Hydroponics Setup (Non-circulating)

This video details the specific equipment needed to set up your own non-circulating hydroponics system. It can be established in your living space, garage, basement or shed if it has ample lighting or electricity for lights.
My apologies for the creaky tripod!
Video Segments:
00:17 Type of hydroponics system
00:33 The racks
01:20 Covering the shelves
02:08 The grow lights
03:25 Power strips and power needs
04:45 Spacing of shelves
06:47 Heating mat for seed germination
07:15 Blocking light from bin solution
08:23 Number of plants per tub
09:57 Nutrient solution
10:22 What else is growing?
12:35 Conclusion
Hydroponics - About Nutrient Solutions • Hydroponics - About Nu...

[@joyflg1rl]

Thank you!

[@JudiintheKitchen]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching and commenting :)

[@yeshuaisthewaythetruthandt515]

Thanku. What was your nutrient solution? How much a day do you add? How often do you clean the water? Etc

[@JudiintheKitchen]

Hi! Thanks for watching and asking! Sounds like this will need a follow-up video to answer your questions so others will benefit too. First, there are many different hydroponic nutrient solutions available and I'm sure most of them would be just fine. Be sure to buy one to meet the needs of whatever type of plant you're growing (greens vs flowering). I focus on leafy greens (the tomatoes are a first for me and I'm considering them to be experimental). I use General Hydroponics "MaxiGro". It's a 10-5-14 powder. I use not quite 1 teaspoon per gallon of filtered water. Note that it turns out to be very acidic, so I also add not quite 6 ml of General Hydroponics "pH Up" to each gallon. That brings the pH to about almost 6.0, which is the mid-range of where it should be for lettuce and kale. (I have no connection with General Hydroponics...I just tried their product initially and have stayed with this brand.) The tubs are filled with the nutrient solution so that the water comes up about 1/2" into empty net pots. Then I add the young plants to the net pots and place them in the tubs. Nothing else is done to it regarding solution until the solution goes down and it needs more. Then I mix up more of the same solution and add it to the bin. It does not require daily treatment unless you're using a very small container and the plant is established. In that case the plant will be very "thirsty" and you may need to add solution very often (the voice of experience here...that's why I prefer growing in tubs...a lot less maintenance). The water can be changed if you see that it's developed algae or is looking bad for whatever reason. If that's the case, after the solution is changed, you may also need to add some "food grade, 35% hydrogen peroxide." That's not the same thing you buy in your local pharmacy. I've only found it online. You may find it at a hydroponics store if you have one local to you. I don't; hence I get it online. Be careful with that stuff as it's VERY potent and should not be applied directly to your skin, nor to plants. It should be WELL diluted before adding it to any nutrient solution. If the water is clean in appearance, there's no need to change it. Just leave well enough alone. The Kratky method is very low maintenance and one that is loved by many home growers. I hope this helps. Let me know if you need more info. :)

[@johncowburn4444]

Hi Judi, thanks for the video. Really helpful! Not sure when I'll start growing yet but when I do I'll keep you updated. Your system looks simple but effective which is what I was after. One more question on the broccoli sprouts, I've harvested mine at 7 days as the sprouts seemd so packed together, the leaves were dark green but very small so I wonder if I should have left them for the extra day or two. Once the leaves are green do the leaves continue to get bigger or do they stay the same size? John

[@JudiintheKitchen]

Hi John! You're very welcome on the video! Actually it has generated more interest than I thought it would. Two more are in the works. They all go hand-in-hand, so whenever you get started growing, all this info should be helpful to you. Regarding the broccoli sprouts...The leaves will stay small. These are the first "baby" leaves produced by the plant, not the true leaves. The short time they are in the jar doesn't give them time to grow beyond that size. Extra time in the jar won't make much difference. They may get longer and SLIGHTLY larger, but nothing to speak of, really. Just call them "done" when they are green, as long as you want them to be, and the jar is as full as you like it. Take care :)

[@jrineck]

What a great set up! Yes interested in the nutrient solution! and please what are you using for your seedlings? Can't make out what it is. Thanks so much..updates if you can, would be so appreciated! Also..is there any kind of pump to keep the water moving? Or is it ok to just have it still? Ok just read your reply on the post below :-)

[@JudiintheKitchen]

Hi Dee! Thanks for watching and commenting. WOW...I had no idea there would be so much interest in the hydroponics! I'm taking note of all the comments and requests on this. I have a video I shot this morning on nutrient solutions and related information. I hope to get it uploaded before the day is out. Per your request, I'll also cut one on the rock wool cubes that I use to germinate the seeds in. They are very easy to use and excellent for hydroponics. I'll explain in a video (and I will get it uploaded asap...since all this info should be used together. Delays in uploads would not be helpful). Yes, also per your request, I'll shoot some updates along the way so you can see the progress with the plants, especially the tomatoes, since this is a first run for me on them. Regarding your next couple questions...No, there is no pump needed with this method. Yes, a pump helps in a number of ways, but this method is called a "non-circulating" hydroponic method. It was designed by Dr. B A Kratky, a professor at the University of Hawaii. He designed this method, intentionally simple, so anyone could grow food with little resources and effort. Of course, in Hawaii, they don't need grow lights...their bins are outside in their wonderful sunlight. His original intent was growing lettuce from start to finish in one tub of solution, taking about a month from start to harvest. One lettuce plant uses about 1 gallon of water, so it works well, as per Dr. Kratky. When the solution is about gone (assuming 1 gallon water to 1 lettuce plant), the plant should be ready to harvest. Of course, he later used the same method with other vegetables, like cucumbers. All are non-circulating and his results were remarkable. The stillness of the water is OK, as long as light is blocked from coming through the container. Otherwise, algae will form and will kill the plant(s). As I said in the video, this is the start of my 3rd growing season (I grow the greens mostly in the winter, since my house is too hot over the summer, and the temp of the house is just right in the cold months.) I've grown Swiss chard, kale, lettuce, basil, parsley, cilantro, and oregano. All grew well (from seeds) using this same method. I've even dared to buy nursery plants, got the soil off of them and went from there. However, that was a bit of an ordeal (messing with the soil and fitting the established roots in the net cups. So, I prefer just to start from seeds. It's much easier that way and far less messy. Thanks again for your interest in this subject! Stay tuned for more videos on this to come and let me know if I left out any other important info that you need or are curious about :)