KEY Recommend DIY System. B Bottle Hydroponics: Floating Rafts Wicking Bed NFT ‘Top Drip Media Beds Flood and Drain ‘Aeroponics Vertical Gutter Garden <>dx4ze7 LETTUCE APPENDIX CROP SELECTION CHARTS Rev buterhead lettuce + Recommended DIY Systems: Lettuce can growin any af the hydroponic systems mentioned in this book Germination Temperatures: Ideal germination temperature is 60-70°F, but germination will occur in much wider temperature range, + Water Temperatures: Ideal water temperature is 45-70°F, but healthy lettuce crops have been abserved in $5-90°F water. EC: Healthy erops have been observed growing in nutrient solutions with EDS in the range of 0.7-2.8. The exact target EC will depend an light levels, water source, environment, and crop age, but in general an EC of 1.8-2.3 will produce a healthy crop, + pl Healthy crops have been observed growing in nutrient solutions with PHS in the range of 5.2-7. Best growth has heen observed at pH of 5.56.0. + Air Temperatures: ideal air temperature is 65-75°F, but healthy letuce has been observed growing in temperatures 50-95°F, {172i HYDROPONIC GARDENSp [ Y ivaroponie Gardens “¢ for GROWING PLANTS in WATERBS of” 3 a @ | | < set aes(© 2018 Quarto Publehing Group USA Inc Text © 2018 Tyler Barae Fit published in 2018 by Cool Springs Press, en imprint of The Qusrta Group, 01 Secona Avenue North, Suite 310, Minneapolis, MN 55401 USA, T[e12} 3648100 F (6121 944-8672 vor Quartoknowe com permssicn ofthe copright nner All mages in his book have been reproduced withthe hnaatedge and rior consent of the ais concerned, and no respnsibiy is accepted from the contents ofthis publication. Every ert hasbeen made to ensure tat eres accurately comply wth information supped. We apologize for any inaccuracies that reprinting ofthe bok Cool Springs Press ties are also available at discount for retail wholesale promotional "pecialealesiquarteom ar by mai at The Quarta Group, An: Special Sales Manager, (01 Secona venue North, Suite 310, Minneapolis, MN 55401 USA 0987654921 IsaN;972-0.7600-5759-0 Digital edition: 9780-74036-988-4 Soteove edtion, 9780-74095-789-0 Names: Barge ier, author il: DIY hyrapenic gardens yer Baras. Description: Minneapalis, MN : Coal Springs Pres, 2018 | Includes inde. Identifiers: LCCN 2077051567 | ISBN 978076095759 [pb] Subjects: LESH: Hycraponc: | Gardena. Classicaion: LOC $8126 5.837 2018 | DOC é31 S/S LC record ouaable at htps leche gev/2017051587 ‘equiing Eltor: Mark Johanson Project Manager Alyse Bho ‘nt Director Bred Springer Cover Design: Perolatar/Mark Rei Interior Design ad Layout: Diana Boger Phatograp Printed in ChinaCONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION 6 What Is Hydroponics? 7 Advantages af Hydroponic Growing & Key Features of a Hydroponic System 13 2 EQUIPMENT 18 Irvigation 19 Pots and Trays 22 Substrates and Grawing Media 24 Equipment for Growing Indoors 28 Grow Lights 29 Pest-Management Products ‘and Equipment 32 Meters 35 3 HYDROPONIC GROWING SYSTEMS 38 How to Choose aSystem 39 Boitle Hydroponics 42 Floating Rafts 50 Wicking Bed 60 Nutrient File Technique [NET] 69 Top Drip System 83 Media Beds 92 Flood and Drain 99 Aeropenies 106 Vertical Gardens 1184 STARTING SEEDS and CUTTINGS 136 Starting Seeds in Stone Wool 138 Rooting Cuttings in Stone Wool 142 Rooting Cuttings in @ Hydroponic Cloner 146 Transplanting Plants Started in Soil 148 5 PLANT NUTRITION 150 Plant Nutrient Uptake 151 Fertilizers 152 Measuring Fertilizer Concentration 154 © it pele 6 SYSTEM MAINTENANCE 156 Managing the Nutrient Solution 157 Flushing 160 Cleaning 161 7 ‘COMMON PROBLEMS ‘and TROUBLESHOOTING 142, Nutrient Deficiencies 143, Infestations 166 Seedling Problems 168 Glossary 170 ‘Appendix: Crop Selection Charts 172 Metric Conversions 186 Bibliography and Photo Credits 187 Indox 188 About the Author 192 <INTRODUCTION THIS BOOK MAKES HYDROPONICS ACCESSIBLE to gardeners of any experience level. Youll learn bath the science af hydroponics and its practical applications and see thal DIY hydroponics is not just a way to avoid purchasing expensive hydroponic systems; it's also a way to create a beautiful garden better suited to your needs. Offering build guides for hydroponic gardens that range from simple 10 comptes, this book shows systems suitable for nearly any environment or application, The build guides include many options for customizing the design 0 you can create a garden catered to your spac rop selection, and budget Additionally this book affers invaluable seed variety recommendations that can save new hydropanie gardeners time and money that could have easily been wasted on poorly suited crop selections. Learn from Farmer Tyler's vast ‘experience and avaid the costly mistakes commonly made by new hydroponic growers. The more you know, the better you grow! WHAT IS HYDROPONICS? Put simply, hydropanicsis growing plants without sol, Most people assume that sol Isindispensable fr plant growth, butifyouhave this book, you probablyalready know hat isn't so. The various functions of sail can be recreated using other materials, Soil provides support for the plant because itcreates a physical structure for the roots to grasp, Tal trees would be unable ta hold themselves upright on awindy day without a im grip in the sol. n hydroponic system, the physical support pravided by soilcan be replicatedwith avarietyofmaterials and ellis structures, Soil also provides essential nutrients for plant growth, These same nutrients can be supplied using alternative methods, however: Hydroponic systems dispense water-soluble nutrients derived fram bath organic and conventional sources. Soil can also provide a home for essential microbial populations thatcreate beneficial relationships with plant roots. These same microbes can live and thrive. a hydroponic environment. So, i hydroponics is simply recreating the role of sil, why not just use sil? ADVANTAGES OF HYDROPONIC GROWING 1. Doesn't require quality soil Gardening is atten thought of as an activity limitad to those fortunate enough to have a lawn. Hydroponics greatly increases gardening options for those in homes without lawns or those with lawns that have soil poorly suited for edible crops, Hydroponics combined with indoor growing techniques gives gerdeners even more ‘options by expanding the potential garden space to nearly anywhere in the home. 2 Potential for faster crop growth Plants rarely maximize their full grawth potential in soil. There is almost always sore limiting factor slowing down their growth. In soil, the plant roots ‘need to search for nutrients that are often unevenly distributed and possibly inaccessible because they are bound to various soll particles. Some nutrients are inaccessible because the microbes in the soll have yet to break down the nutrient source (for example, manurel into a form that is avaiable to the plant's roots. tis also possible forthe plant growth tobe constrained by a lack of water or too much water. Too much water ean reduce the amount of ‘oxygen availabe to the roots and inhibit biological processes necessary for the roats ta uptake nutrients and water, Hydroponics bathes the raots ina precise blend of essential nutrients with a balance of water and mygen, Many of the constraints on a plant's potential growth can be eliminated or reduced using hydroponics and indoor growing techniques. 3 Requires less space A plant must spread its roots far and wide in the process of searching for water and nutrients. By eliminating the need forthe plant roots to find water and nutrients, the spacing of plants is only imited by the area needed for the plant canopy. 4 Less constraint on growing season, Obviously, growing indaors permits gardeners to extend the growing seasan. Less obviously, hydroponics specifically can extend the growing season even when placed outdoors. Often the ternper to its health than the leaf temperature. It is possible to grow winter crops in 100°F if the raot temperature is kept in an optimal range closer to 45° to 75°F, Lure ofa plant's roots is more crit It is also possible to grow crops that preter warm temperatures in cold climates by increasing the root zone temperature, Hydroponics increases the abilty to precisely adjust the root zone temperature. Through use of heaters, chillers, or simple practices like burying a hydroponie reservoir, a hydroponic gardener can, increase or decrease water temperature and improve crop growth, © DIYHYDROPONIC GARDENS5 Can be used in any location Hydroponics allows gardeners to grow in areas that do net possess quality soil. Hydroponics also allows gardeners te grow in lacatione that would be unsuited for erops due to inhospitable climate or limited water access. One of the biggest opportunities for hydroponics is growing in deserts. Deserts often have a wonderful climate for growing crops, with lots of light and little pest presence, but thoy are limited in access to water. Hydroponics usas substantially less water than, traditional methads and can make farming in deserts a vile option. Hydroponics i also the primary method used to grow plants in space. Many crops, including lettuce, have been grown in space using hydroponic methods. Leaty vegetabes can be grown hydroponicaly in outer space. Photo courtesy of NASA 6 Usestess water Hydroponics uses less water because you may reuse any irrigation water not directly taken up by the crop. In soil, much of the water is last te evaporation and drainage. In hydroponics, evaporation can be reduced ar eliminated by covering the water reservoir, and all drainage water is collected to be reused, 7 Noweeding and no herbicides No weeding, It may seem like a small point at first, but after a season of pulling garden weeds, most traditional sol gardeners would love to have spent that time doing something mare fun, like preparing dishes from tha! harvest, Hydroponic growers also have no need to purchase herbicides. Furthermore, hydroponic growers never have to face the potential crop damage of herbicide drift when a breeze accidentally blows herbicide onto your garden and injures or kills your precious plants, Inrropucrion 98 Can reduce or eliminate need for pesticides Hydroponic gardens, especially those outdoors and in greenhouses, are rarely pest free, but hydroponics does have the potential to reduce pest pressure. Hydroponic gardens present fener hiding places for pests that will row into soi or hide in decaying plant debris. When hydroponics is combined with indoor growing techniques its possible ta have a completely pest-Iree garden il the gardener practices preventive pest control techniques, Preventive pest control techniques are cavered in the Equipment for Growing Indoors section af the Equipment chapter. 