1. Home-Plus Hydroponics
Everything you wanted to know
about making a
home hydroponics system,
plus a little more.
Adams-Friendship High School
Becky Grabarski
Agricultural Education Instructor/FFA Advisor

2. What is hydroponics?
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions instead of soil
Faster growth rate
Less bugs and diseases
Better taste
Less space
Better nutrition
No weeds

3. Home-Plus Hydroponics
Plant requirements
types of hydroponics systems
equipment and supplies
nutrient and lighting requirements
tour of the AFHS Ag Facility
Homemade systems
Questions

4. Home-Plus Hydroponics
Plant requirements
types of hydroponics systems
equipment and supplies
nutrient and lighting requirements
tour of the AFHS Ag Facility
Homemade systems
Questions

5. Plant Requirements Nutrients C. HOPKN’S CaFe Mg C, H, O needed most
Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen come from Water and Air
N,P,K, Ca, S, & Mg (Macronutrients)
need in large quantities
B, Mn, Mo, Fe, Cl, Zn & Cu (Micronutrients)
Need in small quantities
Micro and Macronutrients must be supplied.
Normally through soil and/or fertilizer

6. Plant Requirements pH Plants like the pH level of 5.8-6.8
6.5 is the best
Improper pH levels
causes nutrients to be
unavailable
Also, the natural tendency is for the pH to creep up over time, so it is your natural tendency to adjust the pH down to the low end of the range when you make an adjustment.

7. Plant Requirements Lighting Temperature Structure
Need light to carryout photosynthesis to make food
Temperature
Water will cool the plant through transpiration
maximum growth occurs when day temperatures are about 10 to 15°F higher than the night temperatures
Structure
- Someway to hold itself up (usually soil)

8. Home-Plus Hydroponics
Plant requirements
types of hydroponics systems
equipment and supplies
nutrient and lighting requirements
tour of the AFHS Ag Facility
Homemade systems
Questions

9. Types of systems Wick Water Culture Ebb and Flow Drip
N.F.T. (Nutrient Film Technique)
Aeroponic  

10. Types of systems Wick simplest type
Passive system (no electrical pump)
nutrient solution is drawn into the growing medium from the reservoir with a wick
Disadvantage is large plants may need more water/nutrient solution than the wick(s) can supply it.

11. Types of systems Water Culture Platform that holds the plants
floats directly on the nutrient solution
air pump supplies oxygen to the roots of the plants
Good for leaf lettuce (Very few other plants)
doesn't work well with large plants or with long-term plants

12. Types of systems Ebb and Flow
by temporarily  flooding the grow tray with nutrient solution
draining the solution back into the reservoir
submerged pump that is connected to a timer. 
grow tray can be filled with Grow Rocks, gravel or granular Rockwool
vulnerability to power outages as well as pump and timer failures

13. Types of systems-School
Ebb and Flow
-3 times a day for .5 hour
-hydrotrons/geolites
-rockwool cubes

14. Types of systems Drip most widely used type
nutrient solution is dripped onto the base of each plant by a small drip line
Recovery Drip System - excess nutrient solution that runs off is collected back
recovery system can have large shifts in the pH and nutrient strength (must check)

15. Types of systems-School
Drip
Nutrients dripped into rockwool blocks
Recovery Drip System

16. Types of systems constant flow of nutrient solution
N.F.T. (Nutrient Film Technique)
constant flow of nutrient solution
no timer required for the submersible pump
nutrient solution is pumped into the growing tray (usually a tube)
flows over the roots of the plants
drains back into the reservoir
plant is supported in a small plastic basket
roots dangling into the nutrient solution
very susceptible to power outages and pump failures

17. Types of systems-School
N.F.T. (Nutrient Film Technique)
AQUAPONICS – Grown plants with “Fish Water”
Plan
Set up a NFT system that will run off the 300 gallon fish tank
Submersible pump will pump water through 2-3” PVC pipe
Water will exit PVC to the tank
Will filter water and provide nutrients to the plants

18. Types of systems Aeroponic
most high-tech type of hydroponics gardening
roots hang in the air and are misted with nutrient solution
short cycle timer controls the nutrient pump

19. Types of systems-School
Aeroponic
Adjusts to amount of roots
Recycles nutrients

20. Home-Plus Hydroponics
Plant requirements
types of hydroponics systems
equipment and supplies
nutrient and lighting requirements
tour of the AFHS Ag Facility
Homemade systems
Questions

21. Supplies CocoTek Perlite Rockwool
product is designed to sit inside plastic baskets and prevent media from falling through
Perlite
volcanic glass that has a relatively high water content
Rockwool
molten rock spun into fibers like cotton candy
feel like a sponge and will not breakdown
used for starting cuttings or seeds or growing out
Provide structure for roots

