How toGrow BIG Plants
You can buy Deep Water Culture ( DWC ) complete Starter Kits with an LED Light like this from YRG for around $ 175 .
You ’ ll need a bucket or tote to hold the nutrient solution where your roots will hang . The size of the container is heavily dependent on the size of the plant you ’ re trying to grow . If you ’ re just starting out , I recommend a five-gallon bucket with a special lid that includes a built-in mesh / net pot to hold your plant in place above the solution . This type of lid allows plant roots to grow through the mesh , directly into the water below . If you don ’ t have access to this type of lid or you ’ re using a Rubbermaid-style tote , you can take the standard lid , cut a circular hole in the center , and place a mesh / net pot in the hole .
Fill the mesh / net pot with an inert media ( something other than soil ) that won ’ t easily fall through the holes into the bucket . I prefer clay pebbles ( also called LECA — light expanding clay aggregate ) because they can be cleaned and reused after each grow . Other types of stones , coco coir cubes , and Rockwool are also viable options . The goal is to provide support to the base of your plant as the roots grow downward and the stem grows upward . Place your seedling or clone into the media , still in its starter cube . Fill the bucket high enough with water so that the bottom of your seedling cube is barely making contact .
Because plant roots require oxygen just as much as water , the nutrient solution must be oxygenated . Without it , the roots will rot and die . This can be accomplished using a small air pump combined with an air stone . Place the air pump outside the bucket and connect black poly tubing to one of its ports . Run the tubing through the mesh pot lid . Connect the air stone to the open end of the tubing and then submerge it in the water . Plug in the air pump and turn it on . You should see bubbles rapidly emitting from the air stone . That means it ’ s working , and oxygen is making it into the water . You can leave the pump running 24 / 7 .
Now it ’ s time to feed your plant .
Without the naturally occurring nutrition available in the soil , it ’ s up to you as the hydroponic grower to provide it . Mix a liquid fertilizer of your choice into the water , following the proportions stated on the label . If you ’ re new to liquid nutrients , the General Hydroponics FloraNova series offers a nice baseline because it includes not only nitrogen , phosphorous , and potassium but all the necessary micronutrients as well . Begin with FloraNova Grow during the vegetative stage of growth and switch to FloraNova Bloom when your plant is ready to begin flowering . There are hundreds of nutrient options and combinations to experiment with , including organic and vegan products .
Over time , the water level will slowly drop as it ’ s used by the plant and evaporates , with the roots growing longer to chase it . Top it off with more nutrient-water mix so that it remains in contact with at least some of the roots . When you transition from “ grow ” to “ bloom ” nutrients , it ’ s a good idea to completely empty and clean your bucket or reservoir . Dish soap followed by a solid rinse will work just fine , but if you want to add a scrub with a hydrogen peroxide solution , it certainly can ’ t hurt . This will prevent unwanted algae , bacteria , nutrient-salt , and fungal buildup . It can also help to keep a second bucket handy , so when you ’ re performing this type of maintenance , you can gently lift the entire mesh pot and root system out of one bucket and place it into the other one temporarily .
Check the pH ( Potential of Hydrogen ) of your nutrient-water solution with a digital meter ( basic versions run about $ 25- $ 45 ) and adjust accordingly using pH up or pH down additives to keep it between 5.5 and 6.5 . This is the ideal range to ensure the plant can maximize its nutrient uptake in a hydroponic system . As the plant grows and consumes nutrients , the pH of the solution will fluctuate , so be sure to monitor it regularly .
When you ’ re within a day or two of harvest , replace the nutrient solution in your bucket with fresh water . This will alleviate any concerns about a harsh taste in your buds due to heavy nutrient uptake . It ’ s the equivalent of “ flushing ” other types of grow media that tend to retain nutrients .
◄ Out from pump through top hose .
◄ Return to pump through bottom hose .
Basic DWC systems , like the one we just described , utilize unconnected buckets , requiring each to be dosed with nutrients , topped off with water , and tested for pH individually . This can become a timeconsuming task if you have more than a few plants , which leads us to Recirculating Deep Water Culture ( RDWC ) systems . Rather than having individual buckets , RDWC bins are linked together using poly tubing or PVC pipe ( see image above ). A control bucket is added to the system , containing a pump that pulls water from the last bucket and pushes it back into the first bucket . This return line generally has a filter that cleans particulates from the water before they reach the pump . The control bucket is where you would dose your system with nutrients and monitor the pH . Just as with a single bucket , your solution also needs to be oxygenated . This can be done either directly in each bin or just in the control bin at the front of the system .
Hopefully , this help will serve as an entry point into the world of hydroponic growing and provide some food for thought as you dive deeper . As always , ask your local grow store for help when needed .
Keep an eye out for next month ’ s edition , where we ’ ll investigate ebb and flow ( AKA flood and drain ).
For more information about YRG , visit
www . year-roundgarden . com or call 816.216.6917 and be sure to tell them The EVOLUTION Magazine sent you .
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