Bubble-ponic system, Poor mans Hydro garden

Ever wanted a Aero garden but couldn't afford one, or do you just like gardening and trying differant things. Well here is a neat project to try with stuff most people have laying around!

--Tools needed for the build--
1.Razor knife
2.Drill
3.Drill bits
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--Items for the build--
1.Old Cleaned out bucket or deep container with lid
2.Fish tank air pump (If you grow in a larger container you will need a larger pump)
3. Fish tank air tubing
4.Fish tank air stone
5.plastic pot for planting in ( must be smaller than bucket lid)
6.Light for growing your plant (i used a 60watt CFL bulb)
7. black trash bag (for covering the bucket)
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--Items for pot--
1.Lava rocks
2.Coconut fiber

Step 1 Clean the bucket

step 1.
clean you bucket and lid  with warm soapy water dry off and let air dry completely.

Comments

[alittle]

I've built something similar before. You can also add a simple water level gauge to your bucket so you don't have to lift the lid to check it. Just drill a small hole towards the bottom our your bucket and seal a length of leftover airline tubing in it just as long as the bucket is tall. Tape the other end of the tubing to the side of the bucket, going up. The tube will only fill as high as the water level inside. I'm lazy like that. ;)

[knexfreak32]

Some fertilizer can toxic if eaten.

[vptony]

yes it can, thats why people should use vegetable nutrients.

[knexfreak32]

Yep I agree but I use my fish water.

[ninjatails]

How did the Miracle Gro work for you? I have some of that same stuff because I am trying to do hydroponics the cheap way--did the plant ever fruit?

[steveoondyou]

That's actually a good idea with the lava rock, summer's over, might as well use up the grill bricks.

[bountycrops]

Thanks for sharing this nice setup. I am just wondering if there's any way that you can add several pots with it so that you can grow several plants? Did you have good results with the lava rocks? Some say that lava rock can raise the pH so high, have you encountered this problem?

[vptony]

i did not test the ph at all, but the plant seemed to do fine , if you can afford the actual hydroponic grow medium i would go for it, but i built this out of crap i had laying around, lol

[Pyro1992]

Yeah I too have got a mini one built out of a small tank that i spay painted , i had a breathing machine from the hospital for the bubbles. very loud...

[downgrade]

I'm guessing with just it being a bubbler it wasn't as big of a deal, but did you have sediment issues with the lava rocks?

[jspargur]

Great Plan!!! I also thought about the fish aquarium pump, but am going to see how the sonicare bubbling foot spa works. I think I will need lava rocks and styrofoam right on top of rocks with air holes poked in it for air release and plant support. I have posted my plan here if you look. Hope it works!!!! Good luck. Jman

[vptony]

very cool! this was just an experiment that worked for me lol