9 Can reduce or eliminate agricultural runoff Itis difficult to rranage runoff in a traditional garden, The gardener may fertilize the garden and the next week a rainstorm washes away much of the nutrients Itis also possible that the nutrients will be carried away by normal irigation Using advanced tydropanic techniques itis possible to have zero runoff. This is a practice best suited for professional hydroponic growers as it involves advanced water testing, chemistry, and an extensive knowledge of a crop's specific nutrient requirements. For home hydroponic gardeners, itis comman to flush or dump out the nutrient solution inthe hydroponic system every few weeks to avoid potential ‘nutrient disorders in the crop created by an imbalance in nutrients. Plants do not consume all nutrients at the same rate, so aver time some accumulate and sore become deficient. Periodic flushes, or changes ofthe nutrient solution, help reset the system and ensure the crap has access tothe correct balance af nutrients. This wastewater doos not have to be simply flushed down, though; most hydroponic gardeners use this water for their outdoor garden or potted plants. traditional soil-based garden is a great companion toa hydroponic garden, 10 Ability to manipulate nutrient content ne af the most commen misconceptions surraunding hydroponics is that hydroponic praduce has a lower nutrient density than soil-grawn produce because hydroponic crops are grown in water. There have been many studies ‘comparing the nutrient density of hydroponic and sol-grown produce and the results are evenly mixed. There are so mary factors that affect the nutrient density of crop, and although fertilizer does play a rote in which nutrients are present, the environment has a huge rele in which nutrients the plant actually uptakes, Light intensity and specific colors of light can affect antioxidant content. Stress ue to irrigation practices can affect antioxidant content, Temperature can affect sugar concentration. There is along lst of factors that affect the nutrients present ina crop but, overall, these vegetables are nutritious, The diferences are very minute and its difficult to go wrong when eating a vegetable. Nearly al plants will show visible signs of nutrient deficiency if their nutrient density is significantly olf from normal Levels, so if the plant looks good it more than likely is going to have a nutrient profile comparable toa similar-loaking plant regardless of the environment in which it was grown 10 DIY HYDROPONIC GARDENSThat said, there are some unique met hods that hydropenic growers are sing to manipulate their crop, Mary commercial hydroponic tomato growers purposely stress their plants with high nutrient levels at key stages in thei development to induce an increase in sugar content in the tomatoes. The growers can spike the nutrients to induce the sugar increase and then reduce the nutrients toa normal level to maintain healthy growth. For lettuce, the Oizumi Yasaikobo Co. Ltd, in Chichibu City potassium lettuc developed a method for growing low using hydroponic methods. The farm grows these specialty lettuces for customers suflering from kidney disease who are getting treated with dialysis and are restricted from nsuming vegetables with a high potassium content. Ths effort to grow produce with a custom nutrient content is one of many similar projects being developed around the world as growers gain the ability to 11 Increased ability to direct crop growth for specific characteristics Not enly can nutrient content be manipul cisely cantrol every aspact of a crops growing environment. but other characteristics, such as loaf size, leaf cole, root size, and plant height, can also be manipulated when nydroponics is combined with indoor growing, Indoor gardeners can use various colors of light to induce specific characteristics. A popular practice is the use of blue tight to grow more compact plants indoors to reduce the vertical space equired fora crop. 12 Clean and low mess. Soil gardening can be messy, This is not bad, but not always ideal. The most extreme example isthe International Space Station. floating ctoud of sol would be a disaster around that sensitive equipment. For those of us nat growing Inrropucrion 14plants in space, the benefit of soilless growing is a cleaner crop. Crops grawn hydroponically often require litle or no washing, Hydropanic gardens can be a (great way to expose kids to plants in a classroom er hame without bringing in the potential ofa big muddy mess. One of my favorite kid-friendly systems is the hydroponic fairy garden described in the Media Beds section of the Hydroponic Growing Systems chapter. 13 Can be easier and loss work than growing in seit Easy to use fertilizers, easy to automate, and no weeding are just a few of the reasons hydroponic gardening can be far simpler than traditional methods, Hydroponics may seem intimidating to beginners, but alter a crop or two most hydroponic gardeners are hooked. 14 Easy to master and replicate results Hydroponic craps grow quickly, allawing growers ta get more experience in {a shorter period of time. The best teacher is experience, and faster-grawing crops allow hydroponic growers to learn quickly, Once a grower figures out tho right recipe for that environment and selected crop, its easy to replicate the process. Hydroponics gives the growar the power to replicate the exact rutrients available and irrigation frequency, When hydroponics is paired with Indoor growing techniques, grawers increase their control even further. Indoor gardeners can replicate ight intensity, light duration, temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide levels, and airflow to grow consistent crops year-round without the seasonal and yearly fluctuations experienced by traditional gardeners, 15 Increases ability to manage soilborne pathogens like root rots and bacterial wilts Some of the mast aggressive plant pathogens are soilborne. Any grower who hae battled root rot ar bacterial will in a tractional garden knows that is it vary itficult to eracicate the problem. Many of these pathogens hide inthe soit untit the conditions are right, and then they spring inte action. In hydaponics, the ‘gardener can completely clean out the hydroponic system i there is a case of 2 soilborne pathogen. This allows the gardener to quickly remove the old crop, clean and sterilize the eyster, and then start up a new erep, 16 Reduces potential of contaminating erops Several ofthe national faodborne disease outbreaks have been traced back to manure. Animal manure, one ofthe primary nutrient inputs on traditional farms, isa potential source of harmful pathagens, including E.coli Listeria, and Salmonella, if not properly prepared before application, The problem is that not all manures prasent in agricultural fields are applied by the farmer. In 2011 an E.coli outbreak in Oregon was believed to be due to deer feces found on the suspected farm. ILis rare to See any manure-derived fertilizers in hydroponics, and contamination fram wildlife is very uneammen, as mast hydroponic Farms are in controlled environments that exclude wildlife. Anather potential source 12 DIY HYDROPONIC GARDENSHistory of Modern Hydroponics “There ae strc records of rps grom in foang rafts made of eds and oer modes of fai wth nso hyoponis atdte back tnusnds of years; however, the fuera cf modem typos starteo tt shape and he 19205 tthe Ushers of Callan vt rian Frederick Gericke, Or. Gericke developed sae of he xa tronic niet ecbes and grow mehds that ad the osndaten ortho development by oer ‘hydroponic researchers, Dennis Hoagland and Daniel Arnon continued to develop Gericke's recipes at the Uversty of allo. Versions of ter eces are stl sed today under te rome “Hoagland ction” cf contamination is heavy metals present in soi or irrigation sources. Hydroponic ‘growers can easily filter their water source to reduce heavy metals, but removing hheavy metals from sol can be very dificult. There is research indicating that edible crops can uptake heavy metals that could lead to slow heavy metal poisoning if thoy are grown using contaminated soil or contaminated water sources, KEY FEATURES OF A HYDROPONIC SYSTEM Hydroponic systems are quite simple, To create one, you will need some kind of waterproof reservoir to contain the nutrient solution and, in some cases, the plants themselves, You'll also need a growing area, whichis the place the plants will ive. The size and type of growing area defines the kinds of plants you can grow and how much they will yield You will also need, in most cases, lighting and ventilation systems. Finally, growing medium is needed to store and release nutrients to the plant roots. The Reservoir Most hydroponic systems have a reservoir that is filled with a nutrient solution, a mix of fertilizer and water. There are many options for nutrient sources in hydroponic gardens, Most nutrient solutions can be used for a wide variety of plants or they can be catered to specific crops. Feeding plants in a hydroponic garden is as easy as making iced tea from concentrate. Simply mix in the powder or liquid concentrate, stir, and done! Reservoirs can be created by repurposing common household iterns like storage totes; they can be constructed with wood and a plastic liner; or they can be purchased. Reservoirs can be as simple as a plastic or glass bottle. InrropucrION 13‘The Growing Area ‘The growing area in a hydroponic garden can be adjusted to grow nearly ary plant. By adjusting irigation frequency. potiray size, substrate, and environment, hydroponic gardeners can create optimal growing conditions for ary crop they desire. Some crops are more practical than othe: for example, hydroponic wheat and corn are possible but they often require large areas for proper pollination, and the economic value oftheir yield is tow and cficult to justify wth a capital-intensive growing method. Most hydroponic gardeners, however, find mary advantages over traditional growing ‘methods when they devote their growing ares to vegetables and flowers. The growing area design is the biggest dilference between the various hydroponic growing methods covered inthis book. Recirculating hydreponic systems, like those described inthis book, have a growing area that drains back into the reservoir. The reuse of irrigation water in hydroponics can greatly reduce the water required to grow a crop compared to the water use required in traditional growing methods. The Crop Plante grown in hydrapanic systems can grow faster and yield mare. Hydropanies eliminates the need for herbicides and can reduce or eliminate the need for pesticides when combined with indoor growing methods, With reduced sprays and na dit hydroponic produce is often cleaner than produce grown with traditional methods. Many people know that hydraponics can reduce water use during the growing cycle, but itis lees commonly known that some produce, Uke letluce, often uses more water for washing than the entire water requirement to grow the crop, 14. DIV HYDROPONIC GARDENS.The Lights Hydroponics is a popular growing technique indoors because its clean and very productive. When gardeners decide to grow indoors they often want to maximize the yield in their ited growing area, and this goal is generally accornplisved with hydroponic growing techniques. The primary equigment required te grow indoors isa grow light. There are many options for indoor lighting and each option has its advantages. Depending on light intensity, uration, and color, a grow light can stimulate a wide range of desirable plant traits, including enhanced flavor. increased rutrient content, increased plant pigmentation, reduced or increased plant height, earlier or delayed flowering, and increased yield. Nearly all the systems in this book can be used indoors when paired with an appropriate grow lig The Growing Medium Soil gardening and scilless hydroponic gardening are not enemies; each has its strengths and weaknesses. Blindly stating that one is better than the other may be templing for those deeply invested in one method or the other, but doing so ignores the fact