Simple Hydroponic Wick System for Beginner At Home

Hydroponic is the new trend of gardening method without soil. In hydroponic system, the gardener use water as carrier to supply nutrients for the plants. There are some different types of hydroponic system available around the world including hydroponic wick system, ebb-flow, drip, NFT (nutrient film technique). But for beginner, I recommend you to try hydroponic wick system, this hydroponic gardening method is so simple and ideal for growing lettuces and herbs which are often wonderful plants for beginners. Lettuces and herbs can be grown any time of year and can be used as daily ingredients.

In this hydroponic wick system, the nutrients in a solution reservoir will move up the wick into the plant’s root system via capillary movement. So you don’t need any pumps or other mechanical parts. In the hydroponic wick system, the plant sits above the reservoir and very near to minimize the travel distance of the nutrients up the wick.

This hydroponic wick system is very good for small plants and require less watering so that’s why growing hydroponic lettuce and herbs are the good option for this hydroponic gardening method.

In order to build a hydroponic wick system you will need some materials such as:

1. A container to support or to hold the plant in place.
2. A container as nutrient solution reservoir.
3. A growing medium that is suitable for hydroponic wick system such as perlite and coco coir. 
4. A wick like a rope, string, strip of felt, cloth etc.

Even hydroponic wick system is so simple but you still need to take care and maintain them manually. Here are some tips for maintaining hydroponic wick system and keep healthy plant growth:

• You may set up multiple wicks in order to supply plants with a greater amount of nutrients and water.
• You need to keep the nutrient solution level high in the reservoir so you don’t need to add the solution everyday.
• Rinse your growing medium regularly. This way can avoid nutrient build up which can be toxic to plants.
• If needed, you can try to add an air stone to aerate water so it can helps provide more oxygen to your plants.
• Wash the container regularly to avoid algae growth.

You may reuse soft drink plastic bottle just to start the simple and cheap thing in hydroponic gardening method.

Photo credit: en.wikipedia.org