Which hydroponic System is best for beginners
DWC (Deep Water Culture) is the best hydroponic system for beginners. Installing it at home is easy and cheap. The water in DWC hydroponic system does not recirculate. In this system oxygen is created by air pump and air stone.
Crops that can be grown in DWC System
The best crops grown in DWC Hydroponic system are spinach, lettuce, kale , bok choy and coriander. DWC is not for vine crops and long rooted crops because the right kind of support cannot be provided for such plant in this system.
Materials required to make DWC system at home:
- Food grade pipe (1m)
- Air pump and Air stone
- Air pipe
- Net Pots
- LECA balls
- Hydroponic Nutrients
- TDS meter
- pH meter or pH Strip
- Seeds or plants
Method
- Check the quality of pipe
It is highly recommended that you used high quality of food grade UPVC pipe and not regular UPVC Pipe Because The food grade pipe protects the plants from dangerous rays of the sun alsoprevents it from algae.
- Drill holes into the lid of the pipe
Second step is to drill the holes into the lid of the pipe where the net pot will be placed. With the help of special drill tools machine. The drill made, has to be same size of net the net pot.
- Assemble your air pump
Connect the air stone with the air pipe which is then connected to the air pump. The Air pump must remain outside the channel whereas air stone will be dipped inside the water placed, in the channel. The air pump must be turned on 24 hrs.
- Assemble the System
After assembling the air pump and the air stone, secure the lid on the channel and your DWC system is almost finished. Then add the clay balls in the net pots placing the plant in them.
How do maintain your DWC hydroponic system:
- It is very important to keep the water level low when plant is young.
- Maintain pH between 5.5 to 6.5
- Clean the channel and change the water every 14-21 days.
- Also maintain the nutrient level
We have a 5 planter DWC kit which can be placed anywhere, provided there is minimum 6 hrs of sunlight exposure.
This kit include:
- 1 m 100×100 NFT channel with lid and fix end cap
- 5 net pots and 1 packet of Spinach seeds
- 250 ml 3 set of Nutrients
- TDS meter
- pH strip
- LECA balls
- Air Pump
- Air stone and Air pipe
- Includes setup manual and growing guide
This is a very good start-up kit for beginners.