| There are many benefits to using hydroponics to | | | | water can be drained into a container that sits under |
| grow vegetables and other crops. There are also | | | | the tray. This stand can be purchased or you can |
| many different ways to go about setting up your | | | | easily make one from wood, metal or even plastic. |
| hydroponics system. Simplicity is always good so this | | | | You need a container to drain your nutrient solution |
| article looks at the Ebb and flow method, one of the | | | | into. You can use just about anything as a drainage |
| best and simplest methods you can use in developing | | | | container. A clean bucket will do. |
| a homemade hydroponics system. | | | | The idea now is to fill the tray, which contains your |
| Get Started With a Homemade Hydroponics System | | | | plants in individual pots, with your nutrient solution. |
| Easily and Cheaply | | | | After the plant roots are well soaked you open the |
| The Ebb and Flow, or Flood and Drain hydroponics | | | | valve and drain the solution into your bucket and |
| system is easy to get started and can be very | | | | keep it for reuse. When it's time to feed your plants |
| cheaply set up as well. To start with you need pots | | | | again you simply pour the nutrient solution back into |
| for your plants. Nothing fancy is required. The regular | | | | the tray. |
| plastic pots used at gardens centers will work fine. | | | | How often you need to refill the tray depends on |
| Next you need a large tray with a drainage spout | | | | the growing medium you are using. For the Ebb and |
| already fitted or you can make one yourself with | | | | Flow method to work well it's best to use a medium |
| some plastic pipe. This spout should have a valve | | | | that holds plenty of air and water like Rockwool or |
| that you can open when it's time to drain the | | | | coconut fiber. If you're on a tight budget you can |
| nutrient solution. If you're stuck just use a flexible | | | | use aquarium gravel but you will need to flood your |
| plastic tube and a bulldog clip. Bend the tube over to | | | | plants several times a day so the roots do not dry |
| cut off the flow like you do with a garden hose and | | | | out. |
| secure it with the clip. Your plants will sit in individual | | | | Now you have a very basic homemade Ebb and Flow |
| containers inside of this tray and be flooded with | | | | hydroponics system. Of course with a little more |
| nutrient solution so the sides of the tray should be | | | | effort and expenditure you can make a system that |
| about as high or a little higher than your plant pots. | | | | incorporates a pump and a timer that will handle the |
| The tray needs to be on a stand so the nutrient | | | | heavy work for you and free up your time. |