DIY Hydroponics Garden Tower Build | Less than $150 is an informative video by Chris Loh that explores the process of constructing a hydroponic garden tower at an affordable price. With the rising popularity of gardening and growing vegetables as a hobby, this video provides a cost-effective alternative for those looking to save on materials, soil, and water. Chris Loh shares his research on hydroponics and explains how he built his own system using PVC pipe and a water pump. The video serves as part one of a series documenting Chris’s first attempt at a hydroponics garden build, and he also includes a comprehensive list of the materials used in the build for reference.

Working and spending more time at home has sparked an interest in gardening for many individuals, including myself. However, the cost of maintaining a garden can be quite expensive due to the need for materials, soil, and water. That’s why I decided to explore hydroponics as a cheaper and more efficient alternative. In this video, I share my journey of building a DIY Hydroponics Garden Tower for less than $150. By utilizing readily available materials such as PVC pipe and a water pump, I was able to create a vertical planting system that provides continuous water flow to nourish the plants. Stay tuned for more updates on this project and potential improvements to the design.

DIY Hydroponics Garden Tower Build

Introduction

Growing your own vegetables has become a popular hobby, especially with more people spending time at home. However, traditional gardening can be costly due to the expenses involved in purchasing materials, soil, and water. This has led many gardening enthusiasts to explore cheaper alternatives. In this article, we will explore the construction of a DIY hydroponics garden tower, which offers a more affordable and efficient solution for growing vegetables.

Materials Needed

Before diving into the construction process, it is essential to gather all the necessary materials. In this DIY hydroponics garden tower build, the following materials will be used:

• PVC pipe: A 4-inch PVC pipe serves as the primary structure for holding the plant pots. It can be purchased in a 10-foot length.
• Water pump: A submersible water pump is needed to circulate the water in the hydroponic system.
• Other necessary components: Various accessories and fittings, such as drain covers and adapters, will be required to assemble the garden tower properly.

Building the Hydroponics Garden Tower

Now that we have all the materials ready, let’s dive into the step-by-step process of building the hydroponics garden tower:

Step 1: Preparing the PVC pipe

Start by cutting the 4-inch PVC pipe into a five-foot length. This height allows for comfortable access to the plants while still maintaining a compact structure. Additionally, create a template to outline the placement of the planting cups on the PVC pipe.

Step 2: Assembling the tower structure

Using the template as a guide, mark the locations for the planting cups on the PVC pipe. With the markings in place, proceed to cut out the holes using either a miter saw or a PVC pipe cutter. Ensure proper spacing between each hole to allow ample room for root and plant growth.

Step 3: Installing the water pump

With the tower structure prepared, it’s time to install the water pump. Submerge the water pump in the chosen water reservoir, ensuring it is fully immersed. The water pump will help circulate the nutrient-rich water to nourish the plants.

Step 4: Setting up the water reservoir

Choose a suitable water reservoir for your hydroponics garden tower. It can be a 5-gallon plastic bucket or any other container that can hold water. Place the water pump in the reservoir, ensuring it is securely positioned.

Step 5: Attaching the planting cups

Insert the planting cups into the holes on the PVC pipe. These cups will hold the growing medium and the plants. Ensure a snug fit to prevent any leakage or instability.

Step 6: Connecting the water supply and return lines

Attach one end of a PVC pipe to the water pump’s outlet and route it along the back of the tower structure. This pipe will supply the nutrient water to the planting cups. In addition, attach another PVC pipe to the inlet of the water pump. This pipe will serve as the return line, bringing the water back to the reservoir for recirculation.

Hydroponic System Setup and Operation

Now that the hydroponics garden tower is built, it’s time to set up the system and start growing your vegetables:

Introduction to hydroponic systems

Hydroponic systems eliminate the need for soil, allowing plants to grow directly in nutrient-rich water. This method provides plants with optimal access to nutrients, water, and oxygen, resulting in faster and more efficient growth.

Understanding nutrient solutions

To ensure the plants receive adequate nutrition, prepare a nutrient solution by following the instructions provided with your hydroponic nutrient mix. This solution will be added to the water reservoir and circulated through the system.

Filling the water reservoir

Fill the chosen water reservoir with the appropriate amount of water and add the prepared nutrient solution. The exact measurements will depend on the size of your reservoir and the specific nutrient mix used.

Adjusting the pH and nutrient levels

Regularly monitor and adjust the pH level of the nutrient solution to ensure optimal plant growth. Most vegetables thrive in a slightly acidic pH range of 5.5 to 6.5. Additionally, regularly check and adjust the nutrient levels to maintain a balanced and healthy hydroponic system.

Planting the vegetables in the tower

Place the desired vegetable plants into the planting cups, ensuring proper spacing and support. The compact nature of the hydroponics garden tower allows for vertical planting, maximizing space utilization.

