Hydroponic Experiment #2

This is our 2nd hydroponic system experiment "Passive Hydroponics" There are no pumps to drip & recycle water, the design relies on capillary action. You need a container with lid, pots, a wick, Perlite, plants, lights, landscaping fabric scraps, black plastic bag, or duct tape, water & nutrients .

Here is how the wick material is coiled around the inside of the pot, with one end coming out the bottom. We inserted some landscape fabric, with a hole for the wick, to keep the Perlite from falling thru the bottom. We used commercial wick material, but a long strip if cotton fabric should work nearly as well.

Fill the pot with Perlite, making sure that as you fill the pot, the wick material stays aligned to the outside edge. Alge will grow if any light reaches the water, so cover the outside of the bottom part of the tub with a black trash bag or some duct tape. Put a few inches of water in the bottom, making sure the pots will stay above the water, with only a few inches of wick in the water. We used commercial plant food for hydroponic growing, but Miracle Gro should work just as wellAfter about 20 minutes, the wick material will have transferred enough moisture to make the Perlite wet. Then, make a hole with your finger, and insert the plants that you want to grow.

Here, we are planting tomatoes, so remember they can go in deeper in the Perlite, and will continue to root along the stem. Also, remember to hold the plant lightly by a leaf, not the stem, as the stem is easily crushed. Position a grow light above the plants. Any plant such as tomatoes that grow large will need some sort of support, so this system is best for small 'Patio" or "Grape" tomatoes. Monitor the water level. and add as needed. Add hydroponic nutrients as stated on the container.