How to Grow Hydroponic Baby Bok Choy

Place the wading pool in a level location that gets at least six hours per day of sunlight. Some shade during the hottest part of the day will keep the bok choy growing and prevent it from going to seed too soon.

Trim the Styrofoam sheet so that it fits easily into the wading pool. It doesn’t need to fit down into the bottom, since this is the plant raft and it will float on top of the water when the system is complete.

Cut 2-inch holes in the Styrofoam. These should allow the net pots to reach the water without falling through. The hole saw is the easiest way to make these holes, but you can cut them out with the carpet knife if you prefer. Space them at least 3 inches apart so that the bok choy has room to grow.

Mix the nutrient solution according to the label directions, which will vary by brand. Many kinds of nutrient solutions are on the market, and they are readily available at hydroponics supply stores.

Add the nutrient solution to the pool. It should be at least four inches deep, but it is okay if it is deeper. It should not come so high up the sides that the raft won’t sit below the edge of the pool.

Fill each of the net pots with clay pellets. You find both the net pots and the clay pellets at hydroponic supply stores. Set a rock wool cube, also available from hydroponics suppliers, down into the clay pellets in each pot. Put seeds into the depression in the top of each rock wool cube and cover lightly with bits of rock wool.

Float the raft on the surface of the pool. Set one net pot in each hole in the raft. Be sure the rock wool cubes absorb some of the moisture. If the cubes remain dry, water each one two or three times daily until the seeds germinate and grow roots that can reach the nutrients. Harvest the baby bok choy when they have reached the size you wish, which often will take in as little as 30 days.