If you are thinking about starting your hydroponic garden one of the things you should consider is where to buy hydroponic equipment. Finding the right place to buy hydroponic equipment can be a little bit tricky depending on your circumstances. There are various places where you can buy hydroponic equipment, but each place will be suitable for different people depending on your circumstances.
Some people may be on a tight budget and may want to find a place where they can get good deals on their hydroponic equipment costs. Other people may just be starting out and may just want to buy the very basic equipment and test things out before deciding if this is the right endeavor for them. Others may be scaling up their hydroponic farming and may want to get bigger and higher-end equipment with the right purchase terms or great deals.
Irrespective of what your circumstances are, here are some of the best places to buy hydroponic equipment whether you are a beginner, hobbyist, or an expert hydroponic farmer.
- Amazon
- Alibaba
- EBay
- Facebook Marketplace
- Craiglist
- Big box stores
- Independent suppliers
Page Contents
Can You Buy Hydroponic Equipment on Amazon?
Amazon is a great place where you can get almost all of your hydroponic equipment and supplies especially if you are either a beginner or a hobbyist. You will likely find most of the lower-end to middle-end equipment on Amazon and you are certain to get perks like free shipping on your purchases, read product reviews from previous buyers (to help you make a decision on the right product/brand), etc.
Most people in the U.S and Europe already use Amazon and this may be an easier choice for you if you are already an Amazon customer and you want to buy basic equipment for a beginner hydroponic gardener or hobbyist. You can also consider buying the cheaper sometimes used items on Amazon if you are on a limited budget or if you just want to test things out.
Amazon may not be a very good option for you if you are already a hydroponic farmer and want to expand or scale up your hydroponic farm. This is because Amazon is an online retailer and you may not get the big deals on large purchases like you would if you are making large purchases from a dealer or manufacturer directly.
Advantages
- Wide variety of hydroponic equipment and machinery to select from
- Easy product returns/money-back guarantee
- Free shipping on most major purchases
- Lots of customer reviews to gauge user experiences with products/equipment
Disadvantages
- It may cost a little more
- Deals or savings on bulk purchases may be rare
Click here to visit Amazon to see some of the hydroponic equipment that you can buy there.
Can You Buy Hydroponic Equipment on Alibaba?
Alibaba is a global wholesale eCommerce site where you can find almost any type of hydroponic equipment you are looking for. There are thousands of manufacturers of all kinds of machinery and products that are looking for customers for their products.
Products are usually priced at wholesale and you are more likely to save some money or get a good deal if you make bulk orders. Alibaba.com will be a good option if you are trying to scale up your hydroponic farming operations and want to purchase several units of equipment or machinery.
However, I will suggest that you purchase a sample unit and test it to make sure that it meets your needs before placing orders for bulk purchases. The disadvantage with buying hydroponic equipment on Alibaba.com is that you may not get after-sales services to address issues that you may experience with your machinery or equipment. Also, always use some escrow account with Alibaba (Alipay services) to ensure that you protect your funds with a money-back guarantee so that you can get your funds back if you don’t get what you want.
Advantages
- A large variety of hydroponic tools and equipment to choose from
- More affordable prices especially with bulk purchases
- A great option to save money from large/bulk purchases
- Get transaction protections with escrow accounts and money-back guarantees
Disadvantages
- Poor or lack of after-sales services
- Likelihood of getting substandard equipment
Can You Buy Hydroponic Equipment on eBay?
Ebay is a popular eCommerce platform where you can buy hydroponic equipment. Large companies and third-party sellers list their products for sale and you will find manufacturers of hydroponic equipment that are selling their products on Ebay. Many individuals or third part sellers also list functional used hydroponic products and equipment for sale on Ebay.
Ebay is the best option for buying hydroponic equipment if you just want to test things out first before deciding if this is what you want to do on a large scale or if you are doing hydroponic gardening as a hobby and don’t want to spend a lot of money on equipment.
One of the great advantages with using Ebay is that you can find great bargains on good quality used equipment that is in great shape. However, do not expect any good after-sales services if you are not buying from a retailer or product manufacturer.
Advantages
- Great deals on used hydroponic equipment in excellent shape
- Wide variety of hydroponic products to choose from
- Several hydroponic tools and equipment sold by product manufacturers
Disadvantages
- No after-sales services for used hydroponic tools and equipment
- There may be high shipping costs especially with individual or third party sellers
Can You Buy Hydroponic Equipment on Facebook Marketplace
Facebook marketplace is mostly popular for selling and buying used hydroponic equipment and tools. Many hydroponic gardeners or farmers who may no longer need their hydroponic equipment and tools often list them for sale, for barter, or for free on the Facebook marketplace.
Facebook groups or communities for hydroponic growers or gardeners are also good places to check when buying hydroponic equipment. Always remember to check for such Facebook communities in your local area first before looking elsewhere.
Buying hydroponic equipment and tools on the Facebook marketplace is usually the best option when you are bootstrapping to start your hydroponic garden or if you have a tight budget and don’t want to spend money on brand new hydroponic equipment and tools.
