Do It Yourself: Homemade Hydroponic Kit

There are many reasons why individuals turn to a simpler way of living. Some of those reasons include the desire to preserve the environment, being less dependent upon the earth’s resources, taking better care of their own personal health and well-being, etc. There are many ways that they can accomplish this goal of a simple life.

For example, instead of driving or commuting to work, many individuals have chosen to walk or ride a bicycle. Additionally, many individuals take recycling very seriously and minimize the trash that they produce. Also, many individuals and families have chosen to grow their own vegetables.

Specifically, in conjunction with growing one’s own vegetables, some individuals have chosen to grow nutritional foods in a different manner other than planting the seeds and soil. Specifically, many individuals have chosen to utilize hydroponics.

Therefore, it is important to know what hydroponics is and how to construct a homemade hydroponics kit.

What Is Hydroponics?

Hydroponics is a system that promotes the growth of plants or vegetables without the use of soil. Specifically, the word hydroponics is derived from two Greek words. Those two Greek words are hydro and ponos. Additionally, the word hydro is translated into the English language as water and the word pronos is translated into the English language as work or toil. Therefore, the combination of hydro and ponos or hydroponics literally means work done by the water.

This system of hydroponics usually involves a container along with other key elements. Some of those key elements include a water reservoir, water meter, hydroponic liquid nutrients, water pump and tubing, a medium to put the seeds in and seeds. Also included in a hydroponics kid may be nutrient pH test kits and a water level indicator.

Simply, the seeds are put into the medium and are exposed to the water which is rich with the liquid hydroponic nutrients that the plant life needs. Subsequently, as the plant grows, the root system of the plant draws the needed nutrients for growth from the water.

How To Construct a Homemade Hydroponics Kit

Also, if an individual does not want to invest in a sophisticated system or is one of those individuals who enjoys the “do it yourself” method, an option of starting this process is through a homemade hydroponics kit. Specifically, the homemade hydroponics kit utilizes common items found around the home. For example, rather than purchasing a self-contained unit, the do-it-yourselfer can simply use a large plastic tub or purchase grow bags that are available on the market.

This particular homemade hydroponics kit is known as the reservoir method and involves the use of an inexpensive aquarium pump and air stones. In addition, if utilizing this homemade hydroponics kit, it is important that the lid of the container fits snugly on the top of the tub.

One additional homemade hydroponics kit is known as the flood and drain method. This particular kit utilizes two large storage bins, aquarium water and air pump, a simple household timer, a drain and flood fitting and plastic tubing. This kit is assembled by placing one tub on top of the other with the bottom tub utilized as the reservoir holding the nutrients.

Additionally, the top tub is used as the storage bed for the seeds. Then, through the work of the pump, tubing, timer and fittings, the nutrient water will flow into the top container. Once accomplished over the recommended duration time, the water is drained back into the bottom tub leaving the roots saturated with the nutrients.