that both of these methods are very diverse ‘The fertilizers used for hydroponics are usualy very diferent from those used by soil gardeners, Hydroponic fertilizers need to provide everything required far healthy plant growth, whereas fertilizers intended for use in soi wil ust focus on a few of the major nutrients because it is assumed most ofthe other nutrients will already be present in the soil. Hydroponic fertilizers will work in sil, but fertilizers intended for Use in soil wll rarely work in hydroponic gardens. Not only would the fertilizer intended InrRopuCTION 15Many Hydroponics Methods: Ie ishard to make blanket statements about hycrononics because there are so many ferent growing techniques that are considered Iyckononic. Let's start witha few definitions: ‘Truo hydroponics: Hyéropanic methods that use no substrate, Deep water cuture (DUC, sare fl techique (NF, and aeroponics area few tecniques that can be classed as te hydroponics. Recirculating: Ahycroponis system that reusesirigaton water, Every DIY garden in ‘his book sa recirculating systom, Drain-to-waste: A hydroponic system ‘that doesnot reuse irrigation water after Ihmay seem strange that a draintowaste garden would be classiiag as hydronic, but the eny characteris of a hydroparie system Is that does nt use sol and recehes ts ‘cod though a non scluten,Dranto- waste hydroponics canbe as simple as ‘rational garden pot iled with coco coi, peat, anor perite tat sand watered with nutrient solution. Drartowaste hycroponic systems ae great for certain stuation, butte benefits that many associate with hydroponics, ke water savings, may not be 0 great Hycroponics is verse and there ate pros and cons to each method, itis delvered tothe crop. This method is sometimes used in op dp hydoponis. for soil not have al the required nutrients, but the nutrients are usually derived from sources that can foul the water ina hydroponic garden, For example, manure is commonly used for sol-based gardening but is almost never used in hydroponics. Most animal-derive fertilizer sources like manure, blood meal, bene meal, fish meal, and feather meal wil create horrible odors when used in a hydroponic garden, One of the ‘major advantages of soil gardening isthe ability to use these animal-derived fertilizers, Which are generally by-products of the meat industry. Soil gardening provides a great ‘opportunity to use these by-products for a great purpose (growing plants) instead of going straight toa tandfil Most hydroponic fertilizers, and fertilizers in general, are created using mined ‘minerals and products from energy-intensive methods, such as the Haber-Bosch process, which converts atmospheric nitrogen gas (N, into ammonia (NH). This ammonia is used to create fertilizers like urea (COINH, and ammonium nitrate (NH.NO. Modern agriculture heavily relies on mined and synthetic fertilizers. itis, estimated that hal ofthe nitrogen fertilizer applied to craps comes from chemical sources. These fertilizers are growing crops that feed billions ef humans. The pros and cans of synthetic versus natural fertilizers are incredibly nuanced \When focusing on one attribute, it can appear that one fertilizer source is far superior to another, but the whale pictuce is far more complicated. For example, the ‘manufacturing of synthetic fertilizers has a significant carbon footprint. Synthetic, fertilizers, however, ae far more concentrated than natural fertilizers and can be shipped mare elficiently. Synthetic fertilizers are very clean and precise, which is great for hydroponics. The use of synthetic fertilizers makes it possible for some 16 DI HYDROPONIC GARDENS.The Lights farms to never dump any wastewatar, resulting in huge water savings compared to traditional sol farming, The back and forth of advantages and disadvantages proves tome that no one has it perfect yet. There is plenty of opportunity to learn trom, other growing methods and post their advantages to create increasingly sustainable methods of farming, InrRopucrion 17EQUIPMENT THE EQUIPMENT YOU'LL NEED FOR a hydroponic growing system depends, of course, on what kind of system you want to create, Except for the most basic, systems, hydroponics usually includes a pump to recirculate the misture of water and fertilizer. The recirculating water is important because it is through ‘movement, and in some cases an airstone with tubing, that oxygen from the ambient air is supplied tothe liquid and then to the plants. These pumps, along with the tubing and joining connectors, are the heart af the system and probably the most important equipment you will buy IRRIGATION Irrigationis just a fancy word for watering, but when you are talking about @ hydroponic growing system, defining it can get tricky, Whether you think of irrigation as providing nourishment or providing an infrastructure, the equipment you need to create the irigation function really boils down ta @ couple basic items: ‘2 pump fwith or without a fitter] to propel and circulate the water through the system, and a series of tubes to convey the liquid Water Pumps The major factors to consider when selecting a water pump are delivery height, target flow rate, and output tute size, Most systems simply need a pump powerful ‘enough todativer mater toa spectfc height. Far example, a grower selecting pump fora flood and drain eystem can primarily focus on whether that pump has ‘a maximum delivery height greater than the distance from pump autlet to flood tray. Some systems perform best when water is delivered at a target flow rate A couple systems that depend on target flow rates are NFT and aeroponics. Fer these systems itis important to consider how delivery height will impact flowrate. A pump that delivers 600 gallons per hour [SPH] at é feet high only delivers 200 GPH at 10 feet high. The number of emittors will also impact flow rate tis gonerally better to select a pump that may be slightly overpowered than a pump that could beun butitis not possible to owered, It is possible to reduce flow using vak increase flow. Air Pumps Ac pumps are primariy used to aerate but they can also be effective for keeping rulrients evenly mited in a reservoir. Aerating the nutrient solution can increase the dissolved oxygen. Although plants produce oxygen, they also use onygento perform a variely of tasks. One af these tasks is moving water through a filtration process inthe Twoouteta¢ pump roots. If plant does nat have adequate oxygen around its roots then the plant will begin to wilt because it cannot perform the task of moving water thraugh the filtration process and up tothe leaves. Increasing oxygen in the root zone often increases crop yield and improves plant health — Adding a check valve between te ar pump and a the air stone isan inexpensive way to protect your system fom a potently expensive fare. Inthe event ofa pump faire, generally due to 2 power outage, water may siphon out ofthe reservoir down through the "tuba tothe pump. This can destoy the at purp and fod the area round the pump, Many lage pumps have mule outlet sizes. ‘Small pumps are very useful in DY hycroponic —_ {gardens but ey may oni have one out size. This small pump only connect to Hc" bn, 12 exible ar stone ‘This exploded view of a ACO GPH pump shows the mesh fit, agustable intake, impel, suction cups, and two ote attachment. 20 DIY HYDROPONIC GARDENS1.100) roll of" back vy tubing ‘A sample of We clea vin! tubing Venturi Pumps ‘Avent atachmentis a sinole way to aerate 2 tyekanonie system without adding an a pump and sr stones, A venturi ean attach directly tea pump be nstaled nine n a section of tubing. Vetus take advantage ofa phenameron called the Venturi effet, which occurs when a liuid or gas owing through apie moves through a constricted secton, resulting inncreesed velocity and decreased static pressure. The venturi pump attachments have an intake tube postioned inthe area of ower pressure, ‘he decreased pressure creates a suction, which sed to pul aint the pipe. A pup wit a vent attachment can be placed on a reseror wal to bot circulate and arate the nutent soliton, Ar pumps are rated by airflow measured in liters per minute (L/min). The target liters per minute for each hydroponic system depends on many factors, including reservoir size, water temperature, crop, and crop age. In my experience, 1 L/min per 5 gallons is generally sulficient for most applications Air Stones ‘ic aumps deliver air through air stones, whic Air stone preferences vary greatly by grower. | personally prefer flexible ar stones and round air stones with bottom suctions, There are ether ways to aerate 2 nutrient solution me in a variety of shapes and sizes. besides air pumps with airstones or water pumps with venturi attachments, Cascades cor wateralls are often the sole method of aerating nutrient solutions in NFT systems, (Other more advanced methods include ozone generation and liquid oxygen injections. Tubing Not all irrigation tubing is the same. Traditional irrigation tubing used in landscaping is often very stiff and dificult to use in most hydroponic applications. Black vinyl tubing is generally the standard choice for hydroponic irrigation because its flexible, is strong, and easily connects to the standard fitings used in hydroponic gardens. The ‘most comman sizes for black vinyl tubing are Ye, Ys, ¥&,%4, and ¥ inch, CCtear tubing is nat recommended for irrigation lines. There is always the potential for algae growth when the nutrient solution s exposed te light. Clear tubing can be a hat spot for algae and is dificult to clean once algae develops. Clear tubing is, popular in aquariums because its nearly invisible and is more esthetically pleasing aesthetics are not a major concern, Y-inch black tubing will work just as wall as Vcinch clear tubing EQUIPMENT 21al Ti {148 ebow connector AW tee connector A stopper Fd and dain combo kit Ball vaves (or stutol valves estrct or stop fon. They ar useful or balancing AW rer grommet flow in NFT and vertical hydroponic gardens An rigaton ine hole punch i used to create ‘hat may have mutioeirigation zones with smal ols in" or vy tubing forthe various flow rates, insertion of W barbed comectors. Fittings Flood and drain fittings allow DIY gardeners to create their own flood trays {rom household materials like plastic storage totes. Generally, these fittings come ina sel that includes a Yé-inch fil iting, a %-inch drain fitting, extensions, and two screen fitings Grommets are one of the most useful irrigation fitings in DIY hydroponics. Grommets create a watertight seal around irrigation fitings. They can transform PVC pipes, plastic totes, buckets, and more into hydrapanic growing areas or feservoirs. Commonly available in Yor % inch. Tubing connectors function and look very much Uke the plumbing connectors that anyone with experi doing home plumbing is accustomed to using [except of course, that they are much smaller) POTS AND TRAYS Net pots can be square or circular and generally range from 2 to 1Vinches wide. This book focuses on uses for 2- and 3-inch net pots, the most commonly used net pot sizes in DIY hydroponic systems, 22. DIY HYDROPONIC GARDENSCircular plastic pots are generally the easiest to find ‘Square plastic pats can help maximize the epace ina hydroponic garden by removing all gaps between pots. Square pots are a popular aption in grow trays because they can be packed in tightly, crow 198 have been used in