However, you must also take necessary precautions to protect your funds when purchasing hydroponic equipment on social media marketplaces like Facebook marketplace since they are often peer-to-peer transactions.
Advantages
- Possibility of getting used hydroponic tools and equipment for free or at steep bargains
- Easily accessible community of people with similar interests
- May find needed equipment and tools in your neighborhood or local community
Disadvantages
- Limited variety of available hydroponic equipment and tools for sale
- Mostly used hydroponic equipment and tools sold in ‘as-is’ condition
- No after-sales services
Can You Buy Hydroponic Equipment on Craiglist
Craigslist is a great website where you can buy great hydroponic equipment at a very great price and sometimes even free. Various local areas (town/city) usually have pages on Craiglist where people list all kinds of items or services for sale. These listings of for-sale items are normally classified under various categories like appliances, auto parts, farm + garden, etc.
You can check the farm+garden category for hydroponic equipment and tools that have been listed for sale, or you can check the free category to see if there is any equipment or tool that has been listed there as a giveaway.
Craiglist is best for hydroponic gardeners who are not yet ready to spend a lot of money on new equipment. Fairly used or used equipment for soilless gardening or farming that is in great condition can be found easily on Craiglist. However, the drawback of buying your equipment on Craiglist is that you may not have a performance guarantee on the equipment, and the equipment may not last very long especially if its useful life has been spent significantly already. [Get screenshots for craigslist]
Advantages
- Easily available in your local area
- Almost no need for shipping
- Equipment may be cheap or even free
Disadvantages
- Equipment will most likely not have any performance guarantee
- Lifespan may be short
Where to Buy Hydroponic Equipment – Big Box Stores
Most big box stores or retailers sell hydroponic equipment, tools, and supplies. These equipment, tools, and supplies can be found in the gardening section of the stores and sometimes home improvement and appliances.
Hydroponic equipment like grow kits, pots and trays, grow substrates, greenhouse, etc. can easily be found in the gardening section while equipment like timers and controllers, indoor hydroponic gardens, etc. can be found in the appliances section. The locations of these equipment and tools may vary for different stores, but the classification is often similar. You can always ask a store clerk or associate to help you find what you are looking for.
The good thing about buying hydroponic equipment at big box retail stores is that you get a money-back guarantee covered by a very elaborate returns policy so you can be rest assured when buying your equipment and supplies.
Some of the big box stores that sell hydroponic equipment and tools include:
- Walmart
Walmart is the largest retail store chain in the United States with stores that have very large gardening sections. You can find various hydroponic equipment and supplies at most Walmart stores. Walmart prides itself on having the lowest prices and you are likely to find good deals on new equipment and save some money.
You can also check and shop online at Walmart.com where you are likely going to have access to more equipment and tool options than shopping at your local Walmart store. The good thing is that shipping your purchased items will most likely be free.
- Home Depot
You can find and buy a large selection of hydroponic equipment and tools at Home Depot stores. Home Depot is a large chain of home improvement stores in the United States. You can find almost any equipment, tools, and materials that you need for home improvement projects at Home Depot. Hydroponic equipment and tools are more likely to be found in the gardening section of the stores.
Home Depot stores may not be as geographically widespread as Walmart but the store has a large inventory of hydroponic equipment, tools, and supplies listed on their online store. You can check online at www.homedepot.com and make your purchases online. Purchased equipment will be shipped to you most likely free especially if the value of your purchased items is above a certain threshold.
You can easily find hydroponic supplies such as grow substrate, plant nutrients, pH maintenance kits, PVC pipes, etc. as well as equipment like greenhouses, water pumps, air pumps, etc.
- Lowes
You can buy hydroponic equipment and supplies at Lowes stores. Lowes is another large chain of home improvement stores and you can find most hydroponic equipment and supplies at these stores. Some of the common hydroponic gardening equipment tools that you can find at Lowes include hydroponic grow kits, water pumps, air pumps, indoor garden kits, etc.
The great thing is that you shop online at lowes.com and you will likely get free shipping for your purchases.
- Ikea
I kea stores are primarily furniture stores but you can buy some hydroponic equipment at Ikea stores. The selection of hydroponic equipment that you can buy at Ikea stores may not be as large as the other retailers but you can find some equipment that may be helpful in doing your work. Most of the hydroponic equipment Ikea sells is indoor hydroponic gardens, racks, and towers that can be used for growing indoor hydroponic plants.
Independent Suppliers -Hydrofarm etc.
You can also buy hydroponic equipment, tools, and equipment at various independent suppliers. These are niche stores that specialize in selling gardening and hydroponic equipment, tools, and supplies. You are likely to find them in your local area and a few of them may have regional or statewide store chains.
The cost at these stores may be a little bit higher than the big box stores but you often get more personalized services especially when you often shop at these locations. Also, independent suppliers of hydroponic equipment may have a large inventory of hydroponic products like the other big box stores. Some of the store owners may also be hydroponic growers and they can often make suggestions to you when you are not certain about anything you want to get.