How To Make A Hydroponic System From A Soda Bottle

There are several gardening systems that can utilise soda bottles to great effect. Perhaps the best of these is hydroponics. Hydroponics is a gardening system where plants are grown in a nutrient-rich solution. The distinctive characteristic of this system is that soil is not used as the growing medium. Hydro uses an inert medium such as rockwool, perlite, coco coir, or clay pebbles. For the plants to grow, the roots must be exposed to this solution.

The advantages of hydroponic growing include:

• Less space is used. Plants in a hydroponic system do not grow extensive roots since they have easy access to necessary nutrients. Therefore, plants can grow closer together, occupying less space - a great advantage for indoor gardeners.

• Soil is not needed. This unique characteristic is a great way to keep indoor operations clean and easy to maintain.

• Accelerated growth of plants. According to experts, plants in hydroponic systems grow 20% faster than those grown in soil.

• Increased yields. Hydroponic gardening produces up to 25% higher yields compared to soil gardening.

• Saves water. Hydro utilises water reservoirs that are enclosed and sealed, preventing evaporation and keeping water from seeping out. Plants absorb only the water they need, while the rest remains in the reservoir. In fact, a hydroponic system saves 90% of water compared to soil gardening.

• No weeds. One of the most tedious jobs in gardening is getting rid of weeds. In a hydroponic system, weeds do not grow.

• Reduced diseases and pests. Soil is more vulnerable to pathogens and naturally contains more microbial life—both positive and negative.

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE A DIY SODA BOTTLE HYDROPONIC SYSTEM

A soda bottle hydro system is an easy way to experiment with hydroponics since most of the supplies needed are already lying around your home.

What you will need:

• An empty 2-liter soda bottle

• An old sock (or any other robust cotton material)

• Scissors

• Cling wrap

• Black marker

• Small mixing bowl

• Cannabis seeds of your choice

• Perlite

• Peat moss

HOW TO MAKE A SODA BOTTLE HYDRO SYSTEM: STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

After gathering the supplies mentioned in the section above, follow these steps:

1. Prepare The Bottle

Rinse the soda bottle. Draw a black line through the middle, then use a pair of sharp scissors to cut the bottle in two. Keep both the top and bottom halves.

2. Create A Wick

Insert the sock through the bottleneck. If the sock is large, you might have to cut it. However, make sure the piece of sock is large enough to block the opening to prevent the media from falling into the water reservoir.

3. Prepare The Inert Media

The media is a mixture of peat moss and perlite. Mix these products at a ratio of 1:1. To fill your bottle, you will need about one cup of each of the products.

4. Fill Up The Reservoir

The bottom half of the soda bottle will act as the reservoir. Fill it with water.

5. Attach The Grow Tray To Water Reservoir

The top half of the soda bottle is the growing tray. Hold it upside down and drop it slowly into the water reservoir. Important: At least 2cm of the wick (sock) should extend into the water.

6. Put Media Into Tray

Fill up the grow tray with the media you prepared in Step 3. It should not fall into the water reservoir. If it does, pour it out and refill.

7. Moisten Media

Slowly pour a cup of water into the media to moisten it.

8. Plant Your Seed

Insert a seed into the media. A distance of about 2cm from the top is enough.

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9. Wrap The Setup To Create A “Greenhouse”

The germination process requires regulated conditions, similar to those in a greenhouse. To create a mini-greenhouse, wrap the entire setup in cling wrap. Store your new hydroponic system in a warm place.

10. Place It In Natural Light

Plants require light to grow. After the seed germinates and grows a couple centimetres, move your hydroponic garden to a space with good natural light.

SODA BOTTLE HYDRO AND BEYOND

A soda bottle hydroponic system is low-budget, low-maintenance, and easy to set up. It's perfect for a beginner looking to get their feet wet in hydroponics, without having to purchase all the expensive equipment. That said, soda bottle hydro systems can be used to great effect, even by those with plenty of commercial cultivation experience. Entire grow rooms filled with dozens of soda bottle hydro setups are not unheard of. After all, where there’s a will (and a little imagination), there’s a way to grow great weed.

Luke Sumpter

With a BSc (Hons) degree in Clinical Health Sciences and a passion for growing plants, Luke Sumpter has worked as a professional journalist and writer at the intersection of cannabis and science for the past 7 years.

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