Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Jul 03, 2025

How to Create Your Own DIY Hydroponic Garden at Home

How to Create Your Own DIY Hydroponic Garden at Home

Here’s how to grow plants without soil!

Hydroponics, or gardening without soil, is a fun way to grow herbs and vegetables indoors or outside. In fact, it’s a technique that’s been around a lot longer than you might imagine! Although it’s difficult to verify historically, it’s believed people have been experimenting with growing things without soil dating all the way back to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the Aztec floating gardens.

In the last few decades, hydroponics has skyrocketed in popularity. It’s relatively easy to grow all kinds of vegetables and fruit hydroponically. There’s also no weeding required! If you want to keep it simple, there are many pre-fab kits you can purchase to grow plants without soil. There also are plenty of DIY techniques, too.

Most DIYers stick with what's called a passive hydroponic system, which relies on the plant’s ability to suck up water without needing a pump or aerator. These systems can be built from plastic buckets or tubs. However, it’s important to understand that hydroponics isn’t just about sticking your plants in water and hoping for the best: You’ll need to pay attention to the plant’s nutrient and pH needs in order to have a successful crop.

Plants that are harvested frequently tend to do best in passive hydroponics systems. That includes lettuce, kale, Swiss chard, strawberries and non-woody herbs such as basil, oregano, mint, and thyme. Plants such as cukes and tomatoes must be monitored closely in order for the plant to produce well in a hydroponics system, so they’re not the best for beginning hydroponic gardeners.

Here’s what else you need to know about making a DIY hydroponic garden:

You can build a DIY hydroponics system yourself.


You don’t need to spend thousands to build a hydroponic garden. Many university coop extension services offer free, detailed plans for creating a hydroponic system with basic supplies such as vinyl fence posts or 5-gallon buckets. Vertical hydroponic towers are especially easy to build. Or you can create a simple floating garden with 2 x 6 treated lumber and plastic sheeting. You also can try creating a mini-garden using a 5-gallon bucket. Outdoors, you’ll place your garden in full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight); indoors, you’ll need supplemental lighting such as LED grow lights.


Start with sterile seedlings or cuttings.


It’s not as simple as going to the nursery and picking up a few seedlings. You cannot place any plant in your hydroponic garden that has been in contact with soil, which can introduce harmful microbes into your system. Many different types of grow media are used to start plants, but an inexpensive option for home gardeners is to start cuttings or seeds in rockwool cubes, which will hold water and nutrients well.

Watch what kind of water and fertilizer you use.


Tap water be softened or may have high levels of chlorine which will harm some plants. If you can, use distilled or bottled water. If you do use tap water, let it sit in a bucket for 24 hours first. This will help some of the chemicals dissipate. Also, it’s easiest to use premixed water-soluble hydroponic fertilizer to ensure you get the right combination of nutrients. These products also are designed to dilute properly so they won’t clog up pumps, if you’re using one.

Check your pH level.


The pH level is important because it affects nutrient availability for your plants. Most plants in a hydroponic garden will grow well in a solution with a 5 to 6 ph range. This typically allows plants optimal nutrient uptake. If you need to lower the pH, you can use white vinegar at a ratio of 2 teaspoons per gallon of water. Inexpensive pH strips are a great tool for monitoring your pH levels on a regular basis.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
×