How to Build a Wick Hydroponic System

[@jamesc6284]

the energy this guy has makng this video is gold .. love how you explain everything in such great detail .. happy growing 😊

[@HydroHowTo]

😂 thank you! I try.

[@randywest2655]

Really good stuff here. I've been a traditional soil gardener for nearly 50 years but age and injuries are catching up to me. I've started experimenting with hydroponic and now I'm all in! Love the science and it's a lot easier physically for me.

[@HydroHowTo]

Thanks Randy! I completely understand. I have to be careful about my exposure to the sun (skin cancer). The science of it is so fun, and it’s cool getting to experiment with new ideas. Thanks again for watching, and I hope you keep on experimenting! Is there any kind of content I could create in the future that would be particularly helpful for ya?

[@randywest2655]

@@HydroHowTo The content is great. One question though, I've got lettuce on a raft in a Kratky system and I'm wondering if there's a big difference between liquid nutrients and the Master Blend mix.

[@HydroHowTo]

@@randywest2655 For growing lettuce, there’s not a big difference since leafy greens use the same nutrient profile for their entire growing cycle. Master Blend is a great choice. I use it sometimes myself.

[@jerryk7048]

Hey ! I have a suggestion to try ! While soaking your seeds for 12-16 hrs. Try it in a nice Dark cabinet ! I found most all my seed starts like the dark better to sprout 👍

[@HydroHowTo]

Interesting! I'll give it a shot.

[@sabianstringer2112]

Also u can add a little 3% Hydrogen Peroxide to water for sprouting....and a drop of Myco....

[@NH-us6bo]

This was so helpful. I'm empowered and inspired! Thank you

[@HydroHowTo]

I’m happy to hear that! ❤️

[@nml5536]

Your stuff is so good!! Really love your format, topics and structure. Thank you for this great content!

[@HydroHowTo]

Thank you so much! I enjoy making the content, and it's awesome to know that someone out there is enjoying it! Thanks again!

[@jamiebland1128]

Excellent video. Couldn’t find a follow up but seen in comments you said the radishes did well. Any changes you’d make next time to improve other than staggering seed planting? I only ask as looking to create for next growing season and want to get best start possible, thanks. And a suggestion, Would love to see more follow up videos of the plants growing and maybe even different vegetables to see what works and what doesn’t, as don’t seem to be many video available like yours.

[@HydroHowTo]

Hey! I would add a fill tube to the side. It’s handy for filling and for instantly seeing the water level in the reservoir. Thanks for watching!

[@marcgreco4993]

Been following for a while have good tips man keep em comming !

[@HydroHowTo]

Thanks so much for the kind words Marc! I’ll do my best. If there are things you’d like to see in the future, let me know. Thanks again!

[@CoG0ll0]

humility and professionalism that distinguishes you. congratulations for this video. My plants are growing thanks to your previous video of the Eq. blessings ✌️

[@HydroHowTo]

Thank you my friend. Happy to hear your plants are doing well!

[@tonyhouk9047]

Happy, Really great video and informative to me. One thing that may help others and myself is to watch your video and critique the volume of the sounds. I had to adjust it way down when you were drilling and back up to hear you talk. Thanks, Tony

[@HydroHowTo]

Oh good to know! Thanks for that!

[@BradyBradyson]

Thank you for a very informative and interesting video. Ive been wanting to grow carrots and this seems like a wonderful solution!

[@davidb7130]

I see you did this a couple of years ago. I was thinking of doing a winter project like this. How did the radishes turn out and what are your thoughts on this system now? Is there anything that you would do to improve it or do you even use this anymore? Thanks for your posts!

[@HydroHowTo]

@@davidb7130 the radishes turned out great! I would add a fill tube to make it easier to add nutrients as well as see the water level.

[@davidb7130]

@@HydroHowTo thanks for the response! I was also wondering if the smaller holes for the wick restricted the water flow And is it really necessary to seal the end of the wick? I would think a frayed wick would pull more water or am I mistaken?

[@Doreen-w4b]

Does the wicking bucket work well with auto flowers

[@HydroHowTo]

I've never tried it.

[@leftyz707]

Thanks dude love the content very infortive

[@HydroHowTo]

You’re welcome, and thank you for the kind words!

[@marvinbrock960]

If those wicks pull moisture from the inside material, wouldn’t melting the ends block that flow?

[@MFJLabs]

thanks for the excellent video. How long do you leave your air running?

[@HydroHowTo]

Thanks for watching! I left the air running all the time.

[@MFJLabs]

@@HydroHowTo ok. Thx

[@damionmunro]

Wonderful 👍 would this work with potatoes? I live in flats so lugging soil around ain’t appealing also perlite is manageable as long as kept wet plus the bonus you can reuse it. Probably try hilling as well.Thank you for sharing your setups gets the cogs going good man. 🤠

[@HydroHowTo]

Thanks for watching, and for the kind words! I’ve never tried it with potatoes but would love to know how it turns out for you!

