Hydroponics at Home: Start Indoor Growing Today!

1) Deep Water Culture (DWC) – perhaps the most popular method on this list. It involves the suspension of plants in aerated water. The plants, housed by net pots, submerge their roots in the oxygen-rich nutrient solution which provides a continuous flow of water, oxygen and nutrition. Many people consider these hydroponics in their purest form.

2) Ebb and Flow (Flood and Drain) – popular with home gardeners, this method involves the placement of plants within a spacious growth bed filled with growing medium. This is then flooded with a nutrient-rich solution, sitting a couple of inches beneath the top layer to prevent overflow.

3) Wick – possibly the simplest of the lot, this is a passive system (meaning zero mechanical parts) in which plants are nestled in growing media on a tray which is sat atop a reservoir that houses a water solution containing dissolved nutrients. Wicks (often made of rope, string or felt) travel from the reservoir to the growing tray. Nutrients and water flow up the wick and saturate the growing media around the plants’ root systems.

4) Drip – a system for the more adventurous among you which can be altered for different plant types and be as big or as small as you like. Nutrient solutions are controlled through their injection directly into the plant’s base; a drip emitter controls the amount of solution allowed to travel. You can also adjust the flow to meet the needs of specific plants.

5) Aeroponic – easier to understand than build, the hint is in the name. A system that has your plants suspended in the air while mist nozzles beneath them spray nutrients directly into the root. This ensures the plant’s needs are met and can be cost-effective as the unabsorbed mist is caught within the reservoir below for reuse.

6) Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) – not to be confused with non-fungible tokens, this easily scalable system suspends plants above a continuously flowing reservoir of a nutrient solution that washes over the ends of the plant’s root systems whilst ensuring limited wastage. Unlike DWC systems, an NFT system doesn’t immerse the roots of plants in water, with the stream (or ‘film’) only flowing over the ends of the roots. The roots’ tips wick moisture up into the plant, giving the exposed root system all the oxygen it needs. The bottoms of the channels are grooved, meaning the shallow film can pass over the root tips with ease.

Coco/Coir - its airy, light nature promotes root growth. Its lack of nutritional content gives you complete control over what your plant is actually getting. While you've got to keep an eye on your nutrient pH, the wider margin for error in comparison to soil makes coco an ideal starting point.

Soil Mixes – your go-to if you’d rather not have to test pH. These are also difficult to over-fertilise, but in turn, require more work and care not to over-water.

Clay Pebbles/Granules/LECA (light expanded clay aggregate) – beloved by Dutch bucket users, this lightweight hydroponic substrate with units the size of peanuts is often used in both hydroponic and aquaponic systems. Its high pore space means few blockages and better percolation. While it can be costly, it’s reusable and environmentally friendly.

Perlite – a heat expanded, a man-made product that is perfect for use as a hydroponic growing medium. Perlite retains enough moisture for it to be suitable as a hand watered medium, but also has sufficient drainage to be used in a recycling drip irrigation system. Perlite is extremely lightweight and is suitable for use in a variety of growing containers e.g. pots, trays etc. It also has sufficient water absorbency for it to be used in bottom-fed auto watering systems.

Vermiculite – despite having favourable moisture and nutrient retention capability, it has poor drainage capacity which is why it’s often used in combination with perlite. This is something you probably don’t want to hear about an already expensive product.

Bat Mix/Guano & Worm Castings – Bat manure is naturally rich in phosphorus and potassium, guaranteeing abundant growth. Bat-mix contains sufficient nutrients to meet all the needs of the plant throughout the complete cycle. Worm castings are also popular with organic growers as they can be used at any time during the growth cycle; they boost the nitrogen levels in soil, promoting vigorous plant growth. You can use worm castings to refresh used soil, mixing between 10% and 20% by volume to reinvigorate the soil with essential elements and minerals. Worm castings can also be made into a tea which can be fed to plants and helps integrate beneficial bacteria into your substrate.

COGR/Rockwool/Coco Slabs – versatile and acceptable as a standalone material in many hydroponics systems, particularly recirculating ones. Their predominantly vertical fibre structures promote rapid rooting and vigorous vegetative growth.

Macronutrients…or macros, are what plants require in large amounts:

(N)itrogen – the primary food for growth in plants, particularly in the vegetative growth phase. Without nitrogen, you get no leaves; it plays a key role in leaf and stems growth as well as a plant’s colour and size. it also has a vital role in chlorophyll, amino acid, protein and co-enzyme synthesis.
(P)hosphorus – vital for photosynthesis and one of the components of DNA, the plant’s genetic memory unit which is involved in plant vigour and seed production. Phosphorus is required in large amounts during the early phase of seedling, flowering stage and germination; it’s responsible for forming roots, seeds, flowering and fruits.
(K) Potassium – okay, that one doesn’t work, but that doesn’t make potassium any less important. In fact, it plays a role in all stages of plant growth; aiding in the synthesization of sugar, starches and carbohydrates. It also plays a role in a plant’s resistance to insects and bacteria as well as chipping in on the development of roots, stems and flowers.
(Mg) Magnesium – now onto your secondary macros. Fast-growing plants require magnesium in large amounts; it’s essential to chlorophyll production and helps create oxygen through photosynthesis. It’s recognizable in healthy and vigorous plants.
(Ca)lcium – another one needed in large amounts by fast-growing flowers and vegetables. In fact, it’s almost as vital as the primary macros as it’s necessary for cell formation and development.
(S)ulfur – Sulfur is a structural component of 2/21 amino acids that create protein. It also helps activate and form certain enzymes and vitamins, including vitamin B.