How to build a hydroponic garden


Before building a marijuana hydroponic garden, it's best to have had some hands-on experience with the hydroponic system you intend to use as well as handling marijuana seeds or clones. In the garden, illustrations and instructions are seldom equal to real-life experience. Buying an inexpensive hydroponic system will help you understand your new garden on more than a theoretical level and likely save you time and money.

Basic hydroponic systems
Hydroponic systems can be either active or passive. Active hydroponic systems circulate nutrient solution using equipment such as pumps. Passive hydroponic systems have no moving parts. Instead the nutrient solution is passed to the roots through an absorbent growing medium or wick.

There are many different types of marijuana seeds plants hydroponic gardens, but most are similar to these six:

Wick system
A wick system is a passive hydroponic system. A wick draws the nutrient solution from a reservoir below the growing medium. Wick systems are the easiest hydroponic systems to build, but can't always keep up with the nutrient demands of larger plants. This system is best used for dwarf auto flowering cannabis plants.

Drip system
In hydroponic drip systems, a submersed pump controlled by a timer provides nutrient solution to each plant via a small drip line. Drip systems can be set up to recycle unused nutrient solution, though doing so requires monitoring of pH and nutrient strength levels.

Water culture system
The plants grown in water culture hydroponic systems sit on a platform directly above the nutrient solution, and an air pump propels the nutrient solution up into their roots. Water culture systems are often set up with old or unused aquariums and Rubbermaid containers.

Ebb and Flow system
Ebb and Flow is a very popular hydroponic system. A submerged pump operated by a timer fills the growing tray with nutrient solution, which drains back down into the reservoir below. The Ebb and Flow system works best with water-retentive growing mediums such as Rockwool or vermiculite.

Nutrient film system
Also known as nutrient film technique systems or NFT, nutrient film systems feature an unceasing flow of nutrient solution to the plants. Solution is pumped from the reservoir into the growing tray and over the plants’ roots before draining back into the reservoir. A downside to nutrient film systems is that pump failures will cause roots to dry out very quickly.

Aeroponic system
In aeroponic systems, the roots of the plants hang in the air and are sprayed with a mist of nutrient solution every few minutes courtesy of a timer.

Building a hydroponic water culture garden for marijuana seeds plant. The water culture system is one of the easiest hydroponic gardens for beginners to build. You will need the following materials:
-Aquarium
-Air pump
-Air line
-Air stone
-Styrofoam sheet 1 1/2 inches thick
-Plastic cups
-Grow media
-Hydroponic nutrient
-A pH test kit

Begin by cutting the Styrofoam sheet to a size one inch less than the length and width of your aquarium. Then cut holes just large enough for the cup bottoms to extend 1/2 inch below the Styrofoam. Cut several small root holes in each cup and then fill each cup with grow media (Rockwool or vermiculite are commonly used). Place seeds or seedlings in each cup and position in Styrofoam (seeds will need to be watered manually).

Fill the aquarium with water and set up the air stone at the bottom. Mix the hydroponic nutrient in the water to the recommended level and adjust pH using the pH test kit.

Building a hydroponic garden like this requires a few additional touches. Evaporation will cause the nutrient solution to become more concentrated, so added nutrient should be diluted accordingly. Nutrient solution should occasionally be siphoned out completely and remixed.

As with fish aquariums, sunlight will cause algae to form. Taping black garbage bags around the exterior of the aquarium will prevent algae formation.

Continue reading here: Cannabis seeds strains and their genetic origins

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