How to Make Your Own Miniature Hydroponic Farm
Hydroponic farming is a type of farming that replaces soil with a specially prepared nutrient solution in order to make plants grow faster, larger and with more efficient use of space. You can farm hydroponically on a small scale at home, whether you have a greenhouse or only a little extra space in one of your rooms. A miniature hydroponic farm requires no complex machinery. You can purchase the necessary parts, set it up and begin gardening all on the same day. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Plastic tray, 1 foot deep, 2 to 3 feet wide, and 5 to 10 feet long
- Drill
- Table large enough to hold the tray
- Flexible vinyl tube, 2 feet long and ¼ inch wide
- Silicon caulk
- Caulking gun
- 2 5-gallon buckets with lids
- Small table, 1 foot taller than the larger table
- 1/4-inch drip line, 2 feet longer than the tray
- ¼ -nch terminal dripper
- Growing medium such as sand, gravel or perlite
Instructions
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1
Drill a ¼-inch hole in the bottom of one of the short sides of the tray. Mark this side of the tray "Side A." Drill another ¼-inch hole in the other short side of the tray, but place this one 1 inch below the rim of the tray. Mark this side of the tray "Side B."
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2
Place the tray on the larger table. Insert one of the flexible tubes ½ inch into the hole in Side A. Apply silicon caulk all around the joint between the tube and the tray and allow it to dry. Drill a ¼-inch hole in the lid of one of the 5-gallon buckets. Insert the free end of the tube from Side A ½ inch into the hole in the top of the bucket.
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3
Set the smaller table next to Side B of the tray. Drill a ¼-inch hole in the lid of the second bucket. Drill another into the side, near the bottom. Set the bucket on top of the table.
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4
Insert one end of the drip tube ½ inch into the hole near the bottom of the bucket. Insert the other into the hole in the tray on Side B. Seal both joints with caulk.
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5
Insert the end of the tube in Side B of the tray into the dripper. Fill the tray with the growing medium, carefully burying the drip line under 1 inch of it.
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6
Mix up the nutrient solution according to its instructions. Pour it into the bucket next to Side B. Put the lid on the bucket. Your miniature hydroponics farm is now ready to use.
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Tips & Warnings
The lower bucket collects the used nutrient solution after it drains out of the growing medium. This allows you to reuse it and save money on new hydroponic nutrients. However, change it for a new mixture every two weeks, to prevent a harmful buildup of salts.
