How to Build a Wick Hydroponic System
In this video, I’ll show you how to build a simple wick hydroponic system. A wick system is great for growing root vegetables like radishes and carrots. It’s also a great choice for growing leafy greens and most herbs.
⭐ PRODUCTS FEATURED IN THE VIDEO ⭐
*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.*
Uniclife UL-40 Air Pump – https://amzn.to/30SMvv8 (aff)
1/4″ Capillary Wick Cord (50ft) – https://amzn.to/3syic8X (aff)
1/4″ Top Hat Grommets – https://amzn.to/3HeOQQU (aff)
📖VIDEO CHAPTERS 📖
00:31 Wick System Supplies
01:10 Wick System Assembly
04:34 Best Media for Wick Systems
05:30 Optional Supplies
06:09 How to Install an Air Pump & Air Stones
07:42 Planting Seeds in a Wick System
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How a wicking hydroponic system works:
In this system, a piece of wicking fabric pulls water and nutrients from a reservoir up into the growing bed via capillary action. For this build, I use a quarter-inch diameter wick cord. There are drain holes in the bottom of the growing bed (top tote) that allows excess water to drain back down into the reservoir.
Root vegetables do well in a wick system because the media is fairly deep. Since root vegetables do most of their growing below the surface, this deep media is ideal.
This was so helpful. I’m empowered and inspired! Thank you
is the perlite to vermiculite ratio by weight or volume
thanks for the excellent video. How long do you leave your air running?
Cool man
Will this work on tomatoes
some thoughts: just tie a knot in the rope instead of relying on friction fit. cotton WILL rot and stink. a test was done where a micofiber (polyester) towel was shown to be the best wicking material, just cut some strips and roll them sideways.
Happy,
Really great video and informative to me. One thing that may help others and myself is to watch your video and critique the volume of the sounds. I had to adjust it way down when you were drilling and back up to hear you talk. Thanks, Tony
Why bother with the aerator? It’s not DWC where the roots can benefit from O2. It’s not wicking air afterall, just water and nutrients.
humility and professionalism that distinguishes you. congratulations for this video. My plants are growing thanks to your previous video of the Eq. blessings ✌️
Thanks dude love the content very infortive
the energy this guy has makng this video is gold .. love how you explain everything in such great detail .. happy growing 😊
This video is very helpful but In the middle of video said bucket so many times, thought we missing buckets
Thank you for a very informative and interesting video. Ive been wanting to grow carrots and this seems like a wonderful solution!
Really good stuff here. I’ve been a traditional soil gardener for nearly 50 years but age and injuries are catching up to me. I’ve started experimenting with hydroponic and now I’m all in! Love the science and it’s a lot easier physically for me.
hydro how to articulate.. jk 😂😂 really thou awesome job mang..
Beautiful 🎉
Sir,,,,,, these are not food grade plast
A cool setup.
Gracias!
Wonderful 👍 would this work with potatoes? I live in flats so lugging soil around ain’t appealing also perlite is manageable as long as kept wet plus the bonus you can reuse it. Probably try hilling as well.Thank you for sharing your setups gets the cogs going good man. 🤠
Does the wicking bucket work well with auto flowers
@Happy Hydro Farm would like to see an aero cloner build if possible TIA!
Excellent
Very cool idea.
Your stuff is so good!! Really love your format, topics and structure. Thank you for this great content!
If you use a heat gun plastic cuts much easier just be careful not to overheat it
Can you just use cotton rope instead
For radishes this setup is a bit over the top, as you can grow radishes in a much simpler system like e.g. an Aerogarden; just take care that the bulbs grow above the net cup, then it will work perfectly fine, the radishes can be harvested after 25 to 30 days.
However i do like your setup and i wonder whether it would work for potatoes?
Brilliant idea – Excited to see how those radishes turn out! Curious – Probably not very important, but what size "drain holes" did you end up going with, and did the reservoir stay clean of perlite/vermiculite? Very cool…
Been following for a while have good tips man keep em comming !
Hey ! I have a suggestion to try !
While soaking your seeds for 12-16 hrs. Try it in a nice Dark cabinet !
I found most all my seed starts like the dark better to sprout 👍
Excellent video. Couldn’t find a follow up but seen in comments you said the radishes did well. Any changes you’d make next time to improve other than staggering seed planting? I only ask as looking to create for next growing season and want to get best start possible, thanks.
And a suggestion, Would love to see more follow up videos of the plants growing and maybe even different vegetables to see what works and what doesn’t, as don’t seem to be many video available like yours.
I see you did this a couple of years ago. I was thinking of doing a winter project like this. How did the radishes turn out and what are your thoughts on this system now? Is there anything that you would do to improve it or do you even use this anymore? Thanks for your posts!
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Thanks!