22. Supplies
Rockwool
*Growing Blocks are used for small plants in a flood / drain tray
*Multiblocks are used for seedlings and cuttings
Granulated for filling pots
Hugo Blocks for larger plants, best with a drip system
Slabs for large plants watered by drip irrigation.
Grow cubes in a pot

23. Supplies Hydroton Growing Media Vermiculite Gravel
Provides structure for the roots
Vermiculite
another superheated mineral that is expanded into light pebbles
holds more water than perlite and has a natural "wicking" property
Gravel
Gravel is inexpensive
easy to keep clean
drains well
But, it is heavy

24. Supplies Vine clips Plastic net pots Drip emitter
used tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and other tall plants
attach plants to strings or trellis support wires
Plastic net pots
allow root development and promote oxygen transfer
Drip emitter
Drips nutrient solution to plants

25. Equipment Ec meter pH meter Timers Measures nutrients in water
Measures pH levels
Timers
Controls lights and pumps

26. Equipment Submersible pump Aerator/air stone
Used to circulate the nutrients solution
Aerator/air stone
Adds air to nutrient solution
Prevents algae build up

27. Home-Plus Hydroponics
Plant requirements
types of hydroponics systems
equipment and supplies
nutrient and lighting requirements
tour of the AFHS Ag Facility
Homemade systems
Questions

28. Nutrients Nutrient solutions mostly in inorganic and ionic form.
Numerous 'recipes' for hydroponics solutions are available.
Plants deplete specific nutrients more rapidly than others
Care is required not to allow salt concentrations to become too high, nutrients to become too depleted, or pH to wander far from the desired value
Change reservoir every three weeks

29. Nutrients Nutrient solutions Lots of choices on the internet
Grow formulas
Bloom formulas
Homemade recipes
Miracle-Gro
The main things to remember…
C.HOPKN’S CaFe Mg
Keep pH in check

30. Lighting
Before using garden grow lights, you should consider a few things, such as...
The heat they produce
The electricity they use
How to be safe with both electricity AND water in your garden
three types of lights
fluorescent grow lights
metal halide (MH) grow lights
high pressure sodium (HPS) grow lights

31. Lighting Fluorescent Grow Lights used for clones and seedlings
vegetative stage
need to use more of them to keep the growth nice and healthy
Plants grown under fluorescent lights usually do O.K. as long as you keep them within 24 inches from the bulb
When it comes time to force flowering
Must give a few hours of high pressure sodium light each day for two or three days before they can handle the much brighter light (which is required for good fruiting/flowering)

32. Lighting Metal Halide Grow Lights
used for the vegetative stage of plant growth
must be kept 12 to 18 inches from the bulb or they will burn
will support nice, healthy plant growth up to 24 inches or so
they will reach this height much more quickly than with fluorescents
Plants do not need to be "broken in" to sodium light when grown first under metal halide light

33. Lighting High Pressure Sodium Grow Lights
lights are used for the flowering stage of growth
must keep the plant tops 12 to 18 inches from this light, also, or they will burn
flowering stage require much more light to develop properly

34. Lighting
Expensive
18 hours of light
Can be set on a timer

35. Home-Plus Hydroponics
Plant requirements
types of hydroponics systems
equipment and supplies
nutrient and lighting requirements
tour of the AFHS Ag Facility
Homemade systems
Questions

36. Home-Plus Hydroponics
Plant requirements
types of hydroponics systems
equipment and supplies
nutrient and lighting requirements
tour of the AFHS Ag Facility
Homemade systems
Questions

37. Homemade Hydroponics Systems
WICK, RAFT, BUBBLER SYSTEMS

38. Homemade Hydroponics Systems
WICK
consists of…
a plastic nursery pot
some wood chips, perlite, pea gravel, etc
plastic bucket (Food Grade)
a wick (old cotton t-shirt) 2” wide

39. Homemade Hydroponics Systems
WICK
-Put 2 or 3 wicks in the medium, out the holes in the bottom of the pot to the bottom of the bucket.
Add nutrient to the bucket
Plant some seed touching one of the wicks and watch it grow.
Any number of things can be substituted for the pot and bucket shown above.

40. Homemade Hydroponics Systems
RAFT SYSTEM
a floating part (usually Styrofoam)
floats on a container of nutrient with the plant roots extending downward through a small hole or cup
Can use
5 gallon bucket
childs swimming pool
Pond?

41. Homemade Hydroponics Systems
RAFT SYSTEM
aerator is necessary to maintain oxygen levels
holes are 9/16th inch
cotton balls inserted and extends slightly below to act as a wick
Cups filled with woodchips or coarse saw dust

42. Bubbler System Bubbler system probably the most effective
when considering simplicity with the variety of plants
that can be successfully grown. Material list 2 buckets with 1 lid. Most any size will do. 1 Aquarium aerator 4 feet of 3/16th inch vinyl tubing or whatever length necessary to attach the Aerator from a protected place to the bucket. 2 1/2 feet of 1/4 inch black vinyl tubing 2 feet of 3/8th inch vinyl tubing 22 inches of 1/2 inch thinwall PVC pipe 28 inches of 1/2 inch thinwall PVC pipe wood chips or other growing medium The above measurements are based on using 5 gallon buckets. Adjust for different sizes.

