How to Build a Hydroponic System Out of Water Bottles

Drill a small hole in the lid. This will allow the yarn wick to pass through and carry liquid from the bottom part up to the plant.

Cut the top off of the bottle. Make the cut just before the bottle stops curving down to the sides, so you will be cutting in the middle of the curved shoulder of the bottle. You can use any size water bottle for this, or you can use a 1- or 2-liter soda bottle.

Cover all cut edges with duct tape, to keep your fingers from getting cut or nicked by the edge of the plastic. If you are going to make several units, you can color code the bottles if you wish, using a different color for each grower or type of plant.

Thread the yarn through the hole in the lid, leaving about half of it on each side. This is what draws the liquid from the bottle up so the plant can use it.

Place the top part of the bottle upside down into the opening on the lower half of the bottle. The bottom section will be the reservoir for the hydroponic nutrients, and the top part will hold the plant.

Fill the top section of the bottle with perlite. Weave the upper half of the yarn in and around the perlite as you fill the section.

Plant your seedling in the perlite and carefully cover its roots. Fill the lower part of the bottle with nutrient solution. Make sure the wick gets wet all the way up.