How to Build a Hydroponic Garden

Steps

1. Decide what you want to grow.
2. Decide how many of each plant you want to grow.
3. Estimate the size of the area you will need for example a combination of 66 cabbage & Silverbeet can be grown in 5 pipes of 4 inch round and 3 metres long by 2 metres wide. The whole unit is therefore 6 metres square.
4. You will need to evenly mark and space 4 inch holes for the 4 inch pots to be placed in them.
5. For this setup you will need a pump, home garden watering system piping and a 100-150 litre drum to house the solution. Also a support system to stand this setup on keep in mind the weight of about 100 kilograms or 200 pounds will be needing to be held once the system is running.
6. For the first 3-4 weeks and in hot climates shade cloth is helpful if used under these conditions.
7. Make up a hydroponic solution of fertilizers and water (or water gel crystals) to a strength of an average of 20-24 CF with an end Ph of 5.5-6.5.
8. Plant your self raised or bought seedlings (see list of needed items) by taking seedlings out of their pots and carefully washing away most of the soil from the roots. (see tips)
9. Place the clean seedlings in the growing medium be it perlite rockwool coir clay balls or NFT channelling and into the hydroponic solution.
10. carefully control the chemical balance of nutrients to water (check every day) by adding mostly water, this is due to the fact the water will mostly evaporate.
11. watch your plants grow for about 12 - 18 weeks helping them out by keep the pests away.
12. During this time you will need to keep an eye out for root rot which is when the roots go slimy and turn brown and die.
13. Harvest as and when needed.
14. Flush the entire system after harvest and sterilise using peroxide and copper solutions to kill bacteria and mold.