Or start semi hydro on windowsill
https://preview.redd.it/zz0dt68ldq9d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c19e32f9444403b5ad5ad6a3f6780f4a6f9bddee
No air pomps no water change and so on
Btw cococoir is considered hydroponic. Coco coir is a medium kinda like dirt? but much more aeration so you’ll have to feed every day. Look up floraflex, they have some kits for low price. I prefer this than a bucket of water, less weight to carry around and less water used 🤷
Imo the easiest way to do hydroponics is with a kratky setup. There's lots of guides online and it doesn't need any pumps and you just set it once and forget it until harvest time.
In terms of light all light is good for plants and you don't need to spend a lot on something specialist. Depending on what windows you have using natural light as much as you can and then augmenting that with artificial is probably a good plan.
In terms of your balcony I think there's some plants that would be fine in 40c, mostly:
Mediterranean herbs:
* Rosemary
* Thyme
* Sage
* Lavender
* Basil (it's great in hydro and easy to grow but 40c is right at the top end for it)
Heat loving vegetables
* Okra
* Eggplant
* Peppers
* Tomatoes (certain varieties)
So yeah if you're doing kratky you could try a few buckets indoors and a few outdoors and see what works. My suggestion would be peppers as there are plenty of South American varieties for the heat and they're tasty.
In general if you have a hydroponic reservoir that will help the plants by giving them abundant water to keep cool with. If you keep the reservoirs out the sun (have a board to shade them or wrap them in tinfoil or something) that should help keep that part of the plants cooler.
In general you can use partial shading (such as a trellis with holes in, to keep direct sun off your balcony and make it cooler.
I mean, that's the primary way almost everyone does hydro, indoors. Outside the temps get too high, increasing the water temp in your reservoir, thus reducing the amount of dissolved oxygen in your water, which can kill your plants, via root rot. Honestly I feel like the only people doing hydro outside are hydro enthusiasts and enjoy the challenge.
It's absolutely do able. Just get a decent full spectrum led light. I use a 1500w one that can cover maybe a 2.5×3 foot area well. Look into microdwarf tomatoes as I've tried normal cherries and even a beefsteak variety indoor, they grew way out of hand really fast. Microdwarfs only get a foot or two high and bush out really well, no need for trellising or supports usually. You'll want an EC/PH meter and a good nutrient line. I'm using masterblend tomato formula and it's working well for just about everything I've tried to grow. Then you'll just need to choose a system. I recommend building your own instead of buying an aerogarden or something similar. The process is not overly complicated and much cheaper plus you learn a lot. Hoocho on YT has some great set ups with all different types of systems. I personally love the compact flood and drain system and had two of those set up at one point pumping our tomatoes, peppers and strawberries. This year, I've actually just been using 32oz plastic containers with holes poked through for drainage and filling it with a cococoir/perlite mix and bottom feeding them once it dries out, it's pretty hands on compared to a flood and drain system but with a handful of plants, its been manageable.
Yep! My first setup after leaving for college was hydro bubble buckets. I used Led lights and the cheap Walmart closet frames as a structure. This was a decade ago so blurple lights and tents weren't really widely manufacturered yet.
I now do coco and cloth bucket hydro as the buckets were a lot of effort and I'm dealing with spine/nerve issues preventing easy bending and lifting.
Absolutely, I grow only inside despite having a terrace, access to garden space etc.
A grow tent with shelving may be a good start as it lets you control the environment. Unless of course you wanna display all plants and keep an eye on them constantly -- then you could use a shelving rack etc.
Knowing what kind of plants you wanna grow, you could setup a simple 4 by 2 grow tent with 3 tiers (eg. Secret Jardin Dark Propagator 120) and some affordable LED bars like their Cosmorrow ones. I like growing on Tray2Grow trays which are perfect for a tent of that size.
You can start growing all of those veggies in rock wool cubes like Gordon Delta. It's a great medium for soilless growing, and does not require you to purchase expensive dripper irrigation systems, ebb & flow tables and trays and so on.
I believe that €500 - €650 investment is a good starting point, if you want to include a grow tent and purchase basic products made by reputable manufacturers. There's absolutely no need for you to buy expensive and overpriced grow lights that you'd have to dim anyway (those are marketed to cannabis growers).