commercial farms for along time and are starting ta make their way into home gardens. They can be dificult to re but they are Gefiritely one of the choapast options for a pot. The side walls of grow bags can be: rolled down to adjust the volume ofthe pat. Although the bag may look square when empty it fills out to be a cylinder Fabric pots are great for hydraponics because they are quick draining but don't have large hales that can possibly et out substrate, They are perfect far flood and drain systems because itis easy for the water to soak into the substrate and then drain auickly. Fabric pats are easy ta reuse too! Simply empty out the substrate, turn the bag inside out, let it dry, and brush off any remaining debris. They can even be put in a ‘AZ circu pot washing machine for a deep clean, Terracotta pots are not commonly seen in hydroponics, but that doesn’t mean they can't be used. Terracotta pots used in gardens are porous, allowing air and water to pass through the walls, traits similar toa fabric pot. Unlike a fabric pot, terracotta is heavy and fragile Pa Square pos ae great for using space efficient. Low-cost grow bog exible fatric pot Classic terracotta pots EQUIPMENT 23Pot Color Indoor growers often prefer vite pots because they are reflective, White surfaces an help reflect ght back into the plant canopy White pots are aso popular ‘outdoors in warm climates because they tend to stay coder than black pots. In Cold enirorents, back pots may be advantageous to increase the temperature Trays Gow trays come na vaus Sees, depts and colors. he Sana siz ontins are V3, 2 «2,24, 3x34 x4, 3x6 2 x6,2 18) add «8: Reservoirs: Prelabicated reservoirs ‘ypicaly range from 20 to 115 galons. Prefabricated plastic reservar are terre ~ ‘generally lightweight, . Fehr, ad rai in Rg A 2' 4 tray stand ¥ W ts hatin is and sth natch Int ae supportbar w \\ | a A2O-alonesovor lt wit kd Shalow 4° 4'tray.Shalow rays are——_—Deep 2” fod tay. Dee bays ‘nd parte cover eeray about 3104" deep. Tiss are general between 7” and ee eu fr open exes bi maybe. They are reat orton dr, notte deep enough or ther hydroponic food and dri, media beds and aden desis oat at gardens. SUBSTRATES AND GROWING MEDIA Hydroponic gardeners have a choice between high risk with fast growth and low risk with slower growth. The decision is primarily based on the porosity ofthe substrate {and the ability of the roots to breathe. One of the most common mistakes made by new gardeners is overwatering. In a heavy soil ar a poor-draining pot, an excess of water can drown the plant. Even though plants ereate oxygen, they also require oxygen. The roots especially need oxygen to perform a critical step in the uptake of water and rutrients. Without oxygen in the root zone, the plant cannot uptake water and the top ofthe plant starts to wit Its very counterintuitive ta see a plant wilting when sitting inwater. Excess water can also increase the chance of root disease 24 DIY HYDROPONIC GARDENSHydroponic gardeners can select substrates that hold very litle water to inevease the oxygen available tothe roots, but this requires frequent or continuous irigation Some gardeners prefer to reduce the number of irigatian eycles requiced by using a substrate that holds more water, su strate that holds mare water adds some salely cam power outages, pump failures, and ether potential sources of delays in irrigation, A plant grown in a very porous substrate like clay pellets may be damaged or die alter a couple of hours of no irrigation when grown in a warm, cunny environment, That ‘same plant grown in coco coir, a substrate that holds a lat more water, may be able to 90 2 couple of days without irigation, Usually the trade-off for this increase in safety is slightly slower growth, Substrates for Starting Seed This book focuses on stone wool and polymer bound plugs made from peat moss and coca coi. There are many other options fr start substrates, but these are two of the ‘mast beginner-riendly options because they have a gcod water-holding capacity yet are difficult ta overwater Stone Wool Commonly called rack wool in the Unite States, stone woo ie made by melting basaltic rocks and spinning the “rack lava into fibers... similar to cotton candy but far less tasty Disclaimer: Do not eat stone weal! Stone wool is ne ofthe ‘mast popular Hydroponic substrates in both commercial and hebby hydroponics Irhas.a nice balance of water retention and porosity, which makes it great for new tydeoponic gardeners, who often tend to overwater plants, Some substrates are rot very forgiving to overwatering, but stone wool in general wil stil function when overwatered—it might nat have the best growth, but it usually Won't kil the crop. Stone wool is available in blocks, slabs, and loose. Coconut Coir Ala called “coca” esi, coconut coir is a growing substrate made from the husks of coconuts Itis a popular substrate for both conventional and organic hydroponic growers. If coco is not properly washed during processing it can have high levels of salt, which may damage salt-sensitive crops, Its @ good practice towash any coco before using in a hydroponic garden to remove any remaining salts and wash out any tannins that may stain the reservoir or growing area, Stone wool seeding sheets Poker bound plug made of ‘Stone woo blocks peat moss and coco cor her EQUIPMENT 25ww Co chins Perite Expanded cay pelts Coco Peat A very fine coco, sometimes called coco pith ar coca dust, coco peat can hold a lot of water. is alten used as a substitute for or mixed with peat mass. Coco peat, unlike peat moss, has @ starting pH that is acceptable to most vegetables without ‘needing to edd lime. Coco peat, ike peat moss, is often mixed with perlite or another porous substrate ta lighten the mix and improve drainage. Coco Chips A chunky coco, sometimes called coco erautans, coco chips have ‘ good balance of water retention and drainage. They can be used as a standalone. substrate or incorporated into a mix. When used as a standalone subs may need to be irrigated frequently, similar to growing in expanded clay pellets, Perlite Perlite is made by heating volcanic rock until it pops like popcorn, This expanded rock is very lightweight and has mary commercial applications, primarily in construction, Perlite is used in horticulture because itis cheap, organic, lightweight, ‘and great for aerating heavy substrates like coco and peat. It comes in many sizes, from very fine to chunky, and can be used as a standalone hydroponic substrate. coco chips 26 DIY HYDROPONIC GARDENSAlternative Substrates ‘New hydroponic substrates are be developed for your specic crop and Sawdust: Used as substitute for Inoduced every year. Some of tiese_ernironment through al and err. eat and coco but canbe very substrates are manulactured and some Gravel: Performs similar to expanded changing. ‘are repurposed byproducts from ater clay pelts, ‘Sand: as ow water holing capaciy ‘ndusbies, The following substrates Phenolic Foam: Oasis sone of and is heavy. Coarse bulders’ sand ‘may not be as beginerfrenly as the the most popular brands fr this isthe most commonly used sand for ‘previously mertoned option but you ‘substate, whic is great atematve _hycroponics. ‘may bo abl to fr them fr fee. Each to stone woo seeding shots. Wood Bark: Popular inrogions where substrate has pros and cons along with Rice Hulls: Performs similarly operite its easly accessible, but its River Rock: Perlorms sindary to successful uses very dependent on ‘expanded clay pets, source and crop selection Peat Often called sphagnuin peat or sphagnum peat moss, peat is partially decayed plant matter harvested from bogs. It has the ability to hold a lat of water yet is lightweight when dey perfect for shipping, Peat generally has a very low pH around & Iti olten mised with lime to raige the pH to a more acceptable range for vegetables, Peat can be used as a standalone substrate butit is more commonly used in a mix with perlite. Its availabilty is Largely limited to North America, as the harvesting of this, Expanded Clay Pellets. Sometimes called Hydraton after one ofthe original ‘manufacturers, and also called LECA [which stands for light expanded clay aggregate, erely restricted in most of the world expanded clay pellets are pH neutral. inert, and one af the most popular substrates for Peet/ptita mix both hydroponic and aquaponic media beds. The pores in the pellets can retain some ‘water, yeti is dificult to overwater clay pellets because they are very quick to drain, ‘Always rinse clay pellets before using them in a hydroponic garden Reusing Substrates River rocks and clay pellets can be washed and reused, but other substrates are Laually dificult te reuse in a hydroponic garden, Most hydroponic gardeners will mix Used coco, peat, and perlite into their compost or directly into a traditional soil garden ta improve water retention and drainage, Some hydroponic gardeners wil also break Lp their used stone wool cubes and slabs into small pieces to mix into their traditional sil garden, EQUIPMENT 27EQUIPMENT FOR GROWING INDOORS Although Fydroponic gardens do not need to be indoors, they are generally associated with indoor growing, Indoor growing may sound easier becouse there are fewor unpredictable events like bad weather and bugs but indoor gardeners find there isa whole new list of challenges, Some of the most common mistakes for beginner indoor growers are lack of adequate airflow, poor temperature contro, poor humidity contro, and insuflicient light. The proper equipment is essential to have a successful indoor garden, Grow Tents Grow tents provide an enclosed space for environmental controls, lights, and growing systems, Sometimes it can be dificult to create the proper growing climate indoors, or the ideal growing climate may net be the same climate you wish to have in the rest of your indoor space. Plants, may like humidity ratios around 50 to 80 percent, but people often prefer to bein a humidity outside of that range. Grow tents are a great way toisolate the plants inan indoor environment. Besides keeping a separate climate {rom the rest ofthe indoor space, a grow tent can keep in the bright Light required for plant growth. I is sometimes advantageous to run grow lights for ‘20 hours or more per day, but l imagine people living in a small studio apartment ‘might not be too hanpy having a bright light on for 20 hours a day when they're trying to sleep. Grow tents can also allow gardeners to contain their pest-management strategies, whether that's spraying ar releasing beneficial predator insects to protect the crop. Grow tents are perfect for renters who do not have the ability to modify a room far growing, | have lost a couple of security deposits through the years due to my excitement to create a grow room without considering that all the modifications Iwas ‘making to the room might not make the landlord very happy. grow tent can pay for itself when you consider the possible loss af a security deposit. Grow tents come in a range cf sis, from 2! 2 up ‘0 10° 20'tana bigger, Ducting ports on grow tents make it easy to set up climate contol and to hang lis. The teats’ solid bottoms contain ary posse leaks. 