The Indoor Hydroponics Blog

Indoor Hydroponics Kits

INDOOR HYDROPONICS KITS: Getting Help To Grow Your Own Plants

When starting out in indoor hydroponics, and if you just want to grow a few plants or give it a try, just doing simple water cultivation as described in “Your First Indoor Hydroponics Plant” fine. You can use the methods outlined above to grow house plants, herbs, or flowers. Once you become convinced of the efficacy of hydroponics, you may want to scale up your efforts.

The technical side of hydroponics can be daunting. It’s easy to be put off by the technical requirements, especially if you are not an experienced do-it-yourselfer. If you’re the kind of person trying out indoor hydroponics for the first time, without any real gardening experience a kit is the best next step.

HYDROPONICS KITS CAN BENEFIT EXPERIENCED GARDENERS

If you are an experienced gardener or just someone who is used to handling tools and reading plans, you can set up your own hydroponics system. Then you can experiment with various growing methods, lighting, types of nutrients, type of plants.

Even the experienced gardener can benefit from a kit. Kits are great to start seedlings in preparation for the growing season.

HOW THE NOVICE HYDROPONICS GARDENER CAN BENEFIT FROM HYDROPONICS KITS

For the rest of us we need some basic level support. Or we may not have a lot of time to devote to our hobby. Also it is best sometimes to just get something started. After following instructions, we acquire a seed of experience that can develop with continued practice over time. At that point, we can customize our indoor hydroponics for our own needs.

As in anything else, price is a consideration. However for the novice, hydroponics kits can start from less than $100 to multiples $1000.

Multiple plants growing together in a small space require a method of delivering oxygenated water, nutrients, a growing mediums, planters, water reservoir and nutrient solution. Many kits do supply all of these. Other kits include a pH test kit, timer for controlling when plants are watered. It depends on how complicated is the hydroponics set-up.

Most do not include a lighting system for your use.

For the next stage of indoor hydroponics development, you can use a kit to familiarize yourself with the type of equipment necessary to scale up your indoor hydroponics efforts. For example, Emily’s Garden from Hydrofarm is a good basic inexpensive kit to start growing flowers and vegetables. You will have to handle the lights yourself however.

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Your First Indoor Hydroponics Plant

You’ve probably already selected the container for your first indoor hydroponics houseplant.

If you haven’t, take a look around your house. It’s best to have something pretty, to complement the beauty of your plant. Yet it really isn’t necessary.

You may have an old vase or a beautifully shaped wine bottle. For the design impaired, the first container could be a dented, blackened old saucepan which lost its handle. It could even be styrofoam. Even an old flowerpot. Just make sure the hole on the bottom is covered or it rests in a larger pan. It’s all up to you.

It is of the utmost importance that whatever container used is scrubbed vigorously in hot sudsy water. Cleanliness is paramount in diminishing the risk of pests.

You’ve also made sure the water’s pH is in the correct range. All plants will benefit from the addition of some nutrient to the water. Wait a week before adding any. Remove the water and replace with water and nutrient. A general nutrient will do. Just remember to use 1/4 -1/3 the amount indicated for a given volume of water. Then carefully raise if need be.

Now’s the time to remove the house plant from its pot. Lay out paper over your work surface. This can get messy.

At the soil line, hold the stem gently between 2 fingers. Make sure you don’t pinch the stem. Upend the pot and see if the soil and root ball of the plant comes out. If not,gently tap the pot to encourage release of the soil and root ball. If necessary run a knive along the sides of the pot.

When done, place the plant in your container. If it can’t suspend itself in water right side up, , just place some marbles at the bottom of the container. Or the gravel found in pet stores for aquariums. This will help the support the plant before it develops its root system.

Leaning against the side of the jar should not be injurious to the plant. If you find the look displeasing, find a container with a cork stopper. Put a hole in the center big enough for the stem. Pack the opening with absorbent cotton to keep the stem in place.

You are now doing indoor hydroponics!

Simple isn’t it!

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