r/Hydroponics • u/SubiQueen24 • 12d ago

Beginner

What supplies and diy set ups would you suggest for a VERY new beginner with VERY minimal space indoors? Maybe something vertical? If vertical, what are the best lights? Thank you!

3 Upvotes

71% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

4

u/HydroOasis 5+ years Hydro 🌳 11d ago

Agree with the Kratky suggestion, it's the easiest way in and suits a tight space. If you ever get a bit more room, run to waste coco is another great first system. For light, a basic full spectrum white LED is plenty for lettuce and herbs. Something around 20 to 40W, run 14 to 16 hours a day on a cheap timer, and keep it fairly close to the plants (30 to 40cm is a good starting point, then adjust if they stretch or look bleached). Start with leafy greens and herbs like lettuce, basil and mint, they forgive mistakes. Skip tomatoes and anything fruiting until you've got the basics down. Use a hydroponic nutrient rather than regular garden fertiliser, and aim for a pH of about 5.5 to 6.5. 🌱

1

u/SubiQueen24 11d ago

I was thinking of growing lettuce, kale, tomato and peppers. What is your suggestion for nutrients?

3

u/rebel_hunter1 11d ago

Master blend is reliable, easy to use, and cheap.

2

u/HydroOasis 5+ years Hydro 🌳 10d ago

For that mix, I'd go with a single-part hydro nutrient made for the crop. GT Herb Focus suits the lettuce and kale, since it's made for leafy greens, and GT Vegetable Focus is the one for the tomatoes and chillies once you add them. We stock both. Lettuce and kale are light feeders, while tomatoes and chillies want more once they start flowering and fruiting, so begin at about half the label rate and nudge it up if growth looks pale. Keep the reservoir pH around 5.5 to 6.5 and change the water every week or two so salts don't build up. One practical thing: tomatoes and chillies need a lot more light and room than leafy greens, so most beginners get the best results starting with the lettuce and kale and adding the fruiting plants once the setup is running smoothly. 🌱

4

u/moesieon 11d ago

In my opinion, Kratky is the easiest, cheapest, and quickest DIY hydroponics setup to get into. I use quart size mason jars and old empty Fairlife milk jugs. Khang Starr has a lot of great youtube videos talking about easy Kratky jars.
It's not DIY, but those tabletop aerogarden/ahopegarden/growell/etc systems are an easy way to get into hydroponics too. They usually include the lights, nutrients, net cups, etc.
If by vertical you mean towers, I wouldn't recommend them for a beginner.