28 DIY HYDROPONIC GARDENSInline fans can be placed inside o ouside a grow room. [ANE fit is capable of preventing insects, bacteria, fang, and poten rom entering 2 grow tent. > Compact Muorescert row ight Climate Control Depending on the climate outside ofa grow tent,a gardener may beable to control the insideclimatewith inline fans. line fanscanbe placed onthe inide or outside of the grow tent, Thereare advantages to both of these setups, An exhaust fan placed inside ‘grow tent is great for containing crop odors becauseit makes sure any ar leaving the grow tent passes through a carbon filter, hich raps all odors. This setup is sametimes called a negative pressure grow room. Air passively flows into the growroom from ducting ports as the exhaust fan pushes air out Intake Fans An intake fan placed on the outside can save valuable grow space inthe grow tent. In this setup, air is pushed into the grow tent and the exhaust passively escapes Irom ducting ports. This positive preseure grow room is great for pest management because the exhausting air makes it dificult for pests fo gat into the graw tent. A negative pressure grow tent can sometimes suck in pests near any possible openings, but a positive pressure grow tent will create an outward airilow that ‘makes it ffcult for pests to enter the grow tent from anywhere but the intake fan There are many heavy-duty air intake filters, like the HEPA filter shown at lef, that can prevent insects, bacteria, fungi, and pollen from entering a grow room. Note: Grow lights can generate alot of heat and it may be difficult to manage that heat with just ventilation fans. Air-conditioning units dedicated solely to the grow room are sometimes necessary for indoor gardeners using very powerful lights, using ‘multiple lights. growing in warm climates, or growing temperature-censitive crops. Airflow Inadequate airflow is one of the most common mistakes made by beginner indoor gardeners. Luckily its one of the easiest to remedy. Inadequate airflow may result in spindly, tanky plants, weak stems, ti burn, and an increased Ukelihoad of fungal issues in the crop li.c., powdery mildew. An easy trick to check whether a grow room has sufficient airflow is to took closely at the leaves to see if they are visibly moving Visibly moving leaves isa sign that there should be sufficient airflow in that location, but there is always the potential for “dead air” spots in a grow room. Oscillating fans can help reduce the potential of these dead air spots. GROW LIGHTS Use of artificial ight to grow plants can be traced back te the 1800s. Grow lights were ‘ot always a practical option, but in the past few decades there have been advances in lighting technology that have made the use of grow lights accessible to hobby gardeners with gardens of any size, There are mary lighting options, but not all ae ‘well suited for your specific growing area; please review the many options before purchasing a grow light to avoid a potentially costly mistake. Fluorescent Those are probably the mast beginner-Iriendly grow lights They are also widely available and relatively cheap compared to other grow lights EQUIPMENT 29To forescent grow light ‘Apowerful 10D0-att dovbleended (0E) HPS lights eeat for greenhouses ard \ ‘ow rooms with hgh cetings 18 1504att HPS Eg is ereat for grow tents and A315 att ceramic MM grow ight smal proving areas tat reaie hight evel They consume minimal electricity and are available in several spectrums, 50 you can grow a wide range of crops. They may not be ideal for crops that require intense light, such as peppers. Because they emit only small amounts of heat, they can be placed very close tothe crop—within a couple of inches—which makes them great for seedlings and young plants, High Pressure Sodium [HPS] Those are one of the cheapest options for high intensity lighting. HPS lights can generate a lot of heat, which is goed in cold environments but difficult ts manage indoors without proper ventilation and/or air-conditioning, They often are used for flowering craps indoors and are great for providing supplemental light in greenhouses. Usually they are positioned a few feet above a crop. Metal Halide (MH) and Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH) MH and CMH aro high intensity lighting options often used for vegetative stages but are alza capable of rowing flowering crops, Light from MH bulbs appears blue and many gardeners, find it pleasant to work under. The blue dominant light is also good for encouraging 230 DIY HYDROPONIC GARDENScompact growth, Mest grow light manufacturers are focusing praduction on the never, ‘more efficient CMH bulbs instead of the traditional MH bults. Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) LEDs are very efficient, using minimal electricity to generate alot of light. They produce very litle heat relative to their light output and are available in many different configurations, some suitable for mounting high above the crop and some suitable for placing very close to the crop. LEDs come in many different colors, which can greatly affect plant growth. The white LEDs are less efficient but more pleasant to work under than red and blue LEDS, which cast a purple light that is great for growing plants but some growers find aesthetically displeasing ‘Additional Light Options Other options include induction lights, plasma lights and lasars, as well as many other lighting technologies besides the ones listed above, Some af these newer lighting options can be vary expensive and may not be ‘well suited forthe beginning hydroponic gardener. Lighting technology advances. quickly, however, and many of these options may soon be the standard, just as LED lighting is quickly moving to the forefront among the traditional HPS, MH, ang fluorescent lighting options, Lighting Accessories Hangers Lights can be hung with rope, cable, or chain or mounted directly to ‘a eressbeam or the esiling, Rope ratchets are very popular with indoor gardeners because they make moving lights up and down very easy. Grow Room Glasses Some gardeners find it unpleasant to work under the orange light of HPS or the purple light of LED grow tights, Glasses with tinted lenses designed specifically for these light sources are a great way to make it more pleasant to work with these grow lights = 5 “ Rope ratchet for hanging Grow room glasses made specifealy LED ligt bars in row iets to reduce the orange cob produced 1,2, and 4 lengths Dy HPS grow baht EQUIPMENT 31PEST-MANAGEMENT PRODUCTS AND EQUIPMENT Hydroponics can have some impact on pest pressure but the bigger factor on pest pressure is environment. Hydroponic systems are often used in controlled environments like greenhouses or indoors, Growing in a contralled environment ives the gardener the potential to completely exclude pests from the crop, but Achieving this can be very dificult, Generally, there are some pests that get into the garden an once they get in they can quickly multiply, A controlled environment gardens great for both plants and pests. When a bug gets into an indoor garden it find itel! in an environment with perfect weather and ne predators... pretty much pest heaven. There are several tactics fer controlling pests, but olten the best defense is prevention. Most of the methods for pest management can be used in a controlled environment ar outdoors. Preventive Methods Preventive methods include pest-exclusion techniques like positive pressure grow rooms and HEPA intake filters, described earlier in the Equipment for Growing Indoors section. Another exclusion practice is wearing clean clothes before entering an indoor {rev roam to avoid carrying in pests from outside, Preventive methods also include selecting plant varities that are appropriate for the growing erwironment and have disease resistance, and giving these plants the water and nutrients they need to be healthy enough to resist diseases. Physical If preventive practices don't Keep pests out and a pest is found in the garden, physical pest-management practices are a great, nentoxic method for controlling pests. My favorite physical pest-management technique is using @ vacuum to remove any bugs | spat, Additional physical pest-management techniques are removing entre plants and using sticky traps. Sticky traps are also used far ‘monitoring pest levels. Biological Biological pest management involves the use of predators, parasites, and diseases to contral pest populations. One ofthe most popular bialagical pest-management strategies for gardeners is the release of ladybugs. Biological pest-management may not completely eradicate a pest population, but it usually can keep the pest population in check. Organic Pesticides Organic pesticides are generally considered less toxic than conventional/synthetic pesticides, but they still should be used cautiously. Always c’heek the label on pesticides, even organic ones, ta see whather there is any recommended personal protection equipment tke gloves, gogales, or a respirator. Most farms are able to completely manage pests using only organic pesticides. Conventional Pesticides Conventional, or synthetic, pesticides are rarely required bby home gardeners. Even commercial farms that are not certified organic will very 232 DIY HYDROPONIC GARDENSPraying mantis eggs Small portable vacuum often solely use organic pesticides because they are very effective. Most of the conventional pesticides available to gardeners are just ae safe as organic pesticides when used properly Pest-Management Tools This ie by no means a comprehensive list of pest-management tool, jut afew of my favorite methods far managing pests in my garden Vacuum This is a pesticide-tree method of removing insects, Sticky Traps Yellow sticky traps are generally used to trap and monitor aphids, wihitelie lly used to trap and and fungus gnats. Blue sticky traps are gene monitor thrips Beneficial Insects Successfully managing pests with natural predators can be tricky. There are many beneficial insect options: the following are afew of the most commonly used predators in home hydraponic gardens, Grow room climate and the of beneficial insects, nce of spray residues -operia cameal: Primarily used to contra Jn impact the effectiveness phids but also may be = Lacowing [Ch elfective for controlling whitellies and thrips ‘Ladybug (Coccinella septempunctatel: Used to control aphids. + Praying mantis (Tenodere sinensis): Eats a wide range ef insects, including aphids Nei + Predatory mite (Neoseiulus cucumerisl: Used to control thrips and spider mites ‘© Swirski mite (Amblysoius swirskil: Used to contral thrips Essential Oils Essential ails can be very affective for killing or repelling pests lke mites, thrips, and aphids, A few of the more commonly used essential ols are garlic clove, mint, thyme, rosemary, and cinnamon, Neem Oil An organic pesticide derived Irom the neem tree, this ail ean repel insects 1d potentially kill them if applied directly onto the pest, EQUIPMENT 29Organic pesticide that ‘An orgeic pesticide Bi canbe used to cortal Insecticidal soap Includes garic and clave ot containing azadracttin fungus gnats in hydroponic systems, Azadirachtin An extract made from Neem seeds that concentrates one of the most potent insecticidal compounds found in Neer oll. Azadirachtin repels ingecte similar to Neem ail, but it algo disrupts the malting pracees in many pests Azadirachtin keeps pests in their juvenile stage. preventing them fram reaching Adulthood and repraducing, Organic Pyrethrins An organic pesticide derived from the chrysanthemum flower. One of the most powerful organic pesticides, itis capable of quickly