What Equipment is Needed for Hydroponics Gardening

Indoor hydroponic gardening requires various tools that serve different purposes. These tools are essential to growing plants efficiently and effectively using a hydroponic system (soilless gardening). Understanding the different hydroponic tools and equipment and how to use them can significantly affect the kind of results you get.

Some of the hydroponic equipment and tools that you need include:

• Water Pumps

Water pumps are at the center and heart of hydroponic farming because these devices are responsible for circulating water and the nutrient that plants need to grow and thrive. In most hydroponic systems, water or nutrient solution is circulated or pumped from a reservoir to a grow bed where the plants are kept.

Certain factors need to be considered before determining the best type of water pump that will be most suitable for your hydroponic farming needs. Some of these factors include delivery height, target flow rate, output tube size, ease of maintenance, etc.

See more details about different types of water pumps here.

• Water Heaters and Chillers

The temperature of hydroponic solutions is very important to plant nutrient availability and uptake by the plant roots. The water or nutrient solution has to be within a certain temperature range for plant roots to absorb the nutrients from the solution effectively. The ideal temperature range for hydroponic nutrient solution is usually between 65 – 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

When hydroponic solution temperature drops below the ideal range as is often the case during the winter season, water heaters can be used to warm up the solution to raise the temperature back to the ideal temperature range. Most of these water heaters are submersible and can be connected to timers and thermostats to automate this process.

On the other hand, when hydroponic solution temperatures rise above the ideal temperature range, water chillers can be used to add cold water into the solution to bring back the temperature within the ideal range for the hydroponic solution.

See more details about hydroponic water heaters and chillers here.

• Air Pumps

Air pumps are more or less like ventilators for plants in the hydroponic system. Plants need oxygen to grow and perform other metabolic processes. Oxygen is absorbed from the water (through the roots) or nutrient solution pumped by the water pump. Air pumps usually enhance the aeration of the roots and increase oxygen concentration around the roots which can contribute to high yields and good plant health.

Air pumps also help in keeping nutrients evenly distributed within the nutrient solution without becoming unevenly concentrated. Some of the factors to consider when getting air pumps include airflow capacity, reservoir size, water temperature, and crop or plant type, and plant age.

See more details about different types of air pumps here.

• Timers and Controllers

Timers and controllers are very important in hydroponic systems set up especially if you plan to set up hydroponic systems that run automatically or with minimal manual processes. Timers are used in programming certain equipment to perform specific actions especially equipment that may be used for certain repetitive tasks.

One of the advantages of using a timer or controller is that it significantly reduces the likelihood of mistakes from human action. All you have to do is to determine the right conditions that the plants need to grow very well and use that information to program your equipment to turn on/off or perform certain actions at scheduled time intervals or periods.

Some of the equipment that you can control using timers and controllers include ventilation and temperature control fans, grow lights and lamps, sprinklers, illumination lights, air conditioners.

See more details about different types of timers and controllers here.

• Hydroponic Tubing

Tubes are very essential hydroponic tools or materials that are often required for building the infrastructure with which your plants will depend to grow effectively. Tubes are used to create the conduit through which nutrient solution and water that is necessary for plant growth and survival are transported from the reservoir to the trays or grow beds.

There are different types of tubes that also come in various sizes. Small size tubes like vinyl tubing are often used with equipment like water and air pumps to carry water or air through the hydroponic solution. While the larger tubes like (PVC) tubes are often used for building the frame of hydroponic grow kits that also contain drilled holes in which hydroponic plants are planted.

See more details about hydroponic tubing here.  Check Price on Amazon

• Pots and Trays

Pots and trays are also part of hydroponic equipment or kits especially for beginners that may be trying to save cost while getting started. They are mostly used as planters for hydroponic gardening.

Some growers prefer to use rectangular or square pots because the shapes allow them to conserve and save space, especially where limited space is available, unlike circular-shaped pots where dead space is often left used between the pots.

There different types of hydroponic grow pots and trays made from various materials like plastic, clay, and fabric, etc.

See more details about different types of grow pots and trays here.

• Hydroponic Grow Kits

Hydroponic grow kits can be considered as indoor gardening equipment that is easy to assemble and start your hydroponic garden. There are different types of hydroponic grow kits but most of the common kits are made with PVC pipes that are connected to a reservoir of nutrient solution that supplies nutrients to the plants with the help of a water pump.

Hydroponic grow kits are also very good for people who are hobbyists or beginners because it helps you to learn about hydroponic methods of gardening without having to spend a lot of money.

See more details about hydroponic grow kits here.

• Hydroponic Substrates

As you may have already known, soil is not used in hydroponic gardening. So how are plants seedlings nurtured without soil? Materials known as substrates are used to for nurturing and plants. Substrates provide the foundational support and anchor that plants need. Substrates also provide media from which nutrients and water can be absorbed by the plant roots.

Substrates can be derived from various materials which can be organic or inorganic. Most of the properties that make a material suitable for use as a substrate include porosity, inertness (the ability to be neutral and not influence the nutrient concentrations (electric conductivity), etc.

