Essentials
Everything you need, in one place.
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Nutrients
A plant without soil has nowhere else to pull what it needs from. Everything it absorbs comes from the water, and what’s in the water depends on what you put there. What’s on this page covers a few different approaches, from full liquid nutrient systems to targeted corrections like pH and calcium, with what’s worth knowing before you choose.
Equipment
The wrong pump, an inaccurate meter, or a timer that doesn’t hold its cycle can throw off an entire grow. The equipment on this page was chosen for a specific reason in each case, and that reason is explained alongside it.
Pest control
Hydroponics reduces pests, but doesn’t eliminate them. Aphids, whiteflies, thrips, and fungus gnats show up sooner or later. What’s listed here handles each of them differently, without pesticides and without compromising a closed system.
Seeds
Not every seed performs well without soil. Head size, heat tolerance, and how a variety adapts to a hydroponic system all matter from germination onward. What’s on this page was chosen with home growers in mind, from a first crop to a full rotation.
Systems
These range from DIY builds using accessible materials to a ready-to-install countertop system. Each option has a different profile for space, cost, and complexity, and it’s worth understanding what each one actually delivers before buying.
Add-ons
These are the items nobody lists first, but growers miss them from day one. Rockwool cubes, net pots, and an air stone each serve a specific function the rest of the system doesn’t run well without.