killing ‘most insects when applied ata strong concentration. Pyrethrins may potentially kil beneficial insects too, Bacillus thuringiensis {B1 A beneticia\ microbe primarily used to manage caterpillars. ‘Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis (Bti] \ subspecies of Bt that ‘an provide some biological contrat of fungus gnats, Soap Insecticidal soaps. or even dish soap, can be very effective for contraling whitelles and aphids, Spinosad An organic pesticide derived from the bacterium Saccharopolyspora spinosa, Etfective for controlling thrips and caterpillars. Streptomyces lydicus i benelicial microbe effective against root rot and foliar fungi tassium Bicarbonate A very effective organie fungicide capable of quickly knocking down powdery mildew issues, May also be used to raise pH in hydroponic systems, Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda) Very similar to potassium bicarbonate in effectiveness against powdery mildew, Plants can talerate some sodium, but they will show nutrient toxicity or deficiency symptoms when exposed to excessive amounts. Many gardeners are able to use sodium bicarbonate to elfectvely control powdery mildew and other foliar fungi 2 DIY HYDROPONIC GARDENSBlulabtruncheon meter det). and Bueab pH Pen right) ‘ApH contol kit wih 5 indicator solution, pH uD ‘and pl down METERS ‘A variety of meters are employed in most hydroponic systems to monitor and help regulate the growing environment, The meters measure levels such as nutrient concentration and balance, pH balance, temperature, and light intensity. Some work automatically and others require the hydraponic gardener to create and uphold a regular monitoring program. Electrical Conductivity (EC) EC meters are used to estimate the fertilizer concentration ina nutrient solution, EC meters are net critical for growing hydroponically but they are definitly one of the ‘most helpful tools. They are available in many shapes from many companies and in ‘many price ranges, There are some very low-cost options available that I've seen work for growers and hotd up for years. | personally am not always the most gentle with ‘my equipment and prefer a robust meter that can tolerate some abuse. Atruncheon EC meter is currently my go-ta choice because it does nat require calibration, is waterproof, and can handle abuse oH Although pH meters are not critical for growing hydroporically, they are great for helping hydroponic gardeners understand the state of their nutrient solution. Understanding the pH of the nutrient solution is also useful when trying to diagnose potential nutrient deficiencies. However, pH meters area bit more temperamental than EC meters and should be handled with care and well maintained or they can quickly become inaccurate or simply break. Always read the instructions on a pH probe to ensure you correctly calibrate it and perform the regular maintenance required to keep the probe accurate. There is alot of variation between pH prabes an the market and they are nat all equal. Ive tested mary pH meters and currently my favorite is the Bluetab pH Pen, The pH can also be tested with an indicator solution. These indicator solutions. cften come as part of a pH control kit that includes pH up and pH down solutions. & PH indicator solution can give an approximate pH but i wll never be ae accurate as a pH meter. Many new hydroponic growers start with a pH control kit with a pH indicator solution because its an affordable option that can get the job dene. Light Intensity Guessing light intensity is incresibly aitfculy, if nat impossible, There are many meters available to help gardeners monitor their light (eves to determine whether they ere sufficient, adequate, or too intense for their specific crop. Lux Meter Lux meters are generally the mest affordable meter for measuring light intensity but not the most ideal. Lux meters measure light an a scale specific to EQUIPMENT 35Converting from Lux to PPFD ‘Mutily aux read by the folowing conversion factors to obtain an approximate PPFD Iymo/m2/st Light Source SEHPS —_DEHPS Fluorescent NH CMMH/4200K)__CMH(3100K) Sunlight Comersion Factor 0.012 0.013 «O01. (1S 0017 0.019 Example: A reading of 10,000 x measured under a metal hae (MH) lamp would be converted to PPFD by mating 10,000 hx by the conversion factor ©.014 to get an approximate PPFD of 140 pmol/m2/s how light is perceived by the human aye, The human eye is most sensitive to green and yellow, whereas plants are most sensitive to blue and red. Most ofthe light level recommendations far crops are nat based an lux: they instead use photosynthetic photon flux density (PFO), which is measured by photosynthetically active radiation (PARI meters. PAR Meter PAR is an acronym for photosyntheticaly active radiation. PAR light falls within a naw power photosynthesis. PPFD is an acranym for photosynthetic photon flux density PPFD measures how many phetosynthetically active photons, ength range that is visible to plants and that plants can use to sured in pal are landing ina square meter [m2] each second (s; the unit used is umol/m2/s, PAR meters are the preferred mater for measuring light intensity in a hartcultural environment but they tend to be more expensive than lux meters, Daily Light Integral (OL Meter PPFD measurement shows light intensity per ‘square meter per second. ADLI measurement shows the light intensity delivered per square meter per day. DLI is @ total of all the PPFD readings for each second throughout the day. The unit used is mo/m2/d. OLI does not use mol because the ‘number would be huge: 1 mol is 1,000,000 pmol. DL! is useful because it measures the light a plant has access to throughout the day, not just ata single moment, Indoors itis feirly easy to calculate the DLI with a single PFO measurement because the light levels do not fluctuate throughout the day as they do eutdoors, Fer example, @ PPFD reading indoors af 100 ymol/m2/s is canverted to OL! with the following steps: 11 Multiply PPFD by 60 seconds to get total ual per m2 per minute Example: 100 pmal/m2/s x 60 seconds = 4000 pmel/m2/eminute 2. Multiply this number by 60 minutes to get umol per m2 per hour. Example: 6000 umnol/m2/minute « 60 minutes = 340,000 pmolim2shour 3. Multiply this number by the number of hours the lights are on; inthis example, the Lights are on for 20 hours a dey. Example: 360,000 pmol/m2/hour x 20 hours = 7,200,000 pmol/mn2/day 4 Lastly divide by 1,000,000 to convert pmol to mel Example: 7,200,000/1,000,000 = 7,2 mol/m2/say DUI meter that measures total light delivered in 24 ours sing mol m2/éey {36 DIY HYDROPONIC GARDENSFoaling thermometer for ‘monitor water temperature Gutdoors a OL can be measured using @ DL| meter. ADLI meter is designed ta total the PPFD measurements throughout the day to generate a DLI reading in molfen2/day. The reference chart below is based on personal observations and should only be considered a general recommendation, Crop Tugot DL Range Merogreens 6-12 mel/m2/day Lealy Greens 12-30 igeneraly 17-25) mol/m2/éay Foweting Crops 17-45 (genealy 25-35) mol/n2/eay Temperature and Humidity Monitoring Equipment {A simple aquarium thermometer is often sufficient for monitoring temperature ina hydroponic reservoir. The target water temperature for most hydroponic crops is 65° ta 70°F but it is defintely possible to grow healthy crops outside ofthis range, Mest pH ‘and EC meters also measure water temperature, Water temperature affects the EC and pH readings, an accurate reading, ‘thermometer with @ hygrometer that records daly high and low points is great for monitoring conditions ina greenhouse or grow room, Gardeners may spend a lot of time with their plants, but they can’t be there all the time; a thermamaterfhygrameter that monitors the high and low points enables gardeners ta make adjustments to day oF night temperatures that they might not see when they're in the garden ‘0 these meters must factor in the water temperature before giving EQUIPMENT 7HYDROPONIC GROWING SYSTEMS DIY HYDROPONIC SYSTEMS ARE A great way to create a custom garden catered ta your location, crop, and desired aesthetics. Many beginning hydroponic growers decide to build their own systems because of the cast of retail systems, but from. personal experience, | have found building DIY systems may not always be the cheape: ption, specially i there are mistakes in the system design. | love creating original systems built for specific locations, but creating original systems can often involve alot of expensive mistakes, I've purchased items that don't fi. 6 wouldn't hold after | glued them into place, or broke, or didn't provide enough light, or didn't provide enough drainage Inthe end, learned alot from my mistakes and 'm thankful for that, but also spent 2 lot of money learning and making those mistakes. The following systems pull from my experience, and my mistakes, to save you time and money. HOW TO CHOOSE A SYSTEM Choosing which hydroponic system to install in your home requires you to take ‘many variables into account and to decide which matters mast to you. Amang them are crop eelection, preferred location of the hydroponic garden, maintenance demands, ease of use, and the amount of maintenance and upkeep each requires. Initial cost isimportant too, of course, as is the cost for energy consumption, inputs, and other ongoing maintenance expenses. Choosing a System by Crop Knowing what you want to grow should be the first consideration when choosing ‘a hydroponic system. There are systems that ean grew a wide range of eraps (ie., flood and drain) and there are some systems that work best for erops with specific growth habits. One of the first systems in this chapter is a hydraponic ”bottle garden. This system works great for leafy green crops lke lettuce and basi but is horrible for largar crops like tomatoes, You should also consider the diversity Jw, Do youwant to grow craps with a wide range of nutrient ‘equirements and desired pH ranges? The best option sometimes is to have multiple systems, The best part ab growing plants is that they are generally easy to replace Experiment with new crops and learn from experience. | offer alot of guidelines inthis chapter and useful erop selection nates in the appendix, but these guidelines are no meant ta prevent you from experimenting, Many crops will grow in conditions outsia oftheir ideal range. Plants are far more tolerant than we give them credit for. Don’t be afraid to fail; there are always more se sto plan Choosing a System by Location opanie systems for growing letuce in space! No matter your location, ere is potential to grow plants hydroponicaly. | even have a hydroponic garden in ry RV. For each of the systems listed in this chapter I give location suggestions. Many of hese systems can be modified for indoors, outdoors, small spaces, or large ones. Choosing a System by Maintenance Requirements The ratio of plants to volume af water is generally the biggest factor for ests maintenance requirements. A system with a small reservoir and a lt of plants will need frequent maintenance because the groster wil need to add water and amend the reservoir with fertilizer as the plants quickly reduce the water level in the reservai Degree of dificult is a primary consideration when choosing a hydroponic system. This recirculating trough system s relatively ‘mpl to make but requires reguiar monitoring and maintenance 40 DIY