See more details about hydroponic substrates here.

• Hydroponic Plant Nutrients and Fertilizers

Hydroponic plants obtain their nutrients through plant nutrients and fertilizers since the soil is not used in hydroponic gardening or farming. Inorganic nutrient compounds and fertilizers are mixed in water (using standard measurements) to create a balanced hydroponic nutrient solution that is then supplied to the plants.

Usually, this nutrient solution is pumped to grow trays where plants are fixed in substrates and their roots absorb these nutrients from the solution. There are different types of plant nutrients and fertilizers that perform different functions in the growth and maturity of plants.

The chemical characteristics of the nutrient solutions are monitored consistently to ensure that the nutrients are always available in the right amounts (concentration) at any time for the plants.

See more details about plant nutrients and fertilizers here.

• Hydroponic Grow Tents

You may be wondering “what is a hydroponic tent used for?” especially if you are a hydroponic gardening beginner. Hydroponic grow tents are useful for effective indoor hydroponic gardening. Plants require specific environmental conditions to grow and flourish but the kind of conditions that plants desire may not be favorable for you most of the time especially if that space is also your living space.

For instance, plants may need light for long hours but it may become very uncomfortable to leave your lights on for very long hours especially at night when you want to sleep.

This is why you need to use hydroponic grow tents so that you can isolate the hydroponic plants and keep them in their own enclosed environment where all the conditions that are necessary for plants to flourish and grow well can be provided in a controlled environment.

There are different sizes of grow tents and many of them have features that are suitable for creating the right environment for indoor plant growth.

See more details about hydroponic grow tents here.

• Inline/Intake Fans

Intake fans are fitted to most indoor grow tents, grow rooms, or greenhouses and they blow air through the grow enclosure (tent, room, greenhouse). Intake fans are typically on the outside to save space inside the grow tent. Static air can lead to various issues for hydroponic plants including high humidity, dampness, etc. which may also create perfect conditions for disease and some pest infestations.

Intake fans are used for maintaining airflow through the tent. This helps external air to move into the grow tent and the air inside the tent is normally blown out via port ducts. Constant airflow prevents detrimental environmental conditions, as well disease and pest infestations. Most intake fans are fitted with HEPA filters that tend to trap environmental particles, disease-causing organisms, etc. that can go through the fan into the tent.

There are different fans for different sizes of grow tents of other enclosed grow spaces.

See more details about hydroponic intake fans here.

• Grow Lights and Accessories

Plants need light for growth and other metabolic functions like photosynthesis. Grow lights are used for providing the right amount of light that hydroponic plants need since most hydroponic gardening occurs in an enclosed environment where light may be very limited. There are different types of hydroponic grow lights that may be useful for different kinds of plants or at different stages of their growth.

Some of the different types of grow lights include fluorescents, high-pressure sodium, metal halides, ceramic metal halides, light-emitting diodes (LED), etc.

See more details about hydroponic grow lights here.

• Meters for Hydroponic Grow Conditions (E.C, PH, Light Intensity, PAR, DLI, Temperature, Humidity)

There are various types of meters that are used for measuring and monitoring different types of environmental conditions or grow conditions. These conditions need to be closely monitored and maintained at specific acceptable levels for plants to grow and thrive well.

Some of the environmental conditions that are closely monitored include temperature, humidity, light intensity, nutrient solution electric conductivity, etc. Some of the measuring meters used for monitoring these conditions include a thermometer for temperatures, a hygrometer for humidity, electrical conductivity meters, PH control kits, etc.

Most of these devices are designed to measure most conditions (E.C, pH, temperature, humidity) so that you don’t need to get separate devices for each condition.

See more details about meters here.

• Hydroponic Greenhouse

A Hydroponic greenhouse is used for growing plants hydroponically in an enclosed space. Greenhouses are structures that are specifically designed and constructed to create space for gardening or indoor farming in an enclosed and controlled environment. There are different types of greenhouses with each type having its features and advantages.

There are a few important factors that should be considered before deciding the type of greenhouse to buy for your hydroponic gardening or farming needs. Factors like the site of installation, size of greenhouse, utility costs, whether to buy greenhouse kits or to construct one, etc. Factors like these should be considered carefully before making a decision.

See more details about hydroponic greenhouses here.

• Indoor Hydroponic Gardens

If you don’t really like the idea of going to the grocery store anytime you need to eat freshly harvested vegetables or food, or if you want to be confident about the source of your food, then you need to consider getting an indoor hydroponic garden.  These are indoor hydroponic gardening units specially designed for in-home use like one of your electrical appliances.

There are various sizes and designs of indoor hydroponic gardens with amazing features. Some of them are the size of your crockpot while others can be the size of a refrigerator. You can also control some of them from your phone using an App to control almost all the various growth conditions. They are usually easy to set up.

You can grow plants in them all year round and have your favorite plants or food at any time irrespective of the season.