Hydroponics Dutch Bucket Breakdown & How-To

Our last season of growing with our Harbor Freight 10x12 greenhouse has been incredible, to say the least. We have since received many requests on how to set up the greenhouse, and more specifically, how to build the Dutch buckets that we used in our setup. Please comment with any questions!
Instagram: @airborne.productions
Product links:
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Rubber Grommets:
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Mesh Bags:
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Submersible Pump:
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Pump Timer:
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Exhaust Fan:
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Fan Thermostat:
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Perlite:
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Square Buckets:
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Please subscribe for more videos! Thank you and enjoy.

[@justeenwade9601]

The weed pun made me 😂

[@PhilippinesFarmLife]

Thank you. That was the simplest description and the lowest cost Hydroponic system set Up I have seen. We modify a few things here by using RICE HULLS and manually add Hydroponic Solution to our buckets several times a day. It only takes a few minutes. Watching from the Philippines and sharing with everyone I know. Thanks again 😊

[@vinstinct]

These are really good videos. Very well thought out.

[@lilysgarden9810]

Excellent! very well organized presentation of procedure and easy to follow compared to many others I’ve watched.

[@luisweast]

Thanks for this awesome video, I'm gonna give this a go since I got some spare time now

[@gateway8833]

I make grow light, usually for friends that want to grow food during winter, at least that’s what they tell me, I love the Weed reference.

[@justinsmudde2554]

Nice setup Jake. Great job explaining it

[@MrCaptaintrips54]

Thanks, you made it very clear.

[@RebuildRex]

Congratulations on 1k subs!!!

[@kenttalley5482]

Your quality is great man🤙👍🤛keep up the good work

[@JeremyB8419]

Laughed so hard I coughed at the weed pun

[@FormulaJake]

Then it was all worth it 😂

[@curtisprest4745]

Me too I had to listen again 🤣

[@willdwyer6782]

Most people think dandelions are weeds, but they're actually edible and the roots are medicinal.

[@cryptolegend6803]

Will Dwyer I feed to my livestock and everyone wants to know what my secret is. Dandelion.

[@justinomar9210]

@@willdwyer6782 there's no such thing as a weed tbh

[@dennisshoemaker2789]

Another excellent video. Thanks for sharing. I hope you continue sharing your greenhouse adventures. AATW!

[@dennisshoemaker2789]

Follow up video... weed? :) Also a black water container with a lid to block light from getting will reduce or eliminate algae. AATW!

[@rgbking488]

​@@dennisshoemaker2789 hooah, that's a good idea....was thinking the same for water treatment. Although, they probably like having Picasso around now 😂

[@ianadiantopriadi]

Nice video.. very informative. Thank you

[@snehagaikwad6796]

Hi... Nice video, very informative. I had couple of questions. 1. Can we make a layers inside our bucket and still reuse the substrates? 2. Which is the best substrate for Dutch bucket system according to you? 3. How Does the siphon in Dutch bucket works? 4. What is the ideal size for a dutch bucket? How many liters? Thank you.

[@sbarronmd]

very helpful, good job

[@DianeLStyma]

Totally made sense you took it apart to teach us! The other guy showing his parts but I was so lost!?

[@SodaCityWerx]

I have lava rock in mine. Is there a specific place to run my water line? Atm I attached it to run through the rock wool so it drains to the roots as my lava rock doesnt hold water that great

[@daved5023]

Good video .. very cool system

[@danielgonzalez-yp7hi]

Cool, thank you

[@someryl2067]

Great video! A couple of questions. Can I put solar panels (maybe 2) to help with cost? Is there a way I can reach you to discuss the details? I LOVE the set up y’all have & I would like to replicate everything. I’m the handy one in the house, my husband does not know how to operate a drill. I have built LEGO tables, etc. from scratch. Thank you!!

[@AlistairEwingforensic-services]

I heard it through the grapevine not to mix the A & B in the same pot, A in the water, then mix then B.

[@nasimessus5213]

Hello, I want to congratulate you for your explanation, I take the opportunity to ask you how often and for how long do you irrigate the Dutch buckets? I want to plant tomatoes in them. Thanks

[@harrypalmer2397]

Have you compared performance of the perlite filled buckets to a bucket containing just solution up to the bottom of a net pot? Pros and cons?

[@md.mahfuzalam28]

Very nice video....!!! Plz can u tell me, how much litter's needed, nutrients mixing water, one tomatoes plants..??? ( Start to end of harvesting ) Plz answer me. I waiting ur answer. Thanks

[@dheeraj9521]

Is it necessary to add or provide a timer to the drip system , Can't we simply control the drip flow using valve or flow controller and make the nutrient supply 24x7 in drops...