[@patrickmcmanus5373]

Does the aeration throw out the pH of the nutrient solution?

[@darealrulezbreaker9493]

why do you need to aerate the water when the roots of the plants are in the loose gravel substrate above the water where there should be enough air getting to them through the gravel?

[@Exfog]

Brilliant idea - Excited to see how those radishes turn out! Curious - Probably not very important, but what size "drain holes" did you end up going with, and did the reservoir stay clean of perlite/vermiculite? Very cool...

[@HydroHowTo]

Thank you! I'm excited too!!!😁 The drain holes are around 1/8" in diameter. The reservoir is still totally clean of perlite/vermiculite. Thanks again, and can't wait to share the update with ya!

[@Exfog]

@@HydroHowTo - That's awesome dude. Keep up the great work, and thanks for the idea I might give that a run, and see if Rhubarb is doable....Maybe even go a little taller and risk some potatoes, lol. Long grows, but I think that opens up some opportunities for sure.

[@HydroHowTo]

@@Exfog I think potatoes and rhubarb are definitely doable! Can’t wait to know how it works out for you!

[@BigRift]

Very cool idea.

[@HydroHowTo]

Thanks for watching, and for the kind words!

[@mornkel2125]

For radishes this setup is a bit over the top, as you can grow radishes in a much simpler system like e.g. an Aerogarden; just take care that the bulbs grow above the net cup, then it will work perfectly fine, the radishes can be harvested after 25 to 30 days. However i do like your setup and i wonder whether it would work for potatoes?

[@HydroHowTo]

I haven’t tried it with potatoes but could possibly work if you mount as it grows

[@TheShleafHerder]

Beautiful 🎉

[@HydroHowTo]

Thank you for watching!

[@hkingstar]

Excellent

[@HydroHowTo]

Thanks for watching!!

[@RickZychinski]

is the perlite to vermiculite ratio by weight or volume

[@HydroHowTo]

I did it by volume, wasn’t very scientific 😂

[@arkrainflood]

some thoughts: just tie a knot in the rope instead of relying on friction fit. cotton WILL rot and stink. a test was done where a micofiber (polyester) towel was shown to be the best wicking material, just cut some strips and roll them sideways.

[@HydroHowTo]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. When did you perform this test with microfiber towels?

[@arkrainflood]

@@HydroHowTo it was a study i found on the web, forget where. compared cotton, polyester, as well as various soil mixtures

[@HydroHowTo]

@@arkrainflood Ah gotcha.

[@jonisolis9645]

@@HydroHowTo I just use acrylic yarn and/or strips of ply-craft felt for my wicks.

[@djredhareaus38]

Can you just use cotton rope instead

[@HydroHowTo]

Yep. Anything that wicks water will work, it may not last as long or be as efficient but it’s worth experimenting with!

[@J3Crosses575]

@Happy Hydro Farm would like to see an aero cloner build if possible TIA!

[@HydroHowTo]

Might be able to do that. Thanks for watching!

[@kevinbarnes133]

Thanks!

[@HydroHowTo]

Wow! Thanks Kevin!!

[@morganflaherty9552]

If you use a heat gun plastic cuts much easier just be careful not to overheat it

[@HydroHowTo]

That’s a great idea!

[@davidpayson9360]

Will this work on tomatoes

[@HydroHowTo]

I’ve never tried, but I doubt it would be the most ideal option.

[@brettblankenship3246]

Cool man

[@hhislandb.b.q3972]

Gracias!

[@HydroHowTo]

de nada!

[@jamesc6284]

hydro how to articulate.. jk 😂😂 really thou awesome job mang..

[@HydroHowTo]

😂😂 thanks for watching!

[@whyureadinmysht]

This video is very helpful but In the middle of video said bucket so many times, thought we missing buckets

[@HydroHowTo]

That doesn’t surprise me. I have a tendency to say bucket a lot when making these videos.

[@jamesc6284]

took the words right out my mouth ahahahahah😅😂😂😂

[@metalzonee]

🔥

[@AidITSupport]

Why bother with the aerator? It's not DWC where the roots can benefit from O2. It's not wicking air afterall, just water and nutrients.

[@MyTube4Utoo]

A cool setup.

[@abelromero4373]

Sir,,,,,, these are not food grade plast

[@loneeagle7154]

😂

[@maxgreen8520]

All that money spent for that. Did you ask yourself if the juice was going to be worth the squeeze?

[@HydroHowTo]

@@maxgreen8520 thanks for watching! It’s not for juice. Have a good one Colin.