drill or rotary tool (optional)
  

Materials

• Bucket or basin for water reservoir
• Water
• Hydroponic fertilizer (dry or liquid)
• Two tubes (fill tube and drain tube)
• Air stone and pump
• Submersible pump
• Tube or PVC pipe to fit the seedlings
  
• Seedlings in net pots with growing medium
• Grow light (optional)

Instructions

1. Set Up the Water Reservoir and Aeration

   The reservoir is placed directly below the flood tray's stand with the water and fertilizer. Add an aeration bubbler in the reservoir to oxygenate the water.

2. Connect the Fill Tube, Drain Tube, and Pump

   Connect the reservoir to the tray via a fill tube and a drain tube. The fill tube attaches to a submersible pump, which controls the flow of water up into the flood tray. The drain tube allows gravity to pull the water back into the reservoir after flooding so that the water can be reused. Unlike the ebb and flow methods, you do not need a timer because it is continuously pumping the water.

3. Set Up the Growing Tray

   Instead of a flat tray, this method uses tubes or channels for the grow tray. The tubing can be set at an angle to make sure that the nutrient solution flows directly to the roots. You can use a round tube or PVC pipe with holes drilled to fit the net pots or seedlings.

4. Set Up a Light Fixture

   If you're using natural light, skip this step. Otherwise, set up a light fixture above the growing tray. If using incandescent light bulbs, set them 24 inches from the plants. LED and fluorescent lights are not as hot; place them 6 and 12 inches, respectively, from the plants.

Aeroponic System

An aeroponic system is a more complex hydroponic method. Plant roots are suspended in air and misted every few minutes with a water-nutrient solution. It is a highly effective method but one that requires sophisticated pumps and misters. If the equipment malfunctions, the plant roots can dry out and die quickly.

Project Metrics

• Working Time: 1 hour
• Total Time: Refresh the water-fertilizer solution every week
• Material Cost: $100 ($150 if using a grow light)

What You'll Need

Equipment/Tools

• Drill or rotary tool (optional)
  

Materials

• Bucket or basin for water reservoir
• Water
• Hydroponic fertilizer (dry or liquid)
• Air stone and pump
• Submersible pump
• Spray tube
• Sprayer/misting head
  
• Tube or PVC pipe to fit the seedlings
• Seedlings in net pots and growing medium
• Grow light (optional)

Instructions

1. Set Up a Water Reservoir with Aeration

   A container filled with fertilizer-enriched water is positioned under the growing chamber. Add an aeration bubbler in the reservoir to oxygenate the water. This reservoir also acts as a catch basin for misted droplets of solution.

2. Connect a Submersible Pump

   Connect a pump to a mister or sprayer. The reservoir solution pumps to the mister or sprayer via tubing from a submersible pump tube in the reservoir. The sprayer will be aimed at the plant's root in a growing chamber.

3. Set Up the Growing Chamber

   Similar to the nutrition film technique, you will set up tubes or channels for evenly suspending each seedling's roots.

4. Set Up a Light Fixture

   If you're using natural light, skip this step. Otherwise, set up a light fixture above the growing tray. If using incandescent light bulbs, set them 24 inches from the plants. LED and fluorescent lights are not as hot; place them 6 and 12 inches, respectively, from the plants.

Hydroponic Growing Tips

• Most edible plants require at least six hours of sunlight each day; 12 to 16 hours is better. Make sure to put your lighting system on a timer, so the lights turn on and off at the same time each day.
• The best lighting for a hydroponics system is high-intensity discharge light fixtures, which can include either high-pressure sodium or metal halide bulbs. Halide bulbs emit a more orange-red light, which is great for plants in the vegetative growth stage. T5 is another type of lighting used in hydroponic grow rooms. It produces a high-output fluorescent light with low heat and low energy consumption. It is ideal for growing plant cuttings and plants with short growth cycles. 
• Ideal temperatures are between 68 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. High temperatures can cause plants to become stunted. And if the water temperature gets too high, it can lead to root rot.
• The ideal humidity for a hydroponic grow room is from 40 to 60 percent relative humidity. Higher humidity levels—especially in rooms with poor air circulation—can lead to powdery mildew and other fungal problems. Consider a humidifier or dehumidifier to adjust the relative humidity.
• Your grow room should also have an ample supply of carbon dioxide; your plants will grow faster. The best way to get carbon dioxide to your plants is to make sure the room has a constant flow of air. If necessary, invest in a fan or air circulation equipment to improve the airflow.
• Hard water that contains a high mineral content will not dissolve nutrients as effectively as water with low mineral content, so you might need to filter your water if it is high in minerals.
• The ideal pH level for water used in a hydroponics garden setup is between 5.8 and 6.2 (slightly acidic). If your water doesn't meet this level, chemicals can be used to adjust the pH into the ideal range. 
• The nutrients (or fertilizers) used in hydroponics systems are available in both liquid and dry forms, as well as both organic and synthetic. Use fertilizers that are designed for hydroponic gardening; do not use standard fertilizers. The fertilizer should have the main macronutrients—nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium—as well as micronutrients iron, manganese, boron, zinc, copper, molybdenum, and chlorine.