With people spending more time in their homes than in recent memory, it’s easy to see why there is a sudden surge in house plants and home gardening. Across Instagram feeds, people love showing off their green thumbs with meticulous outdoor garden beds and indoor house plants that transform their space into a tropical rainforest. Most will require some help in the form of hydroponic chambers for apartment gardens.
If you live in an apartment or don’t have access to an outside space, you may feel left out of this horticultural movement. But, the good news is that you don’t have to. We’re going to share the ins and outs of a method of growing plants–even in small to medium-sized apartments that perhaps you haven’t heard of. And, it might just change your life forever.
It’s called hydroponics.
What is hydroponics?
Hydroponics is the process of growing plants without using soil. If growing plants without dirt seems like science fiction, consider this; for successful growth, all you need are three factors: air, water, and nutrients. In traditional gardening, plants receive nutrients through the soil. In hydroponic gardening, nutrients come directly from the water.
Even more importantly, hydroponic chambers for apartment gardens can be designed to grow vertically or horizontally in all shapes and sizes, which is the flexibility needed for those who live in apartments.
The benefits of growing hydroponics in your apartment
Two of the most tedious tasks in garden management are weeding and watering. Without soil, weeds don’t exist. And, if a plant lives in water 24/7, it actually uses up to 90% less water to grow.
In hydroponic gardening, one of the main focuses is providing specific nutrients to plants only as they need them. Because the soil isn’t there to soak up some nutrients, the plants grow quicker and yield more fruit.
Growing hydroponics in your apartment has many benefits:
- Less labor
- Less resource usage
- Reduced water expense
- Complete control over where and how your plants grow
Of course, it’s also worth noting the enhanced air quality and the increased joy you’ll get from having all that green growing around your home.
The cons of growing hydroponics
While there are many benefits to growing hydroponics in your apartment, it would be unjust to not point out some cons. For one, you do have to maintain the balance of nutrients in the solution. This includes pH monitoring and air pump maintenance. Installation of your system could also include a high initial cost depending on the equipment you need to get started.
However, because of growing popularity, companies now offer starter kits and tools to make indoor hydroponic gardening more affordable and accessible.
Hydroponics in a 500, 1,000, or 1,500+ square foot apartments
With a little ingenuity and some searches around the web, you can have a hydroponic garden up and running in your apartment in no time.
Small-box hydroponic chambers
You can build a small-box hydroponic chamber wherever you have adequate sunlight and controlled temperature. For example, you can create a six-chamber system that provides plenty of space for your plants with a 4X8X6 inch plastic box or aquarium.
Vertical hydroponic chambers
Perhaps building or purchasing even a small box won’t work for your apartment’s layout. That’s okay. Another benefit to hydroponics is that they can be made vertically instead of horizontally. Vertical towers can fit into smaller spaces and are perfect if you don’t have a flat surface to place them on.
Balconies and rooftops
Even if your outside space is concrete or synthetic, balconies and rooftops make great spaces to place hydroponic chambers. You’ll simply want to ensure plenty of exposure to sunlight and keep them out of the path of critters.
What supplies do I need?
If purchasing a pre-made kit doesn’t work for your needs, there many benefits to building your own hydroponic chambers for apartment gardens. Most notably, you can design it to fit any space you need and customize it based on what you want to grow or where the sun shines into your place.
If you want to build your own, here is a rundown of supplies you will need.
A light source
While sunlight is best, you can achieve great results with an alternative light source such as grow lights. You can find these at any hardware store or most nurseries. You’ll also need access to electrical outlets and a structure to support your lights.
Substrates
A substrate is a base on which an organism lives. In traditional gardening, the soil is a substrate. In hydroponic gardening, substrates can be made from natural materials like pea gravel, sand, sawdust, perlite, peat moss, coconut fiber, and vermiculite. You can also use Rockwool or expanded clay pellets.
Water
The best water for hydroponic plants is reverse osmosis (RO) water. RO water is water that has been filtered to remove harmful compounds and impurities. Luckily, RO water can be found very easily at grocery stores for about a dollar per gallon or from water dispensaries for 30 to 50 cents per gallon. This is the water of choice because its purity makes it easier to keep your hydroponic plant nutrients balanced.
pH testers
Testing for pH is simple. You can purchase test strips for individual use or find a pH meter for reuse. Most hydroponic plants should have a pH level between 5 to 6, but some crops may require slightly higher or lower levels. pH levels are essential because these are the ideal conditions for nutrient intake by your plants. As the plants absorb nutrients, you’ll need to continue testing periodically to maintain the desired balance.
Micro and macronutrients
Plants require specific micro and macronutrients to survive. This includes:
- Nitrogen
- Potassium
- Phosphorus
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Sulfur
- Iron
- Manganese
- Copper
- Zinc
- Molybdate
- Boron
- Chlorine
The most efficient way to ensure that you have the right balance and mix of nutrients is to purchase a hydroponic premix. You should not use soil fertilizers because the mixture will be different and lead to deficiencies.
A hydroponic system
There are multiple systems out there for hydroponic chambers for apartment gardens to choose from. These can be purchased in kits or built from scratch. Ultimately, it will depend on what type of design you need for the space you have. In each system, the main components include a leak-proof base, air pumps, and air hoses.
What can you grow in hydroponic chambers?
Lettuces
Lettuces are among the most popular home hydroponic plants because they grow quickly and are simple to care for. They can be grown in a cool space and require a pH level of 6.0 – 7.0. For someone just starting out, these are a great choice.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes offer a great option if your apartment is on the warmer side. Any variety will do, but cherry and grape tomatoes are probably the most common hydroponic choices. One note is that tomatoes require a lot of light, so if your apartment lacks that area, you should consider building a grow light structure for them. The ideal pH level for tomatoes is 5.5 – 6.5.
Radishes
Radishes thrive in cool temperatures and require very little to no light. These factors make them easy to grow, and you can see their growth within just a week of seeding. The ideal pH level for radishes is 6.0 – 7.0.
Kale
Kale thrives in hydroponic systems. They prefer a cool to warm space with pH levels of 5.5 – 6.5.
Cucumbers
Whether you like cucumbers for snacking, slicing into salads, or turning into pickles, cucumbers offer excellent yield when grown in the right conditions. They prefer hot spaces and need a pH level of 5.5 – 6.0.
Spinaches
Like lettuces, spinaches are easy to grow in hydroponics and thrive in cool spaces. Their preferred pH level is 6.0 – 7.0. Under the right conditions, you can harvest spinach continuously for up to 12 weeks.
Basil
Basil grows very well in hydroponic systems, which is likely why it’s the most common herb for home gardeners. It favors warm temperatures, a lot of light, and a pH level of 5.5 – 6.5.
Strawberries
In commercial hydroponic production, strawberries are one of the most popular plants. They prefer warm temperatures and a pH of 6.0.
Peppers
Like tomatoes, peppers are commonly grown in hydroponic systems under warm to hot conditions and pH levels of 5.5 – 6.0. They typically take two to three months to mature.
Of course, this is just a sample of what you can grow with hydroponics. The options are limitless, even if your apartment space is limited.