Monitoring and maintaining the system

Regularly monitor the condition of the plants, the water level, and the overall system. Ensure the water pump is functioning correctly and inspect the plants for any signs of nutrient deficiencies or pests. Additionally, maintain cleanliness by periodically cleaning the pipes and cups to prevent clogs and contamination.

Benefits of DIY Hydroponics Garden Towers

building your own hydroponics garden tower offers numerous benefits:

Cost savings compared to commercial systems

Commercial hydroponic systems can be costly, but by building your own garden tower, you can significantly reduce expenses without compromising on functionality.

Efficient use of space

The vertical planting design of the garden tower allows for efficient use of limited space. By utilizing vertical space, you can grow a higher volume of plants in a smaller footprint.

Vertical planting for increased yield

Growing vegetables vertically maximizes the available space and increases the yield per square footage. This is particularly advantageous for small gardens or urban dwellings with limited outdoor areas.

Continuous water flow for optimal plant growth

The continuous flow of nutrient-rich water in a hydroponic system ensures that the plants receive a consistent supply of nutrients, leading to faster growth and healthier plants.

Potential for automation and scalability

DIY hydroponics garden towers can be easily automated using timers and sensors, reducing the maintenance required. Additionally, the modular design allows for scalability, enabling the addition of more towers as needed.

Improvements and Future Plans

As with any DIY project, there may be opportunities for improvement and future enhancements:

Lessons learned from the first build

After the completion of your first hydroponics garden tower, take note of any challenges or areas for improvement. This will help streamline the construction process for future builds.

Ideas for design enhancements

Consider experimenting with different materials or designs to optimize the efficiency and functionality of the garden tower. For example, incorporating LED grow lights or integrating a monitoring system for better control.

Selling DIY hydroponic garden towers

If you find success and satisfaction in building your own hydroponics garden towers, you might consider sharing your expertise and designs with others. Selling DIY kits or fully assembled systems can be a great way to turn your hobby into a small business.

Conclusion

By exploring the possibilities of DIY hydroponics, you can enjoy the benefits of homegrown vegetables at a fraction of the cost and with better space utilization. Building a hydroponics garden tower allows for efficient plant growth, continuous water flow, and potential automation. With some creativity and effort, you can create a thriving garden and enjoy the taste of fresh, homegrown vegetables straight from your own DIY hydroponics garden tower.

Working and spending more time at home has recently sparked an interest in gardening and growing your own vegetables. However, the cost of materials, soil, and water needed for a traditional garden can add up quickly. That’s why you started exploring cheaper alternatives, like hydroponics. But even starting a hydroponics system can be expensive. Thankfully, you’ve found a solution—you can build your own hydroponics garden system for less than $150!

In this short series, you’ll join me as I embark on my very first attempt at building a hydroponics garden. To get started, I’ve created a PVC cutting template that you can download from my website, https://clohofficial.com/.

Here’s a list of materials you’ll need for this project (tools not included):

• Charlotte Pipe PVC Pipe 4-in 10-ft – $18.45
• Charlotte Pipe 1/2-in x 10-ft – $2.96
• 5-Gallon Plastic General Bucket – $3.75
• 4.25-in Drain Cover – $16.68
• 4 In. PVC Drain Cap – $2.48
• 4-in x 4-in Dia Schedule 40 Coupling – $2.91
• 1/2-in x 1/2-in dia Adapter Adapter PVC Fitting – $0.55
• 4-in x 4-in Dia Schedule 40 Adapter – $8.48
• 4-in x 4-in Dia Schedule 40 Adapter – $6.48
• Yokgrass 800GPH Submersible Pump(3000L/H) – $21.99
• Garden 50 Pack Lightweight Economy Net Pot Cups – $8.95
• Pure Coconut Coir Netted Pellets 42mm (100 pack) – $23.99

You can find links to these parts and the cutting template on my website, https://clohofficial.com.

If you want to see more DIY projects like this, make sure to follow me on Instagram (@clohofficial) and Twitter (@clohofficial). And if you’d like to support my work, you can become a patron on my Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/ChrisLoh).

For more information and updates, check out my blog at https://www.clohofficial.com.

To create my videos, I use the following gear:

• Canon D80 camera
• GoPro Hero 7
• DJI Mavic Mini drone
• Rode Wireless Go microphone
• Samson G Track Pro microphone
• FiFine Wireless Microphone System
• FiFine K678 Microphone
• Graphy StudioFX Box Lights
• Neewer Studio Lighting

To see the full list of equipment I use for filming and editing, click here: https://kit.co/clohoffical/my-filming.

The music for this video is by Hotham. You can find their song “Find” on various music streaming platforms. It’s licensed under a Creative Commons License (Attribution 3.0 Unported). The closing screen music is by Ron Gelinas Chillout Lounge. It’s an uplifting song called “Optimism.”

For more videos on hydroponics, gardening, and DIY projects, subscribe to my channel and stay tuned for more exciting content!