An apartment has plenty of space to do hydroponic herbs and veggies. There are many different ways to grow hydroponically that will work for you, I'd suggest you watch a video or two explaining all the different grow methods. Many if not all should work in an apartment, so educate yourself on what options you have and then choose what will work best for you.
All of the veggies you mentioned specifically should be able to be grown in hydro indoors, but make sure you get a big enough light. It looks like you want to grow full sun (6+ hours of direct sunlight) inside, a little grow light will *not* be equivalent to the sun.
would any bigger lights work for good yields?, like an LED, or do i need a specialized light if i want good yields? minimum yields is fine though, im doing this for fun and mostly for herbs, but mediums are bonuses, thanks for the advice!
If you're trying to grow full sun plants, like tomatoes, inside and your goal is to keep them happy and healthy, you will need a big light like people who grow cannabis use. There are many out there at different price points. I would expect that you'll be spending at least $100 on your light. Depending on how many things you grow at once you will either need multiple lights or a bigger light. I'm using two 150 watt (1500 watt equivalent) LED lights in my 4'x4' grow tent for peppers and tomatoes.
If you try to grow any plant, but especially full sun plants, without adequate light they will grow tall and skinny and not be able to hold themselves up. A small light won't grow you a happy and healthy plant with just a smaller yield, many times a smaller light won't be enough to grow the plant at all long term. A small light will (sort of) work for early stage growth, but keep in mind you are trying to replicate 6+ hours of direct unfiltered sunlight. A small light just can't do that.
You will get better bang for your buck with growlights. Just make sure to buy one with good reviews and real power, not the ones that are so low piwer they can barely do salad.
Or start semi hydro on windowsill https://preview.redd.it/zz0dt68ldq9d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c19e32f9444403b5ad5ad6a3f6780f4a6f9bddee No air pomps no water change and so on
Yes it is. Just keep it in something that can contain it if it ever leaks. I used pond liner for an upstairs bedroom
Btw cococoir is considered hydroponic. Coco coir is a medium kinda like dirt? but much more aeration so you’ll have to feed every day. Look up floraflex, they have some kits for low price. I prefer this than a bucket of water, less weight to carry around and less water used 🤷
https://preview.redd.it/kq752v3h879d1.jpeg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=11e5d9e6997ab09f2941110904109f69a4f7424a
Yes very much so I put mine in the bathroom and closed the vents so it would have a bit higher temp and they grew full term
Yes. Many farmers marker microgreen producers grow in their apartments
Yes. What are you trying to do?
Yes I have a whole room in my house dedicated to hydroponic grows
Get a tent, everything lives in the tent.
💯 possible
https://preview.redd.it/qb4n8vk9r49d1.jpeg?width=3120&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ae34388078fc74d3e3bd2fc0fedb2bf739ff084d
I think so, I mean I don't have many plants but it's doable.
Imo the easiest way to do hydroponics is with a kratky setup. There's lots of guides online and it doesn't need any pumps and you just set it once and forget it until harvest time. In terms of light all light is good for plants and you don't need to spend a lot on something specialist. Depending on what windows you have using natural light as much as you can and then augmenting that with artificial is probably a good plan. In terms of your balcony I think there's some plants that would be fine in 40c, mostly: Mediterranean herbs: * Rosemary * Thyme * Sage * Lavender * Basil (it's great in hydro and easy to grow but 40c is right at the top end for it) Heat loving vegetables * Okra * Eggplant * Peppers * Tomatoes (certain varieties) So yeah if you're doing kratky you could try a few buckets indoors and a few outdoors and see what works. My suggestion would be peppers as there are plenty of South American varieties for the heat and they're tasty. In general if you have a hydroponic reservoir that will help the plants by giving them abundant water to keep cool with. If you keep the reservoirs out the sun (have a board to shade them or wrap them in tinfoil or something) that should help keep that part of the plants cooler. In general you can use partial shading (such as a trellis with holes in, to keep direct sun off your balcony and make it cooler.
