Introduction: Single Plant Hydroponics (easy)
Hydroponics is simply growing plants in water. Most are large bulky machines that can have 10 or 15 plants on it and it will take up a large amount of room. For some of us we need a single plant hydroponic system. This is that and can be made with simple household items. I will show how to do this
Step 1: Materials
materials
-small aquarium pump
-thin aquarium tubing 2-3 feet
-tennis ball can
-plant
-broken screen door or anything of the like
-gravel
-a plant
Tools
-scissors
-hot glue gun
-shovel
-Optional soldering iron
Step 2: The Body
Okay so to start you take the tennis ball can take the wrapper off and clean it. After that with a soldering iron burn a hole one the side about and inch from the bottom. You want a six inch hole then insert a piece of the piping in and glue it shut. Having a tight seal is essential if you do not then it will leak.
Step 3: The Screen
So here is the tricky part. You have to take a piece of screen about a six or seven inch square and bend it into a circle you can look at the picture. You then squeeze it into the tube gently. Once you get it in pour about half of your gravel in
Step 4: Get the Dirt Of
Now take your plant out its container and lightly brush the dirt off. This is kind of hard to do but you must be gentle and not hurt the roots. Once you got that done just place it into the gravel and fill around it.
Step 5:
Then just fill it with water mixed with a tiny bit of fertilizer. If you put to much in you can burn the roots. Change the water every couple days for optimum growing.
You should leave the pump on during the hours of the day with sunlight, maybe put a timer on
This system is pretty customizable so feel free to do almost anything with it
This is my first one so please comment thanks
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23 Comments
8 years ago on Introduction
Easiest way I've had of getting soil off roots without breaking the fragile things, is to use gentle running water, and mild agitation. Don't spend too much time exposing the roots to light, though. Roots are meant to be in the dark. ;)
9 years ago on Introduction
tur
9 years ago on Introduction
im choosing this marfirg for my projecr
12 years ago on Step 5
Do you fill the container all the way to the top with water?
Reply 11 years ago on Step 5
No you would probably want the water level 1 in. below the top.
12 years ago on Step 4
so i use gravel instead of soil?
13 years ago on Step 5
silicone should work also
13 years ago on Step 2
A 1 or 2 Liter soda bottle would work, too, wouldn't it?
13 years ago on Step 5
I was trying to figure out where I could get a piece of screen like that, and suddenly I thought "Why not an old sock?" Everyone has a couple of old socks, probably a few mismatched ones. It's already about the right shape (more so with tube sock I guess), so you just drop the toe end down in the container, and stretch the elastic over the top,(probably glue it in place so the weight doesn't pull it down) fill with your medium and plant.
13 years ago on Introduction
You don't have to make a hole in the tennis tube, you can just run the air tube up and over the edge and down into the water. A little tape will hold it easily and you have no leak worries.
13 years ago on Step 5
i was wondering if the hot glue actually created a water tight seal or if leaks eventually occured? if it holds water for a signifigant amount of time, kudos. lots of pics were nice.
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
surprisingly hot glue will hold a seal but you need use a lot of hot glue after it dries its good to remelt a little of the glue on the seal so it fits better to it
13 years ago on Introduction
This is pretty cool and a def add to my To Do list.
13 years ago on Introduction
I like your instructable, but... not to be pedantic, but you would be well served to go over the instructable for spelling mistakes. Here is a before/after snapshot of just step 2;
BEFORE: OK so to start you take the tennis ball can and take the wrapper off. After that you clean it out and with the soldering iron burn a whole one the side about and inch from the bottom. You want a six inc T You then insert a piece of the piping in and glue i shut. Having a tight seal is essential if you and bad things will happen
AFTER: Okay, to start you take the tennis ball can and take the wrapper off. After that you clean it out, and with the soldering iron burn a (hole) (on) the side about (an) inch from the bottom. You want a six (inch) T. You then insert a piece of the piping in and glue (it) shut. Having a tight seal is essential if you... (and bad things will happen. - seems like something is missing there).
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
This is the first time I have made a civil comment on spelling/grammar... and someone actually fixed things instead of griping about my constructive criticism. I just wanted to add a huge 'Thanks' to the author for fixing the problems, as well as my initial appreciation of the instructable itself. Well Done!
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
I think the missing word is don't.
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
It looks like something has spell-corrected this, but picked the wrong words. The "bad things" is an editing oversight.
Yes, it's worthwhile reading the whole thing once it's published, correcting it, reading it again, and repeating until it's right.
L
13 years ago on Introduction
Oh yeah, I'm so doing this to grow tomatoes.
=P
13 years ago on Introduction
Looks super simple. Do you add anything to the water? L
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
just a tiny bit of fertilizer