Do you dream of having your own hydroponics home garden, where you can grow the most beautiful plants around, but have problems affording one of those high tech hydroponic systems? If you have done any research on the Internet, you probably noticed that a complete system can be quite expensive! The truth is, those expensive hydroponic systems are for the professional. You are most likely not a professional yet, so why do you need a professional system?
Hydroponics is a learning process. When your parents got you your first car, did they get you the expensive sports car to learn in? Or, did they get you a car that was so crappy, you would rather not mention that you even drove it? I’m willing to bet that most of us got the crappy car to learn in! The same theory applies to a hydroponics home garden! You should get a cheap system, which in no way means a crappy system – just to clear that up – so you can practice before you go out and spend the bucks on the Ferrari of hydroponics systems!
Below, I will point you in the direction of some pretty cheap hydroponic systems, as well as tell you how you can create your own hydroponics system. Obviously, creating your own would be the cheapest way to go, but you will have to trade your time for the cash that you would spend if you bought an already assembled system. I personally recommend buying an already assembled system because you will know for sure that it works, but its 100% your choice!
Already Assembled Systems
Black Bucket Drip Hydroponics System
This was the very first type of hydroponic systems that I purchased. The one I bought was a little bit more expensive because it included nutrients (I will direct you to cheap nutrients later in this post).
The Black Bucket Drip System is a very effective way to grow really nice sized plants. It uses drip irrigation to provide the plants with the nutrient/water mix. It doesn’t require an outrageous amount of electricity, because the only thing you will need to plug in is the water pump (included with the system).
This system includes everything that you need to get started except for a grow light and nutrients. It includes the drip ring with the pumping column, the air pump, the air tubing, and a growing medium (hydroton).
Hydrofarm Emily’s Garden System
This system is a little more expensive than the drip bucket system, but you will be able to grow more plants at once. It uses a pump irrigation system, and includes everything you need to get started, including a PH test kit and a water level indicator. Again, this is perfect for the beginner who doesn’t want to spend tons of cash on an expensive hydroponics system
Hydroponic Nutrients
As I mentioned in the post titled: Great Hydroponic Nutrients = Great Hydroponic Plants, the nutrients you use will play a major role in the health of your plants. It is your plants food! In organic gardens, the nutrients are absorbed by the roots from the soil, but in hydroponics, it is absorbed directly by the roots.
Here is my suggestion: Buy a hydroponics nutrient starter kit! There will be no guessing as to what you need to buy, and since the different elements of the kit are designed to work together, you will have greater success. Once you begin to understand nutrients, you can buy the stuff separately, but it would be smart to start out with a kit!
- Without a doubt, this is a very very good kit. It includes every single nutrient that your plant will ever need. They call it the Recipe For Success because it will truly bring you a successful hydroponics home garden experience!
- If you have no idea how to use hydroponics nutrient solutions, do not worry! This kit comes with directions as well as a mixing chart, so you can not fail! Just follow the directions, and before you know it, you will have beautiful plants to show off to all of your friends and family!
Grow Lights
Grow lights are a very necessary piece of your hydroponics home garden. Since you will be most likely growing your plants inside, you will need to simulate sunlight to give to your plants. The main problem with this is that most grow lights are A) Expensive to buy – and – B) Not very environmental. Your electricity bill will definitely take a hit if you aren’t smart about it. I have a great solution for you though!
- The Environmental 12 Volt DC LED Grow Light
Running off of a 12 Volt DC power source, you will not notice a big change in your electricity bill at all, and using LED lights requires less energy, therefore, putting less of a hurt on the environment. When you hang it over your plants, you wont have to worry about burning any of the leaves, and the light will be evenly spread out over all of your plants!
