Is Small-Scale Hydroponic Gardening Expensive?

The Basics

• Growing plants without using any soil is known as hydroponics. The plants depend completely on the water to provide them with everything they need. As a result, the plants grow more quickly, since they don’t have to expend any energy on seeking out nutrients. Many companies manufacture hydroponic systems that can cost thousands of dollars, but you can make small systems at home out of readily available and inexpensive materials.

The Setup

• Hydroponic gardening at its most basic doesn’t require the use of electricity, pumps or any other kind of automation. To make a simple hand-fed system, plant in a bucket filled with an inert medium such as perlite or silica stones. Pour liquid nutrients through it three times per day, increasing to four times a day if the weather is hot. Make sure the excess can run out through holes in the bottom. Another easy and affordable system requires a 32-quart or larger storage tote or even a recycled foam container filled with liquid nutrients. Suspend the plants through holes in the top, and use an aquarium pump and an air stone to add oxygen to the water around the clock.

Nutrients

• You must provide all hydroponic plants with a full range of nutrients, since the plants are completely dependent on whatever you give them. Hydroponic stores sell a variety of nutrient concentrates to cover just about any need, but some of these can get expensive. For basic gardening, you can make your own affordable nutrients by mixing 2 teaspoons of a complete, water-soluble fertilizer with 1 teaspoon of Epsom salts to each gallon of water. Mix it as you need it, since the solution may lose nutrients over time.

Light

• Plants grown indoors will require a light source. Often a window that gets at least six hours a day of bright sunlight will be enough, but for larger gardens or in situations lacking enough natural light, artificial light is needed. If you’re growing lettuce, spinach and other greens, a 4-foot fluorescent shop light hung directly over the plants and just a few inches above them is all you need. If you’re growing fruit or any kind of flowering plants, you’ll need to use a full-spectrum grow light instead. Attach the light to a timer so that it’s on 16 hours out of every 24.