How to make a hydroponic setup their own hands - assembly instructions video

hydroponics, or growing plants without land, more and more interested in not only the innovators of farmers, but also of ordinary urban residents, who wish to diversify their menus with fresh herbs and vegetables.This technology is perfectly suited to the limited space of an apartment or a small house, so it does not require large flowerpots, no dirt from the ground and the crop of hydroponic plants above obtained with conventional cultivation methods.Installation, a kind of mini-garden, you can buy in of specialized companies for the price of 5 thousand. Rubles, but you can make your own hands.

Most hydroponic systems operate on one of the principles:

• tidal, when plant roots for a short time immersed in water or are flooded it, and the rest of the "breathing»,
• capillary irrigation, when the roots are immersed insubstrate was impregnated with a nutrient solution,
• drip irrigation, in which the solution is fed through a thin tube to the roots of plants, and its excess drain through drainage holes.

Materials and tools

for self-assembly of the easiest hydroponic systems require:

• large tank of nutrient solution.It must necessarily be opaque, so that the water is not blooming, stable and have tightly closing cover plate.As such a tank can be used on food containers, large plastic containers.The volume can be selected based on their that at each plant must account for about 3.2 liters of circulating fluid.Optimum capacity - 30-50 liters.If the tank transmits light, it is possible to paste over the outside of the foil or paint over dark paint.
• pots for plants.Ideal mesh containers for growing seedlings, you can use a small flower pots with plenty of holes at the bottom.Their height should be less than the height of the tank solution.Learn more about them you can read in the article about vertical gardening.
• aquarium air pump for dual-oxygenation of the nutrient solution.The tubes from the pump, it is desirable to replace silicon.You also need a stone to the air bubbles are broken into smaller ones.It must be new, to prevent water contamination by foreign bacteria.
• substrate for plants.They can serve as a special filler "Agros" or normal mineral wool, such as Rockwool, coconut fiber, expanded clay or perlite.
• complex fertilizer or a set of concentrates for the preparation of the nutrient solution.
• sharp stationery knife, sandpaper the edges for processing, ruler or measuring tape.

assembly design

• in the lid of the tank for the solution are cut holes for pots with a slightly smaller plants than the top of the pot.They must be completely immersed in the tank, but do not fall into it.The distance between the pots depends on the plant: for salad greens and only 10 cm for cucumbers and strawberries - 15 cm
• side cover cut out holes for the pump hose, and at the bottom of the container is placed stones..
• defended capacity is filled with water by 2/3, the compressor starts to check.The unit itself is better positioned nearby on a stable stand or mounted on the tank.
• pots completely filled with mineral wool, soaked with water and inserted into the cover.Buck closed.The bottom of the pots should be submerged in water.
• pot plants seeds 2-3 pieces or planted seedlings.To create the greenhouse effect, they can be covered from top to fit the diameter of the plastic cups.
• When the seeds have begun to germinate in water is added to the nutrient solution according to the instructions.The solution must be refilled periodically, as it evaporates and is consumed on the growth of plants.Pour the solution concentration is typically 10-15 times smaller than the original.
• Compressor to include the whole day or at least 3-4 hours a day.Periodically switch conveniently organize with the help of electro-mechanical timer, which is used in the aquarium.

Tips

• For the first experiments with hydroponics is better to choose less demanding care fast-growing plants.Suit various kinds of salads, spicy herbs (dill, parsley, basil), cucumbers, strawberries.Tomatoes, peppers and zucchini need a larger container and props.
• To prevent the growth of bacteria that lead to the flowering of the solution, water is better to take bottled or filtered.The very capacity can be pre-treated with a solution of bleach, spreading 1 tbsp.spoon on 10 liters of water and poured it on for half an hour in a closed tank.
• system must be placed away from heat sources and sunlight.
• optimal solution temperature - 25-30 degrees.If the ambient temperature is lower, you can use aquarium heaters.
• crop plants hydroponically will be higher if arrange artificial lighting using daylight dump.
• As a nutrient solution can be used for complex fertilizer plant, diluted at the rate of 1-2 tbsp.spoons to 10 liters of water.Initially fill phosphate and potash fertilizers, then - nitrogen and potash, and in the end - again phosphorus.