Building your own hydroponic system yourself is quite simple and can be a lot of fun if you know how to follow the instructions. This type of plant is great for growing plants such as lettuce.
Steps
Step 1. Choose the type of implant you want to make
Among the choices we have:
-
Water Culture.
This plant is simple and inexpensive. The plants are suspended in the water on a polystyrene platform. The water is mixed with a fertilizer-based solution. You can grow 5-6 plants per 20 liters of water.
-
Multi-Stream.
This plant has an average cost and is more difficult to make. Count on gravity to fill the plant pot with water and fertilizer. With this plant you can grow more plants at a time.
-
Flow and Ebb.
This is a low cost and fairly simple plant to make. The vessel is placed on top of the tank and connected to it with pipes. The excess liquid returns to the tank to be reused. Several plants can be grown with this system.
Step 2. Get everything you need to carry out this project
Find the list in the "Things You Will Need" section.
Method 1 of 3: Method 1: Water Culture
Step 1. Get a container to use as a tank (you can use an aquarium or a tub)
If it's transparent, you need to paint it with black paint or cover it with a black sack.
- If you allow light in, you increase the risk of algae proliferation, which destroys the roots of other plants by stealing oxygen and fertilizer.
-
Better to use a perfectly rectangular container (for example: bottom 30x40 cm and edge 30x40 cm).
Build a Homemade Hydroponics System Step 4 Step 2. Use an aquarium or similar container if you can
Paint it black if it's clear. Before painting, use a strip of masking tape on one vertical side. When the paint dries, remove the tape. In this way you will always know how much water there is in the tank.
- It is not mandatory to put this strip of adhesive paper tape, you can check the water level from above by checking how much the polystyrene platform has lowered.
-
The strip, however, allows you to check the amount of water and fertilizer more accurately.
Build a Homemade Hydroponics System Step 5 Step 3. Use a tape measure to determine the height and length of your tank
Measure inside the tank from side to side. Now that you've noted the dimensions, you can cut the polystyrene leaving 0.5cm of space relative to the tank.
- For example, if your available size is 90x50cm, you will need to cut the polystyrene at 89.5x49.5cm.
- The polystyrene must fit comfortably into the tank, with the dimensions suitable to move according to the water level.
-
If the tank is narrower at the bottom, the polystyrene will need to be cut so that it can drop down without getting stuck.
Build a Homemade Hydroponics System Step 6 Step 4. It's not time to put the polystyrene in the tank yet
You must first drill holes to be able to insert the perforated pots. Then insert the pierced pots into the polystyrene where you want each plant to grow.
- Trace a circle on the polystyrene with the bottom of a pierced vase - use a pen or pencil as a trace. Now, with the help of a utility knife or a sharp knife, remove the styrofoam traced and leave holes for the vases. HEY, CHILDREN! REMEMBER TO GET HELP FROM AN ADULT!
- Make a small hole for the air tube on the bottom of the polystyrene platform.
Build a Homemade Hydroponics System Step 7 Step 5. The number of plants you can grow depends on the size of the hydroponic garden you are building and the type of plants you want to grow
Remember to position the plants appropriately, so that each of them receives good lighting.
Build a Homemade Hydroponics System Step 8 Step 6. The pump chosen must be suitable for pumping the oxygen necessary to support the plants
Ask a trusted hydroponic equipment dealer for advice. Just tell him the size of the tank (in liters), and with this information he should be able to give you some useful advice.
Build a Homemade Hydroponics System Step 9 Step 7. Connect the air tube to the pump and attach it to the oxygenator from the free side
The air tube must be long enough to travel the stretch from the pump to the bottom of the aquarium or at least halfway through the aquarium, so that the oxygen bubbles can reach the roots. In addition, the tube must be of the right size for the pump. Fortunately, many pumps are supplied with a suitable size tubing.
-
Use a bottle of water or a graduated jug to make an accurate estimate of the volume of the tank. Remember to mark how much water you need to fill the tank, this way you will know the precise volume.
Build a Homemade Hydroponics System Step 10 Step 8. Install the hydroponic system
- Fill the tank with the fertilized solution.
- Place the polystyrene tray in the tank.
- Slide the air tube along the hole made previously.
- Fill the perforated pots with the substrate you have chosen to grow and place each plant in a pot.
- Put the pierced pots in the holes made in the polystyrene.
-
Turn on the pump and start growing with your perfect homemade hydroponic plant.
Method 2 of 3: Method 2: Multi-Stream
Build a Homemade Hydroponics System Step 11 Step 1. Place the six pots on a stable surface
Make sure that the surface is not unstable, or the system will not work.
Build a Homemade Hydroponics System Step 12 Step 2. Connect the pots to each other with pipes and a PVC connection
If your tank is made specifically for a multi-flow system, it should turn the system on and off according to changes in the water level. This plant has a safer and more efficient drain / inlet system than ebb and flow (see next section).
Build a Homemade Hydroponics System Step 13 Step 3. Arrange the plants in small plant trays
Make sure everything is working properly.
Method 3 of 3: Method 3: Ebb and Flow
Build a Homemade Hydroponics System Step 14 Step 1. Choose the place where you will place the tank
Place the tray on the tank. If it doesn't fit comfortably, install a support structure to keep it level.
Build a Homemade Hydroponics System Step 15 Step 2. Install the ebb and flow system in the tray
Connect the pipes to the water pump, then place it inside the tank. Carefully check that the excess water returns to the tank, otherwise it will spill all over the place.
Build a Homemade Hydroponics System Step 16 Step 3. Connect the pump timer
Build a Homemade Hydroponics System Step 17 Step 4. Place the plants and their pots on the tray
Method 4: Fertilizers and Fertilizers
Each plant corresponds to a different amount of fertilizer. If you grow different plants, but with the same nutritional requirements, you will have a better yield. The concentration of nutrients is measured as a conductivity factor (CF). The more nutrients dissolved in the solution, the more conductive it becomes.
- Beans - CF 18-25
- Beet - CF 18-22
- Broccoli - CF 18-24
- Brussels sprouts - CF 18-24
- Cabbage - CF 18-24
- Red pepper - CF 20-27
- Carrots - CF 17-22
- Cauliflower - CF 18-24
- Celery - CF 18-24
- Zucchini - CF 16-20
- Leeks - CF 16-20
- Lettuce - CF 8-12
- White zucchini - CF 10-20
- Onions - CF 18-22
- Peas - CF 14-18
- Potatoes - CF 16-24
- Pumpkin - CF 18-24
- Radish - CF 16-22
- Spinach - CF 18-23
- Chard - CF 18-24
- Corn - CF 16-22
- Tomatoes - CF 22-28
Advice
- A hydroponic plant such as the one described is not sufficient to cultivate on a large scale and for commercial purposes. This particular facility does not offer a system to replace the solution in an appropriate manner; another container is required to replace the solution.
- Make sure it does not filter light into the tank to prevent the onset of algae, as they could steal oxygen from the plants.
- Plant growth normally drastically reduces the acidity of the water. Check the pH of the water with the tester.
- Be careful when engraving polystyrene with a knife or utility knife. Even though polystyrene is relatively soft and doesn't require a lot of strength, you could hurt your fingers.
- If you can, use a rectangular shaped tank. The bottom and edges should be the same size to stimulate plant growth and have an even distribution of nutrients.