[@RIPRUSTYTHANKSFORTHELAUGHS]

Came for the hydropics but stayed cuz a the dog 😂👍❤️🇺🇸✌️❤️🇺🇸

[@kaletsugas]

Hi is it okay to use smaller containers? like 4liter plastic cans for paints? Ill be growing tomatoes and a smaller plastic container will use lesser perlite.

[@karanbhardwaj3952]

capacity of nutreint tank and number of buckets used? basically how much volume of water is present in the nutrient tank in ratio to the volume of buckets?

[@letycampos9609]

Thank you so much, very informative but can you tell me where to buy the the green house, nutrients and mesh bags please, thanks again

[@FormulaJake]

We bought the greenhouse from Harbor Freight (use a coupon and get it for $500), and all of the other components can be found in the description 👍🏼

[@petel1010]

The reservoir, is it filled with clean water prior to adding nutrients?

[@tonyfoxxbuilds1920]

What kind of nutrients do you use? I've seen comments saying hydroponics grow terrible tasting produce then others saying they are great with right nutrient solutions and pH

[@villanuevaruth21]

WOW, VERY nice idea, can I copy it. very simple.

[@smashimone]

Do you run the pump 24/7 with your on/off cycle or only during the daylight hours?

[@tricia19632004]

Do you have your spreadsheet avl on pdf or similar form that I could download? Or even print screen. Also, how did the fish work out for you?

[@markhilliersupportstaff7467]

Is the pearlite reusable for more plants

[@DONALDWBASS2]

Do you have a preferred company for your nutrient solution? Thanks in advance!

[@SnifterRoux]

What size is the drip line and the other poly pipe? Also is that ID or OD?

[@user-cp1cc4bx6o]

Does this greenhouse protect my plants from the hot weather?

[@johnrenas5754]

where do u buy your perlite and what grade?also i found one place that sells it very cheep but is industrial grade.Is it usable nd what grade fine or course? J R

[@lisawhitaker8959]

How do i hook up the drip system

[@livinglifeonlifesterms2450]

Cool dog man!! Thanks for showing your set up. Do you not rinse perlite in between grows?

[@FormulaJake]

Thanks brotha! We do, but I was just showing the assembly of the bucket using a bag from the last grow we did. I should have clarified!

[@l33twarez74]

Enjoyed the video! I'm trying to set up a dutch bucket system. What exactly are you using for the supply line and drip lines? How do you attach the drip line to the supply line? I checked your Harbor Freight video too, btw.

[@TrollHunterxXx]

Most likely 1/2 poly tubing or that floraflex poly tubing that’s white .. with 1/4 drip line

[@shawnt4575]

Do you need to remove the fish when adding nutrients? I thought that was a great idea to control algae.

[@sweetness6048]

There is no fish

[@JessSuave]

What is the purpose of running it intermittently vs continually? I would think the water in the buckets would maintain level at the overflow point regardless. Am about to hook up a dutch bucket setup to my aquaponics system and it runs all the time, but now I'm wondering if there's a reason I shouldn't do that.

[@FormulaJake]

I guess the best reason I can think of is to disperse the nutrient flow throughout the week until more nutrients are added, but I'm sure there are more reasons 👍🏼 we just went with what we were advised!

[@yuhogan]

What is the size of the robber ring to hold your 1/2 inch of PVC pipe? When you drill a hole on the bucket, do you use the 1/2 inch drill bit?

[@FormulaJake]

1/2 inch is the inside dimension, so we drilled the holes larger (around 3/4 inch but I do not recall). The rubber grommets are in the description!

[@archmasterone]

Just a tip. I lube the pvc pipe with liquid KY personal lubricant. It helps squeeze the tight fitting pipe in the grommet. I keep a bottle of KY in the greenhouse just in case the need pops up.

[@rgbking488]

What's popping up in the greenhouse for the lubricant?

[@FormulaJake]

😏

[@As-perathessGr]

I want to ask you if you grow different plants what nutrition do you gone them. The same amounts?

[@FormulaJake]

Yes, we use the same nutrients for the entire system

[@shansiddiqui4741]

Hey jake do you think a solar panel could be installed near or around the greenhouse to manage the electrical equipment?

[@ordinarypete]

Yes

[@oguzoguz5620]

What is the differences between kraky and dwc? Kraky is easier but?

[@christine2755]

Is ok to use a solar pump?

