How To Start A Hydroponic Garden

How To Start A Hydroponic Garden

Have you ever thought about starting a garden to help feed your family but didn’t like the idea of digging in the dirt, dealing with the seasons, and the back breaking work of tending a garden?

The answer? Hydroponics.

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Growing plants without soil is possible with hydroponics. This is a method of planting in a liquid and nutrient-solution, without soil. It’s actually the process of growing plants in liquid, sand, or gravel. You’ll need the extra nutrients, but the one thing you won’t need is the soil.

Instead of using earth to give the plants the nutrients and sustenance that they need, plants collect it all directly from the hydroponic system. This method allows the plant’s roots to have direct contact with the oxygen and nutrients it needs, making it speedier and more efficient for the plant to grow.

If it’s your first time to try this method, hydroponics can be confusing. Setting up a hydroponic garden can can be done on a small or large scale. From elaborate systems to table top Aeroponic herb gardens.

The hydroponic system doesn’t have to be complex. You can set one up in your home, using your creativity and the space you have! But a little help will go a long way, right?

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If you’re new to hydroponics and you want to give it a try but you don’t know how to start, here are the things that you’ll need to get started growing hydroponically.

All I Need Is Water, Right?

When we begin to learn how to start a hydroponic garden, the first thing we might think is we just need water, right? Hydroponics is the method of growing plants in a soil less solution. However, a lot of people think that the soil less solution is water.

Yes, you can use water, but it doesn’t have to always be. You can use any nutrient solution or use a growing medium made from sand or perlite and even gravel — anything as long as it’s not the traditional soil or potting mix. 

Is It Complicated?

Growing hydroponically is not complicated. Believe it or not, it is so simple that even a small child can do it.

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What You Need To Get Started

Starter Hydroponic Kit

If you want an easier way to getting started, you can use a starter hydroponic system.

A starter hydroponic kit contains everything you need to get started. Some kits use EBB while there are others that use the flow method.

Here are a few kits to help you get started:

Giraffe-X Indoor Hydroponics Growing System Kit

Aunifun Hydroponics Grower Kit DIY Self Watering Indoor Hydroponics Kit

YaeTek Hydroponics Grower Kit DIY Self Watering Indoor Hydroponics Kit

KVMV Indoor Hydroponics Grower Kit

Big Smart Indoor Hydroponics Growing System

If you opt to go DIY and make your own hydroponics system, the process is easy. too. You”ll need the following parts and supplies:

Opaque Container With Lid

The container should be opaque and hold up to 18 gallons of liquid. You can use an aquarium tank or a plastic bin.

Muscle Rack 5-Gallon Heavy Duty Plastic Bin

Sterilite 12-Gallon Latch And Carry Bin With Lid

IRIS USA 4-Pack Utility Plastic Bin With Gray Lid

Aqueon 10-Gallon Black Aquarium

Seapora 15-Gallon Standard Aquarium 

Mesh Pots

The mesh pot you need depends on what you are growing and the size of the container you are using.

xGarden 50 Pack Lightweight Economy Net Pot Cups

Sntieecr 50 Pack -Inch and 3-Inch Net Cups

Oak Leaf 25-Pack 3-Inch Hydroponic Cups

Awpeye 40-Pack 2-Inch and 3-Inch Net Cups

Jovitec 60-Piece 3-Inch Net Cups

Rockwool Growcube

When we think about how to start a hydroponic garden we don’t think about all these things, but they are definitely essential in getting started. The Rockwool Growcube is ideal for top irrigation. It performs well under EBB and flood applications.

This is also an ideal substrate for growing many crops. But before you use it, it is recommended that the rock wool be conditioned by soaking it for eight hours in a pH of 5.0 to 5.5 and then rinsing it with pH 7.0 water.

Grodan 1.5″ x 1.5″ x 1.5″ Mini Blocks Grow Media Rockwool Stonewool Cubes

Stacky Cubes Rockwool Grow Cubes

Grodan Wrapped Mini Blocks

The Hydroponic City 1-Inch Rockwool Starter Plugs

Grodan 1″ x 1″ Starter Plug Rockwool Hydroponic Grow Media

Growing Solution

If you are managing a hydroponic garden, you have two options for the growing solution: You can mix your own at home or you can buy a premixed nutrient solution. 

A premixed nutrient solution is a quick fix that works well. Mixing your own at home allows you to fine-tune the level of nutrients that the plant needs plus it can help you save a ton of money in the long run.

Pure Produce Hydroponic Nutrient Solution

OceanSolution 2-0-3 Plant Food

Cultured Solutions UC Roots Gallon

Cutting Edge Solutions Micro 1 Gallon

General Hydroponics FloraGro Liquid Plant Growth

Aquarium Air Pump

Using an air pump can make a big difference in your growing success. It aerates the nutrient reservoir and increases the supply of oxygen to the plant’s roots.

An air pump also keeps the solution evenly blended and ensures that the minerals are properly dissolved to improve the nutrient availability to the plants. Plus, it discourages the growth of algae.

Hygger Quiet Mini Air Pump

Uniclife Aquarium Air Pump Dual Outlet with Accessories

Upettools Aquarium Air Pump

Uniclife Aquarium Air Pump Quiet10 with Accessories

Aquaneat Aquarium Air Pump

Air Stone

If you are using an air pump, you need to have an air stone too. This helps create the tiny bubbles that provide oxygen to the plants.

Air stones are made of a porous material like volcanic rock and come in different sizes and shapes. The size and shape of the air stone you’ll use depends on the dimensions of the container and the airflow rate of the pump.

Pawfly 1.6″ Air Stone Bubble

VIVOHOME 4 x 2 Inch Air Stones

CO RODE Aquarium Aerator Air Stones

Aquaneat 4 x 2 Inch Air Stone

Yueton Cylinder Aquarium Air Stones

Lighting

Having a hydroponic light system can be quite expensive, but you can make your own.

If you are growing bushy or leafy plants like greens or herbs, you can use HID or High-Intensity Discharge lighting. This requires a ballast and a bulb, as well as the reflector and the socket.

You can also use a T5 High output fluorescent bulb that blends the light spectrum. If you have smaller seedlings or cuttings, you can use a regular T12 fluorescent bulb.

Giixer 1000W LED Grow Light

EnjoYield 600W LED Grow Light

ACKE LED Grow Lights

Shengsite 50W Grow Light

Elaine LED Grow Light

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How to start a hydroponic garden may look and sound complicated, but it’s really not. It can be the perfect solution for people with shorter growing seasons, and people who have trouble maintaining a traditional garden with weeding, tilling, and bending over to tend to the garden.

Have you grown hydroponically? If so, share your tips and tricks with us in the comments below.