Beginners Checklist Of Hydroponic Kit -For Different Types Of Hydroponic Systems
Hydroponics is the technique of growing crop plants without using soil in a solution of water and nutrients. It has several advantages over growing plants in the ground. Hydroponics usually yield more, require less space, and conserve soil and water. If you are an apartment resident or you don’t have an outdoor gardening plot, then using a hydroponic kit to grow fresh vegetables is best for you. With its help, you will need to control several factors, such as lighting, water quality, air circulation, and more. A hydroponic kit consists of essentials items to prepare a setup and cultivate desired crops. This post is about essential items in the Hydroponic Kit and instructions to use them.
The wick system and the water culture system are the systems appropriate for beginners to approach hydroponic kits. Simultaneously, the simplest plants are greens like lettuce, spinach, kale; herbs like basil, parsley, and mint; and fruiting plants like tomatoes and strawberries.
Hydroponic Kit For The Wick System
The Wick system is one of the simplest systems without any electrical pieces of equipment.
● Working Time: 30-35 minutes
● Total Time: Few days (to change or add water)
● Cost of material: $50-60 ($100 if you need a grow light)
Tools
● Drill or screwdriver (optional)
● Grow light (optional)
Materials
● Bucket or basin for water reservoir
● Water
● Hydroponic fertilizer (dry or liquid)
● Cotton or nylon cord
● Growing medium
● Seedling
● Growing tray
Instructions To Setup Hydroponic kit
1. Place the water reservoir filled with water and nutrients beneath the tray, holding plants, and growing medium.
2. Connect wicks(preferably nylon) to the growing tray. Connect wicks through holes in the base of the tray. You can easily punch holes in the tray using the drill or even screwdriver. The wicks will soak up the reservoir’s nutrient solution and draw it up to the tray’s growing medium.
3. Set a growing tray. The growing medium, containing a seedling, is placed above the water reservoir. Use a growing medium that will not drain too fast and employ the wick’s capillary action most efficiently, such as vermiculite and soilless mixes.
1. You can use natural light or use a light fixture. Set up a light fixture over the growing tray. Set up incandescent light bulbs 24 inches from the plants 6 and 12 inches from the plants.
5. Place a growing medium, having a seedling, above the water reservoir.
Hydroponic Kit For The Water Culture (Raft) System
A water culture system is another simplest system that has easy to use hydroponic kit. In this system, you place the plants in a styrofoam platform that floats on top of the reservoir. Lettuce grows best in this system.
● Working Time: 45 minutes
● Total Time: Add water-fertilizer solution as our requirement
● Material Cost: $45-50 ($100 if using grow light)
Tools
● Drill, rotary tool, or Exacto knife (optional)
● Grow light (optional)
● Airstone and pump
Materials
● Bucket or basin for water reservoir
● Water
● Hydroponic fertilizer (dry or liquid)
● Styrofoam sheet
● Seedlings in net pots
Instructions For Hydroponic kit
1. Set up the water reservoir with water and nutrients and place This reservoir beneath your plant and floating plant raft.
2. You need to use Aeration devices from a hydroponics kit. The most affordable aeration system is an air stone and pump. Like the bubbler found in an aquarium,
3. The pump pushes air through the stone, which gives out tiny bubbles to dispense oxygen throughout the water.
4. . For setting up the growing raft from your hydroponics kit, Cut a floating styrofoam platform to fit the top of the reservoir and punch holes to inject net pots. Net pots are simply plastic containers having perforated bottoms containing a growing medium like coconut coir, perlite, and seedlings. Roots should have direct contact with the medium.
5. Follow similar instructions as in the wick system.
Additional Equipment In Hydroponic kit
● Fertigation and dosing controllers,
● Temperature and Water Sensor alarms
● Temperature controller,
● Humidity controller,
● Reserving timer,
● Priming timer,
● Clock timer etc.
