Wick Based Hydroponics

by Tool Using Animal

75K14027

Intro: Wick Based Hydroponics

Here's another hydroponic system, it is, again, passive, set and forget it. I did this during lunch one day at work so assembly goes pretty quick.

Let the debate whether or not this is hydroponcs begin.

Click here to support this author's efforts through Amazon's Honor System

STEP 1: You'll Need a Wicking Material

Cotton rope is the easiest, however it has the disadvantage of rotting, so I borrowed some "nylon" rope from a tree guy i know. What I got is a hank of synthetic rope, probably polyethylene. Then i tested it's wicking ability, both washed and unwashed. Washing it really help. I measured the absorption at 1ml/Hour/wick

STEP 2: Now That You Have a Wick

Mix up a bucket of nutrient solution, punch a hole in the top, thread the wicks (I decided to use four) through and snap the lid on the bucket.

STEP 3: Now the Grow Container

I cut down a couple of 5 gallon plant pots and forced on inside the other so that the media wouldn't wash out the holes. Then threaded the wicks up through the bottom hole and spread out the wicks.

STEP 4: Finally

I put an inch of vermiculite in the bottom of the grow container to ensure good wickability, and then filled the rest of the container with 50/50 vermiculite/perlite.

Pre-moisten the media, sprinkle with lettuce seeds and set in the sun.
Here's 4 weeks growth, could have been better, poor nutrient mixture.



28 Comments

BestGrowLights 11 years ago

Great idea! You can make many other simple to advanced hydroponics systems with the hydroponics supplies and parts found here. http://www.bestgrowlights.com

bahjayum 16 years ago

can the nutrient solution be made from any home supplies? rather then buying the stuff?

Spint 15 years ago

Two tablespoons miracle gro + 0ne tablespoon epsom salt to 1 gallon of water. Or make a compost and use the liquid runoff.

keithcat 15 years ago

hydroponics is great. well infact i have my strawberry and its so sweet . but i dont have idea how Wick Based Hydroponics means.

krack 12 years ago

I like strawberrys

roywlogan 15 years ago

All your base are belong to us

Mr. E Meat 14 years ago

Haha! I just chocked on my soup! :P

Ronyon 13 years ago

Very inspiring!
I know this is old but I thought I should ask my question where it was inspired-here.
I have built and used two-bucket soil wicking, self watering systems.
Rather than using a basket to hold the soil, I drill a 3"or so hole,lay a sheet of screen over it, push the screen through to the bottom of the lower bucket, staple the screen in place, trim off the excess screen,and pack the screen pouch and upper bucket with wicking soil.

Easier for me than the "wicking basket" usually used, but a handful of rope wicks would be easier still.
I add peat moss to potting soil and solid fertilizer to make my wicking soil.
Would this soil work in place of the vermiculite and perlite used in this Instructible?
Also,what is the best kind of rope for a wick?

I am trying this right now,with pure peat soil,and hemp(maybe) rope, in both a two-liter bottle design and a margarine tub/tomato sauce can build.
I want to scale this up to the multi-gallon size seen here, or even beyond into 55gallon drums.
Any feedback would be great.Thanks.

DasBus 15 years ago

This is a very clever idea - thanks!

Masterdude 15 years ago

I'm growing peppers and basil. Going to try this out.

Digital_Anarchy 16 years ago

a community of bright, capable and inventive people who enjoy the chalenge of a project to work on, lots of whom are uni or collage students. I think everyone is trying to avoid posting what's really on their mind.

CrazyCory564 16 years ago

The answer is yes, this would work for growing pot.
More Comments