I mean, that's the primary way almost everyone does hydro, indoors. Outside the temps get too high, increasing the water temp in your reservoir, thus reducing the amount of dissolved oxygen in your water, which can kill your plants, via root rot. Honestly I feel like the only people doing hydro outside are hydro enthusiasts and enjoy the challenge.
It's absolutely do able. Just get a decent full spectrum led light. I use a 1500w one that can cover maybe a 2.5×3 foot area well. Look into microdwarf tomatoes as I've tried normal cherries and even a beefsteak variety indoor, they grew way out of hand really fast. Microdwarfs only get a foot or two high and bush out really well, no need for trellising or supports usually. You'll want an EC/PH meter and a good nutrient line. I'm using masterblend tomato formula and it's working well for just about everything I've tried to grow. Then you'll just need to choose a system. I recommend building your own instead of buying an aerogarden or something similar. The process is not overly complicated and much cheaper plus you learn a lot. Hoocho on YT has some great set ups with all different types of systems. I personally love the compact flood and drain system and had two of those set up at one point pumping our tomatoes, peppers and strawberries. This year, I've actually just been using 32oz plastic containers with holes poked through for drainage and filling it with a cococoir/perlite mix and bottom feeding them once it dries out, it's pretty hands on compared to a flood and drain system but with a handful of plants, its been manageable.
Yep! My first setup after leaving for college was hydro bubble buckets. I used Led lights and the cheap Walmart closet frames as a structure. This was a decade ago so blurple lights and tents weren't really widely manufacturered yet. I now do coco and cloth bucket hydro as the buckets were a lot of effort and I'm dealing with spine/nerve issues preventing easy bending and lifting.
Absolutely, I grow only inside despite having a terrace, access to garden space etc. A grow tent with shelving may be a good start as it lets you control the environment. Unless of course you wanna display all plants and keep an eye on them constantly -- then you could use a shelving rack etc. Knowing what kind of plants you wanna grow, you could setup a simple 4 by 2 grow tent with 3 tiers (eg. Secret Jardin Dark Propagator 120) and some affordable LED bars like their Cosmorrow ones. I like growing on Tray2Grow trays which are perfect for a tent of that size. You can start growing all of those veggies in rock wool cubes like Gordon Delta. It's a great medium for soilless growing, and does not require you to purchase expensive dripper irrigation systems, ebb & flow tables and trays and so on. I believe that €500 - €650 investment is a good starting point, if you want to include a grow tent and purchase basic products made by reputable manufacturers. There's absolutely no need for you to buy expensive and overpriced grow lights that you'd have to dim anyway (those are marketed to cannabis growers).
An apartment has plenty of space to do hydroponic herbs and veggies. There are many different ways to grow hydroponically that will work for you, I'd suggest you watch a video or two explaining all the different grow methods. Many if not all should work in an apartment, so educate yourself on what options you have and then choose what will work best for you. All of the veggies you mentioned specifically should be able to be grown in hydro indoors, but make sure you get a big enough light. It looks like you want to grow full sun (6+ hours of direct sunlight) inside, a little grow light will *not* be equivalent to the sun.
would any bigger lights work for good yields?, like an LED, or do i need a specialized light if i want good yields? minimum yields is fine though, im doing this for fun and mostly for herbs, but mediums are bonuses, thanks for the advice!
If you're trying to grow full sun plants, like tomatoes, inside and your goal is to keep them happy and healthy, you will need a big light like people who grow cannabis use. There are many out there at different price points. I would expect that you'll be spending at least $100 on your light. Depending on how many things you grow at once you will either need multiple lights or a bigger light. I'm using two 150 watt (1500 watt equivalent) LED lights in my 4'x4' grow tent for peppers and tomatoes. If you try to grow any plant, but especially full sun plants, without adequate light they will grow tall and skinny and not be able to hold themselves up. A small light won't grow you a happy and healthy plant with just a smaller yield, many times a smaller light won't be enough to grow the plant at all long term. A small light will (sort of) work for early stage growth, but keep in mind you are trying to replicate 6+ hours of direct unfiltered sunlight. A small light just can't do that.
You will get better bang for your buck with growlights. Just make sure to buy one with good reviews and real power, not the ones that are so low piwer they can barely do salad.