[@epenzenstadler3895]

How long do the grommets last? I switched to ones made from EDPM rubber. The nitrile ones cracked after one season in the sun.

[@FormulaJake]

We have had these for two years now without any visible damage or cracking

[@jlewjr]

Love the chubby pup! Thanks for doing this video. Insight like this helps it seem more doable. Another helpful video would be your cleaning and maintenance process. For instance, do you go in there and vacuum dead plants off the ground? To end up scrubbing the glass around the greenhouse? Stuff like that.

[@augelean13]

Did you use a bigger grommet with 7/8 ID. The 1/2" PVC has an OD of close to 7/8" ...

[@FormulaJake]

Yes, I used one with a 3/4" ID. It was a tight fit but it works well!

[@coppeis]

How much did everything cost? And do you have a how to guide or something? I'd love to copy it, but make it solar powered (from Harbor Freight of course)!

[@FormulaJake]

It was over $1500 for everything, from the greenhouse to all of the supplies and parts. We have another video posted detailing a bit more of the system itself, but this video is the most instructional one I've made so far. Maybe a future video idea? 🤔

[@ytho7618]

how do you keep algae down?

[@haitkhuu]

G'day mate, Thanks for sharing this informative video, has been of great help in me with planning my first hydroponics system. To help me further, would be able to walk me through, or send me a link that shows how this setup was set up, including what every part of the system does? Also, I would like to know what kind of medium is used to grow the seedlings before they are transferred and planted in the hydroponics system. Lastly, can you walk through, or send me a link if you have one that discusses nutrients? Thanks heaps!

[@FormulaJake]

Hi, I have another video on my channel that overviews the entire system. Besides that, there are other videos on KZbin that we used to learn about the system. We bought the seedlings as-is and they appear to be growing in some sort of soil. We removed them from this medium to plant them in the perlite. The overview video on my channel that I mentioned earlier talks a little bit about nutrients, but to be honest, I do not know all that there is to know about nutrients. Link to video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4SrgGuhfbR0iJo Best of luck!

[@john_american_jewish8552]

Do you have any idea how much money this monthly operation costs?

[@CBsGreenhouseandGarden]

So you are not cleaning your perlite before planting in it again? Not to be negative here but I do see a few things that need taken care of to keep a clean and sanitary hydro greenhouse growing.

[@FormulaJake]

This was just for demonstration purposes. Our perlite bag was too empty to fill a bucket, and we threw away that weed after making the video.

[@ordinarypete]

Wait, so can I use this exact setup to grow medicinal mary j?

[@FormulaJake]

😏😏

[@xyooj96]

do you need to clean/wash the perlite after every planting?

[@FormulaJake]

Yes 👍🏼

[@SnifterRoux]

Would that paint strainer fit a 25L or 6.6 Gallon bucket?

[@FormulaJake]

I've never used that bucket size, so I cannot give you a definitive answer. But the strainers are pretty elastic, and stretch quite a ways

[@DONALDWBASS2]

Thanks for the video. Why do you use the lid? Thanks

[@FormulaJake]

I guess there's not a major reason, it does help hold the inlet line in the bucket though!

[@DONALDWBASS2]

@@FormulaJake Wow. Thanks for the quick reply! That helped

[@FormulaJake]

Of course! Best of luck with your growing 👌🏼

[@kenshinhimura9387]

I know this video is a year old but you should try adding some kind of enzyme to your rez to help break down all those dead roots that you didn't remove from the perlite and paint strainer bag. I would also run bleach water through the system after each run to sterilize everything. Obviously you won't be able to do this if you still have plants growing in some of the buckets but you can always add enzymes at any point in time. It will not hurt the plants at all.

[@maxm1584]

Do you have to clean used Perlite or anything before reusing?

[@FormulaJake]

It is recommended to clean the perlite

[@redeye789852]

is there way to stagger the pace of the growing where you have a harvest of a single plant each month

[@greendog8424]

always

[@cosechastheboogieonevlogs2594]

Great video! I am planning to make my own Dutch Bucket system.

[@FormulaJake]

Best of luck! 👌🏼

[@dheeraj9521]

Why use perlite , why not vermiculite ?

[@jerzeys2finest89]

Do you have to use perlite or anything? I thought Hydroponics were just water. And do you have to use fertilizer? It looks like those plants are peronnial.

[@JourneyIntheWoods]

plants won't grow without nutrients IN the water though.

[@MackSmooth]

How is that perlite good to use??? If cleaned then maybe if I was in a bind I'd reuse but it's obviously full of dead and decaying plant matter. Not any good for the kinda weed I prefer.