HYDROPONIC GARDENSSystems with a high plant-to-water ratio alsa tend ta accurnulate an imbalanced ratio of nutrients and require frequent full system flushes, Another factor that will influence ‘maintenance requirement is crap selection. Crops like tamataes, peppers, and cucumbers may require trellising and pruning depending on variety. Some crops grow very quickly and need to be replaced often, like microgreens, and they'll require alot of ‘work because they need te be seeded and harvested weekly Choosing a System by Difficulty ‘Although | wauld never stop someone from starting with an advanced hydroponic system, | am aware that many gerdeners want to succeed from the start. Difficult-to- Use systems may have a learning curve. | love learning! You might too. But you also ‘might value simplicity and using a hydroponic system that has minimal maving parts and few opportunities for failure Bartle Hydroponics, Floating Rafts, and Wicking Beds are great beginner-triendly systems that don't require electricity, Media Beds and Flood and Drain are also beginner friendly, but they have come moving parts that require electricity, Nutrient Film Technique, Top Drip, Aeroponies, and Vertical Gardans are not tersibly difficult, but they might not be the best option for a first-time hydroponic gardener. The dificutty of using a system is @ personal opinion and its possible you might find some ofthe less beginner Iriendly systems easiest to use ... The only way to find out is to build them all! Featured DIY Hydroponic Systems (nthe folowing pages you wil see many of my favorite DIY hydreponic systems expan and bl before your eyes. Alng the way Ihave tried to give reasons uty you mig choose one ‘system over another. Before you deci which one (ox ones) you want to make fr yours, ‘sugges that you rea through lhe bls so you fuly understand the pluses, minuses, and gee of ificuty ofeach system. ‘= BOTTLE HYDROPONICS ‘= TOP DRIP SYSTEM ‘> FLOATING RAFTS ‘+ MEDIA BEDS ‘= WICKING BED ‘+ FLO00 AND DRAIN ‘> NUTRIENT FIL ‘+ AEROPONICS ‘TECHNIQUE (NFT) ‘+ VERTICAL GARDENS HYDROPONIC GROWING SYSTEMS 41wall GROWING SYSTEM BOTTLE HYDROPONICS A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH OF “bottle hydroponics” bottles in hydroponics, Unfortunately, both. Th will reveal the many ways to use ost of these are either complicated, ualy, o 2 simple hydroponic botlles are easy to build, low cos, low mai require no electrcily, and lock grea + Suitable Locations: Indoors, outdoors, ar greenhouse + Size: Sm: + Growing Media: Stone wool + Electrical: Not required + Crops: Lealy greens and herbs Krathy Method and Aeration The Kratky method is the easiest hyéroponie growing technique. No pumps, smglex irrigation systems... ust plants sitting in ater. Most ofthe early hydroponic research focused on static wate stems like the Krathy method. These jems worked, but, as scientists tend to do, they experimenting and eventually found there was an increase in plant growth rate when the nutrient solution was, aerated. This discovery spurred the developme with of circulating hydroponic systems que (NFT] and eased aeration, ike nutrient film tec ip iriga 42. DIY HYDROPONIC GARDENS Hydroponic systems dont get much smper than bottle hydroponics.Now most of the hydroponic research is focused on these circulating systems, but there are still horticulturists experimenting with static noncirculating hydroponics. ne of the most vacal proponents of noneirculating hydroponics is Dr. Becnard Kratky of the University of Hawaii, He has done so much to continue the development of nencirculating hydroponics that his name has become synonymous with the technique... the Kratky method, Crops “The Krathy method has been successfully used to graw a wide range of crops, fram lealy greens lke lettuce to flowering crogs lke tomatoes and potatoes, Most hydroponic gardeners prefer to grow lealy greens and herbs with the Krathy methed because the larger crops may struggle with inadequate oxygen levels in their root Rea butterheadletce,talan basi, and Thal bes grown ‘hydroponic bottle garden, HYDROPONIC GROWING SYSTEMS 49zone, The roat zone oxygen demand for crops like lettuce is far less than its for tomatoes, ‘The crops that are best for bottle hydroponics stay short or grow upright to mitigate the possiblity of the systerm getting too top-heavy and falling over. Basil kale, Swiss chard, and lettuce are my favorites for bottle hydroponics, but ve also had success with cilantro, dil, and other herbs. Locations The Kratky method can be used outdoars, indoors, or ina greentiouse. It may be Gifficult to use 2 Krathy-style garden outdoors in areas with heavy raintall because the nutrient solution may be quickly diluted or washed away. Krathy-style gardens ere great for olf-grid gardens that do nat have access to electricity. The appropriate locations for bole hydroponics are more limited. The black paint sed inthis build could lead to excessive heat buildup in the root zone. Ifyou want to se boille hydroponics outdoors youl want to use a light-colored paint for areas with warm climates. My favorite way to use bottle hydraponic systems outdoars is with a wall-mounted bottle holder on a porch. This keeps the bottles ina semi-shaded area andi looks anesome, Indoors, bottle hydroponics can be placed nearly anywhere—a kitchen counter, desk, windowsill, or even wall mounted in a hallway with 2 grow light above ... the only limiting factor when placing a bottle hydroponic system indoors is access to light Ikis possible to grow in 2 cler, unpainted bot, butt may require frequent cleaning to remove algse ule, 14 DIY HYDROPONIC GARDENSHOW TO BUILD A BOTTLE HYDROPONIC GARDEN Thishydroponicbottleis theeasiesthydroponicgarden the battle with different paints and decorations, ait is, inthisbook anda great first step into hydroponics. love easy to make this garden your own. To simplifytheas- building this systernwith kids fromages to 1Bwhen! __semblyofthis system, yournay wish tofind abottle with do schoolvisits. There are se many ways tocustomize _anopaque exterior to skip the painting process. Required Bottle Preparation lass oF plastic bottle ‘The bottle selection is the most critical decision inthis build. The ideal bottle has, Stone wool seedling plug __a short neck se the plug can quickly access the main body ofthe batil. If possible sized for bottle opening select a wide bottle. Wide bottles maintain their water Level Longer, giving the roots Fertilizer ‘more opportunity to grow into the nutrient solution before the water level drops due te evapetranspiration, The following steps Optional are for clear bottles, so please skip to the next Scotch tape section if using a nontransparent bottle, Stake for mounting 1. Remove any labels from the bottle. while painting 2 Add a strip of tape along the side, This will Blackboard spray paint bbe removed later to create a viewing window Chalk forthe roots. Fold the end of the tape stip. Burlap or cloth fn the bottom of the bottle to make removal Bottle label easier after painting Grow light Optional Toots, Scissors Funnel Hot glue gun HYDROPONIC GROWING SYSTEMS 463 Mypr had success dipping bottles in paint. Make sure there are enough coats of paint red method for painting bottles is putting thern ona stake, but Ive also that Light will net penetrate inside the bottle 4 Remove the tape strip once the paint dries, It is best to do any chalk art at this point before filing the bottle with water Plug Selection Eithor select 2 plug that fits snugly inthe neck of the bottle or select a botle with an pening suitable to your plugs. lis possible ta cut a stone woo! plug tit a smaller bottle but tis can potentially damage the seedlings roots 6 The plug shouldbe wide enough to ald itseltfirnly in the opening ofthe bottle 17 Growing more seedings than needed allows you greater options to select only the best seedlings for your hydroponic bottle 46 DIY HYDROPONIC GARDENSNutrient Solution and Transplanting Itis important to use fertilizer designed for hydroponic gardens. In this garden| sed FloraNova Grow, but there are many other options. Check out the Plant Nutrition chapter to learn more about hydroponic fertilizer options. 8 Mix fertilizer with wa tibzer botle container to make it easy ta check er using the recommended rates listed on the fe cor bag. Mix the water and fertilizer in a separate if the fertilizer has fully dissolved, Extra nutrient solution may be saved for a couple weeks if stored in an airtight container in a dark, coal environment. 9 Fully fill the bottle with nutrient solution, There is potential for some overflow when the se ling is inserted, but ths is preferebl eto too litle water. 10 Ifyou do not plan on using a wicking strip [see next pagel, the seedling can now be transplanted into the bottle. The bottom ofthe plug should be sitting in nutrient solution; if needed, add mare nutrient solution to make sure the plug is fully saturated, Make sure the bottle is completely full ifyou are not using a wicking strip because the plug will need access tothe nutrient solution for several days Uni it can grow roots deep into the nutrient colution, The plug should not be placed too deep into the neck ofthe bottle. You will need to remave the plug to refill, the bottle, so keep enough ofthe plug outside ofthe battle to make removal easy in the ture, 11 Check to seeif the plug is dry during the first week. Depending on crop selection and environment, you may need to add more nutrient solution inthe first few days tagive you fant a chance to grow roots long enough to pull up water fram the bottle, A wicking st isnot necessary, but it wil help reduce the tential of your seedling drying out in the first week Leave enough stone woo! above the neck ofthe botle to make plug romoval easy when refing the bottle HYDROPONIC GROWING SYSTEMS 47Optional Wicking Strip wicking strip is useful in bottles that are tall and skinny or with crops that grow slowly. The following steps use a clear bottle for demonstration purposes, but using clear bottle for growing a crap is not recommended bacause it will encourage algae growth, 12 Cut burlap or cloth into a strip long enough to reach the bottom of the bottle and ‘approximately as wide as the seedling plug {usually 1" to 2° wide) 13 String the wicking strip through the bottle opening 14 Use the seedling plug to hald the wicking strip in place. 