The most important things in a nutshell:
A simple DIY project is the wick system, it is easy to implement at home as it is passive and requires no electrical components – the roots are continuously supplied with water and nutrients via a wick.

To build a hydroponic system, you need PVC pipes, connecting elements, glue, a container for the nutrient solution, tools such as drills and a water pump, as well as net pots and nutrient solution for the plants.

Monitor the pH value and nutrient solution, clean the system regularly and follow the tips for successful hydroponics

Introduction to hydroponic systems

In the world of hydroponics, there are various systems, each of which is suitable for different requirements and plant species. A distinction is made between passive and active hydroponic systems.

• Passive systems do not require any electrical components. Thanks to their independence from a power source, they can therefore be used extremely flexibly, which can be a great advantage in various scenarios.
• Active systems are more complex in design and require electricity, but are also much more effective.

A simple alternative for a passive DIY hydroponics system at home is the wick system. In this method, the plants are wrapped in a growing medium such as coconut fiber or perlite, which is placed in a container with water and nutrient solution.

A wick or capillary feeds the nutrient solution from the reservoir to the roots of the plants, providing them with a continuous supply of water and nutrients.
This system requires few materials, is independent of electricity, and is easy to build and maintain.

In the following, we will discuss the construction of an NFT system (nutrient film technique), as this offers an efficient way to grow plants without a soil substrate by cultivating them in a shallow channel system with a continuous supply of nutrient solution. This hydroponic method is ideal for growing herbs, salads and other plants at home, especially in environments with limited space.

Aeroponic irrigation systems

Growing plants with just a green thumb and great care requires a lot of intuition and time. Aeroponics, also known as “air culture”, is a special form of plant cultivation without soil and is considered a sub-form of hydroponics. Aeroponic systems enable better nutrient uptake, accelerate plant growth and save resources (water, fertilizer), which makes plant cultivation with aeroponic systems more productive overall.

Unlike hydroponics, the roots of vegetable plants, herbs, medicinal plants or other cuttings in aeroponic systems are not suspended in water, but in the air (Latin “aero”), where they are better supplied with oxygen. The plants draw the nutrients they need for continuous growth from a nutrient solution consisting of water and fertilizer, which is sprayed directly onto the roots at regular intervals. There are several methods of spraying the fertilizer solution onto the plant roots: using a nozzle system or ultrasonic atomization (very fine spray mist).