[@FormulaJake]

It's not good, just kept it in there for demonstration.

[@worldevents5116]

Can go commercially with buckets to grow apple groud

[@lmfarms4611]

Would some kind of fish work in this setup

[@FormulaJake]

Yes! We use a plecostomus fish in our water tank

[@EdwardVanNatta]

I am looking for about your products place lace me a message. When I post this , I am looking for more information on this. Wonder if it will work on with this let's see how you did your greenhouse I'm looking for more information how you set it up and everything and one if she can get it big enough for you can put a tank in there for keeping fish

[@josephantonyedezhath3759]

How to calculate volume of system

[@FormulaJake]

We ran ours at about 1 gallon of water per plant/bucket, or ~3.7 liters per plant/bucket

[@JeremyB8419]

So does it financially make sense? I mean it seems fun as hell, just wondering if it’s worth it from the numbers side

[@FormulaJake]

Honestly, not really... We grow all organic foods, and they taste absolutely amazing, but cost-wise, it will never be able to keep up with huge scale farmers, even at retail. I know organic produce is a bit more, but it's really not that expensive to buy. But it has been a lot of fun, and being able to grow any food has been enjoyable, to say the least

[@JeremyB8419]

Airborne Productions isn’t it just the electricity and seeds after initial investment?

[@FormulaJake]

Yeah it is! A little bit of power and water, and buying seeds and nutrients once in a while. It's really not that much to run, but I don't know if we really grow enough to offset the starting costs of the system. I mean, fruits and veggies just aren't that expensive 😂

[@JeremyB8419]

@@FormulaJake Yeah the starting costs were probably high, but on the plus side, as long as the greenhouse is kept up, that adds to the property value, which means you didn't really "lose" anything with the greenhouse expenses.

[@FormulaJake]

Good point! I don't mean to be negative at all, because it really is nice to have fresh organic veggies right in our backyard. It's convenient and super tasty, but I do understand why people can be put off by the initial costs of everything.

[@wolfmanbonsai]

How did the blueberries turn out🤔

[@FormulaJake]

They died, but then seemed to come back to life! Our setup definitely isn't ideal, but we saw em at the store and had to give em a try

[@danielgonzalez-yp7hi]

Bucket company sell there version of these, check them out, of course your way is much cheaper & easy to make.

[@Bentonfishing1]

How is the drip line and black pipe hooked into the submersible pump

[@FormulaJake]

Hold on, let me watch my other video 😂

[@FormulaJake]

It's show in the first harbor freight greenhouse vid around 2:58. It's a combination of a couple different PVC fittings

[@demongrunt7]

BPN!

[@victorianickless8595]

One thing I would suggest is measuring out and adding your nutritients One At A Time. Otherwise some of the things can cancel each other out if added into a measuring cup together and then added to water. Add one at a time to the res.

[@thekaizer666]

hehehe DOGGO!!!

[@JeremyB8419]

Where y’all from?

[@FormulaJake]

CA!

[@andriandoroja4965]

Water wise vs electricity bills? Can you give me details the cost? Love the set up and simple explanation step by step you did.. awesome

[@FormulaJake]

I'm not exactly sure how much water/electricity it draws, but it's not much at all. The pump does not draw much power.

[@andriandoroja4965]

Airborne Productions last question. What’s the size of your greenhouse?? Thank you

[@FormulaJake]

Ask as much as you want! It's a 10'x12' Harbor Freight greenhouse running on a 30 gallon tank, and with 30 plants!

[@andriandoroja4965]

Airborne Productions thank you. Do you clean the perlite prior putting new plants right. ? Cheers

[@andriandoroja4965]

And temperatures do you manage it in certain temperature? Thanks much

[@turnkeyfamily1368]

Hello. I would like to pay you for your time. Can you email me and give me tips on a stepped system so I can fit all my plants in this indoor room area that I have? Thanks !!

[@AnnaMorris411]

He planted a weed 😂😂😂

[@investirparaviverderenda]

Como esse cachorro caramelo foi parar aí? 🤦 Brazilian caramel dog

[@dragonshoarddesign3094]

I just leave the pump running

[@MackSmooth]

A sweet pepper plant?? 😶 Um, bro... that bucket is empty. 😂🤣

[@FormulaJake]

Got me 😂 The label is from the prior season, and the peppers were great! I guess it's time to get rid of the label now haha

[@spencernelson1560]

Hopefully you dont get into any trouble for growing that weed.

[@stevethecat9194]

Growing "weed" 😀