43. Bubbler System Bubbler system probably the most effective
when considering simplicity with the variety of plants
that can be successfully grown. Material list 2 buckets with 1 lid. Most any size will do. 1 Aquarium aerator 4 feet of 3/16th inch vinyl tubing or whatever length necessary to attach the Aerator from a protected place to the bucket. 2 1/2 feet of 1/4 inch black vinyl tubing 2 feet of 3/8th inch vinyl tubing 22 inches of 1/2 inch thinwall PVC pipe 28 inches of 1/2 inch thinwall PVC pipe wood chips or other growing medium The above measurements are based on using 5 gallon buckets. Adjust for different sizes.

44. Bubbler System
The above measurements are based on using 5 gallon buckets. Adjust for different sizes
Using heat, bend a 90 degree angle in about 1/2 inch of the 3/16th inch vinyl tube. Cut the bent tube to 1/4 inch long.
Drill a 3/16th inch hole about 1 1/2 inches up the 3/8th inch vinyl tube. Place the 1/4th inch end into the hole and seal with hot glue
Drill a series of holes in the lid and bottom of one of the buckets The size and placement of the holes is not important except for two 7/8th inch holes in each that must line up when fitted together.

45. Bubbler System Cut 22 and 28 inch pieces of 1/2 inch PVC pipe.
Cut a notch in the bottom to allow water to enter the pipe.
Put the buckets together where the 7/8th inch holes line up.
Slide the PVC pipes into the 7/8th inch holes all the way to the bottom of the bucket.
Slip the 3/16th and 3/8th tubes into the 22 inch PVC pipe as far as they will go. There should be 2 inches of the 3/8 tube above the PVC.
Drill or punch 4 or 5 holes into the 1/4th inch black tube. Insert about 1 inch of the black tube inside the 3/8th inch tube.

46. Bubbler System
The black tube is used above the wood chips to prevent algae growth inside the tube.
The 28 inch PVC pipe will be above the top of the bucket and will be used to insert a dip stick to measure nutrient level. (Any clear tube placed outside the bucket to read the nutrient level will grow algae inside.)
Attach the aerator to the 3/16th inch tube, place wood chips or other medium above the clear vinyl tube, add nutrient to the bottom bucket, plug in the aerator, and it is ready to go.
The nutrient should drip and occasionally squirt out the holes in the black tube.

47. Easy Wick System You need Empty 2 liter soda bottle Wick Fertilizer
Plant
lemon or lemon juice
baking soda
Optional: pH test kit or litmus paper,
Filler (straw, Lego blocks, shredded fabric, shredded paper)

48. Easy Wick System How to make Cut top off soda bottle
put back in the bottle up side down
Adjust water for pH
add wicks
Add nutrient to water
Add filler material
½ vermiculite
½ perlite

49. Homemade Aeroponics Homemade Aeroponic system Supplies Set up
5 gallon bucket
an aquarium water pump
some old garden hose or tubing
Set up
pump submersed in a few inches of nutrient solution
tubing (or hose) has several 1/16 inch holes drilled into it
tubing is positioned to coil around the container from bottom to top
A 200 gph aquarium pump works well for this.

50. Homemade Aeroponics The lid Issues usually be cut for netted pot
Nets either filled with expanded clay pellets or containing a rockwool block.
Issues
may need to be hand watered until the roots begin to hang
biggest disadvantage to this homemade aeroponics system is the small nutrient reservoir
The smaller the reservoir, the more quickly the solution will become unhealthy for the plants. Biggest problem with homemade aeroponics systems clogging spray emitters

51. Hints
dark color tote to keep light out of the nutrient solution...this will help prevent the growth of algae
Dark color hoses to prevent algae growth

52. Adjusting pH buy a little pH test kit/ litmus paper-
If the pH is over 7:
add ½ squeezed lemon per gallon water.
If the pH is 5 or lower (unusual)
add 1 tsp baking soda.

53. What we have learned so far…
Big Door open too cold
pH changes rapidly
No Bugs – No fertilization
Lights do burn plants
Change water solution – 3 weeks

54. Internet Help

55. Internet Help http://members.mailaka.net/norm34/building.html
Easiest-Homemade-Hydroponics-System&id= /?

56. Home-Plus Hydroponics
Plant requirements
types of hydroponics systems
equipment and supplies
nutrient and lighting requirements
tour of the AFHS Ag Facility
Homemade systems
Questions

57. Home-Plus Hydroponics?

58. Agricultural Education Instructor
Home-Plus Hydroponics
Becky Grabarski
Agricultural Education Instructor
FFA Advisor
201 W. 6th Street
Friendship, WI 53934
ext 110