Hydroponic Gardening . . . Anyone here do it?

[Melensdad]

Kicking around some ideas on gardening (for next year) and have been watching a lot of YouTube videos on Hydroponics Gardening. It looks to be very productive and also space efficient. So I'm curious, has anyone here tried it? Does anyone here use a hydroponic system currently? Etc etc etc

Thinking of doing some "Dutch Buckets" of tomatoes, peppers, pickles, cukes, eggplants, and maybe even melons. And maybe a "gutter" or PVC tube system for strawberries, lettuce and herbs.

 

[chowderman]

I had a greenhouse - winter cultivation of stuff requires proper heat cycles, humongous light strength, and daily daily daily attention. to manage the water chemistry for hydroponics is a serious education & experience challenge.

we now use the AeroGarden stuff. rather idiot-proof - but the one drawback is the very bright light for almost all the day&night. has to be 'isolated' where the light does not disturb your other activities.

 

[Melensdad]

I'm not convinced to do Hydroponics but it is interesting. I have a workshop/garage where we could do it, it is climate controlled.

There are some interesting videos on DUTCH BUCKET systems that actually look fairly simple. The water chemistry seems just a little more complicated than keeping up with my in-ground swimming pool. Adjust the PH, keep up with the nutrients, set the pump on a timer, check it a couple times a day.

 

[power1]

Did aquaponics for several years.

 

[EastTexFrank]

There's a difference between hydroponics and aquaponics, isn't there?

Many years ago, when I lived in Dallas, I had a friend who was a big-time gardener. All of a sudden, he almost quit conventional gardening and went full time into hydroponics. He said he became a convert after a tour at Disney World of all places. I saw what he was doing, and I understood the principle, but I could never whip up much enthusiasm for it.

 

[Melensdad]

Aquaponics and hydroponics are similar.

These Dutch or Bato Buckets are what really interest me. Primarily for tomatoes, peppers, cukes, sugar snap peas and possibly melons?

 

[power1]

There's a difference between hydroponics and aquaponics, isn't there?

Many years ago, when I lived in Dallas, I had a friend who was a big-time gardener. All of a sudden, he almost quit conventional gardening and went full time into hydroponics. He said he became a convert after a tour at Disney World of all places. I saw what he was doing, and I understood the principle, but I could never whip up much enthusiasm for it.

Yes, with hydroponic you only get vegetables. With aquaponics you get meat also.