15 Leave enaugh stone wool exposed to make removal easy when refilling the battle with nutrient solution, 16 A funnel can make it possible to refill the bottle without fully removing the stone wool plug. This can help reduce the potential of damaging roots when removing ‘and reinserting a plug with a developed coat system, 17 If not using a funnel, very carefull lift the plug out ofthe bottle, 18 Fill the botile with nutrient solution. For young plants with poorly developed roots, itis best toil tonearly the top ofthe battle. For older plants with larger raot systems, its best to fill to three-fourths full so the roots have access to a balance of aie and nutrient solution Very carefully reinsert the plug back into the botle ater refilling, Make sure the roots are submerged in the nutrient solution, Maintenance Most ofthe craps that are appropriate for hydroponic bottles are fast growing and may not require alot of maintenance during their growth cycle It is possible to grow longer-term crops that have multiple harvests, such as basil, a long as, the bottle is kept over half full with nutrient solution. Its a good practice to clean cout the bottle and refill with fresh nutrient solution every month to avaid nutrient imbalances in the solution, 48 DIY HYDROPONIC GARDENS‘Some crops, Ike the basil on the left, can send roo into the ruven sluton faster than the tient soluten is lost due to evapotransiaton These crops may not require a wicking strip. Other crops, ie the hetoom romaine lettuce onthe right, grow slowly and greatly benet froma wicking stip to assist with water utake Additional Options Decorations Besides chalk ar, Ike bottles with name Fate my hydro tags and burlap scarfs, Covering the neck ofthe bottle with scarf can help hide any potential algae growth on the surface ofthe s lug. | use a hot glue gun to secure burlap on the neck af Lighting Hydroponic bottle gardens are best suited for indoors. They can be placed on sill and receive natural ight or placed under a grow light. Hy ic bottles Lunder a small grow light area great adiltion to a work desk. Troubleshooting Plants are wilting ‘Cheek water level and add additional nutrient selution if water level is low. * vate perature or air temperature may be too high + Tey adding wicking strip if roots are net reaching nutrient selution. Plugs falling into bottle «© Teyswrapping plug in F burlap te create a snugger ft into neck of bottle + Place plug &0 more stone wool is exposed above battle opening Plants growing slowly or poorly ++ The crop selection may not be appropriate for hydroponic bottle garden, ‘+ Crop may not be recziving enough ligh ‘Use a fertilizer designed for HYDROPONIC GROWING SYSTEMS 49i= i —! — ‘ ‘ill Hi FLOATING RAFTS Floating raft hydroponics is a subtype of deep water culture [DWC] hydroponics. Most Ina oaing rat, he buoyant \raditional DWC systems hold the plant ata eet height and the nutrient solution is planting platform actually refilled to maintain contact withthe roots, Floating raft rydropanics allows the plant to feats onthe mutrent solute. remain in contact with the nutrient solution even as the water level drops. Floating raft systems require vey litle labor and maintenance. It is comman to not perform any + Suitable Locations: ‘maintenance on the system, not even adding water, from transplant to harvest when Indoors, outdoors, or growing lealy greens. greenhouse Size: Small ta large CROPS * Growing Media: Stone Floating raft hydroponics has been used for large flowering crops lke tomatoes but wool seedling cubes itis most appropriate for sharter crops with ower oxygen requirements in their root *+ Electrical: Ontiona zone, Traditional DWC systems are great for these larger flowering crops because they © Craps: Leaty greens create space for the roots to access air and they often use air pumps to heavily aerate and herbs the nutrient solution. Ivetrialed hundreds of cropsin floating rafts and'm amazed at the versatility of this rowing method. Thesidebar on the next page lists some crops that can be grown in floating rats, 50 DIY HYDROPONIC GARDENSColorful Sviss chard roots make chard a vey fun pant to {grow in a floating raft garden, t Basil Celery/celeriac Chives Bill Fennet ale Letuee Mustard greens: Nasturtium Sorrel Swiss chard Watercress ‘Not Optimal, but Possible Arugula Beets Carrots Cilantra ‘wart peppers ‘Dwarf tomato Marigolds Mint Parsley Radishes Spinach Strawberries LOCATIONS Floating raft gardens can be placed indoars, outdoors, or ina greenhouse. Outdoors they may have problems if not protected from rain. The rainwater wil dilute the nutrient solution and wash away the nutrients. Floating raft systems often hold alot cof water, and this might not be ideal indoors. if the system is not properly placed or built there could be potential for leaks and flooding indoors, Water is very heaw too, so floating raft systems should not be installed on floors with weight limitations, Floating raft systems benefit fram aeration, but for most crops itis not necessary, I've grown beautiful heads of lettuce ‘and basil in lloating raft gardens with na aeration in 90°F weather. These crops will benefit irom aeration, often with faster growth and reduced potential for root diseases and nutrient issues, but floating raft gardens can thrive without elacticity. There are affordable options for solar-powered air purnps if yu wish to keep your floating raft garden off-grid yet receive the benefits of aeration, SIZING Floating ralt systems can be dasigned for countertops or large fields. Very small floating rafts have the potential of getting unstable when supporting large, top-heavy crops, but they are eat for lealy greens. Large rats are capable of halding more ‘weight, but they should be handled with care when they are helding heavy mature crops because they can break under the weight when lifted aut ofthe reservoir. Most rats are made fram 2 « é-feat faam boards ar 4 » 8-foatfeam boards cut in hall Most floating raft gardens are thus rectangular with widths in increments of 2 feet and lengths in increments of 4 feet. Don't limited to rectangles, though; t foam boards can be cut to any shape. I've seen circular kiddie pools transformed into floating raft gardens with foam boards cut to size HYDROPONIC GROWING SYSTEMS StHOW TO BUILD A FLOATING RAFT GARDEN This design can be used a8 a madel for smaller or larger floating raft gardens, No malter the size there are several steps that will remain the same, including adding a liner and building ralts. You may wich to use an existing container, Uke a kiddie pool, a your reservair instead of building ane, in which case you can simply skip ahead to building the raft. This design worked areat for me but there are many ways ta add your awn spin to it painted this garden white because itis in a greenhouse that can get very hot and I wanted to do everything possible ta prevent the nutrient solution from getting extremely hot lover 95°F. You may wish to use a darker color if your garden wil be placed indoors or ina cooler environment. Reservoir Raft Tools 4 2x12" 8' umber 1 148" insulation Circular saw 2 1x2 «8 furring strip board foam board Paint roller and/or paintbrush ‘gal, White water-based latex 18 2 net pot Rafter square primer, sealer, and stain Level blocker [KILZ 2 LATEX! Optional Dit 1b, #10 x 214" exterior screws Tb, #8 114 exterior screws pots 16x 100" black 6 mil plastic sheeting 1 1 Small water pump with Safety Equipment Work gloves Eye protection 18-72 2 net pots ladditional planting density) Air pump with air stones venturi attachment Dril bits matching screws Staple gun and staples Heaw-duty scissors Razor blade knife Savihorses with clamps Tape measure Permanent marker 2" hale drill bit if using net pots) 88 seg R- on Scat Fron = : ‘52 DIY HYDROPONIC GARDENS“rough Tested ‘Assemble the Reservoir There are many ways to make reservoir assembly easiar, Most stores that sell lumber offer to cut the Lumber to specific dimensions if requested. Request the dimensions listed in the steps below to skip the work of culting the lumber and reduce the number of tools required. Its possible to buy prefabricated reservoirs for floating rafts; check tut the Pots and Trays section inthe Equipment chapter to see some of the options. 11 Wearing work gloves and eye protection, cut the four 2 12° «8 boards into the following lengths ne board into 4°" and 2°" segments Another board into 44" and 2°4" segments One board into 2" One board into 21" and 2'4" segments "and 24" segments Cuta 6" and a 24" segment fram each of the two 12°» 8 furring strips Final lengths and quantities of cut Lumber 2 12" «4'4" boards 2s 12" «24" boards 2x 12" «2'1" boards 12°41" strips 2 1x2" 24" strips The lumber ean 2 painted belore or after assembly 2 Laythe five 2 « 12° « 24" boards on a flat level surface. These boards will be the ‘base ofthe system. It is possible te build the reserveir frame without a base, but a solid wood bottom can add a lot of strength tothe structure. A base also hhelps reduce the chance of tears to the reservoir liner. Foam boards are also only used as.a base to protect the liner from the ground. 2. Setup one of the 2 12" x 44" boards on its side running along the long side of the base and one of the 2« 12" x 2°” boards on its side unning afong the short side of the base. The 4's" board should cover the end of the 2'1" board HYDROPONIC GROWING SYSTEMS $9‘See 3 and 5 for proper placement. Make sure they are square and level, Use two 214” screws to lasten the boards together, 4 Place the ether 2 12" <4" board along the ather long side of the base and en ta the outside end cf the 2'1" board trom step 3 using two 214" screws. fa 5 Place the remaining 2 12° x2'1" board on the last open side of the base between the two 4°" boards, Fasten into place with two 2%8" screws on each end 2° « 214" baseboards back into position. & Flip over the frame and place the five 2» Fasten the base to the frame with two 218" serews on each end of the 24" boards, Flip the frame back over ‘Adding the Liner is one of the most difficult steps in assembling the reservoir. tis, always best to have excess liner inside the reservoir instead of making the line very taut. A very taut liner may be stressed by the weight ofthe water and could rip, creating leaks. For this reservoir, | used two layers of 6 mil. plastic ta add some leak security. Fold the liner at the reservoir comers to get the liner flush with the frame. Once the plastic isin place, stapleit tothe rim of the reservoir frame. 9 Cutaway excess liner with scissors or a razor blade knife ‘5 DIY HYDROPONIC GARDENS10 The fursing strips are fastened along the rim of the reservoir te hide the ends of the nlastic liner and to held the liner securely n place. The furring strips are not completely necessary forthe functionality of the reservoir but they add alot aesthetically Fasten the furring strigs into Assemble the Raft Build be expensive Many af the prefabricated rats have hoes created for specie seedling plug size holes specitic to your 9 rafts have a fow other DIV raft is very easy. There are prefabricated rafts available, but they can net pots. Iris possible to create a DIY raft with waking net pots unnecessary, but for this floating raf The prefabricated use they make the pracess fa ders, that make them reall i'm using net pots cign features, like raised plug h rice to use, bul fer most applications a DIY rat is more than sufficient. 11 Cuta 24" section from the I" « 4x 8 foam board using a razor blade knife. Brush ‘away any loose foam pieces from the cut edge. 12 Place the 2» 4" section of foam board on sawhors with n inte plac 13 Most leaty greens are grovin with 8” spacing i ms. A2x Watt with 6° spacing holds 18 plants [3 rows of 6, Some greens, such as romaine and basil, grow upright and can be grown at a density of 36 plants per 2x 4' raft, Some growers go even higher density (72 plants or mare per 2. 4" rat] to grow crops ive baby kale, baby letluce, spring mixes, and some herbs, Measure and mark the DI raft onthe let and a prefabricated hycroporic raft con the right HYDROPONIC GROWING SYSTEMS $81“ 18 6 plant site positions on the att and drill 2” holes with the 2° hole dri bit Some hydroponic growers eave the reflective surface on their DN foam boards, but | prefer the laok of clean white boards in my clean white Test to ee ifthe raft fits n the raservoir: Make any

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