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hydroponic DIY guide: how to make off grid hydroponic self watering container

That's fair, I'll probably fork up and get a decent one.
My guys are spending their first night out doors, they've been doing okay in the day time so I've got high hopes.
 
Jerry Rigatoni said:
Nice job folks!  I've been trying these out as well with 5 gallon pickle buckets, and a couple 1 gallon for what the heck.  I will try and remember to take more progress pics like you all do.  I was initially just trying to save some water (here in dusty California), but with the other added benefits this is a really neat project.  And cheap and easy, just like me!    
 
http://i.imgur.com/uZTFoob.jpg   
http://i.imgur.com/5EJn2Pc.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/JFk6HXi.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Hk5ZGN8.jpg 
 
Cheers folks!
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Looks good. I think you'll like them. I don't worry about the plants in the SIP's. Once they have a established root system, they can hold there own in the Summer heat. Not so much in my smart pots and black plastic.
 
So I got my nutrients and a digital scale, bought some promix and 5 gallon buckets and went to town. Plants have been in there for about 4 days, no identifiable shock from transplant so I have high hopes. They've been outside for a bit now but this area is new(the lady hated 11 buckets in the front yard lol) they were wilting during mid-day so I bought/built some shade, now I think they're stylin. These guys almost died from under watering early on but thanks to the great advice from the folks here they're rockin and rollin. 
 
https://www.dropbox.com/s/706usoiw51lr4t2/photo%20jun%2021%2C%205%2013%2007%20pm.jpg?dl=0
 
 
https://www.dropbox.com/s/nnu5cq2vj1dbr86/photo%20jun%2027%2C%202%2041%2000%20pm.jpg?dl=0
 
El Angeleno said:
So I got my nutrients and a digital scale, bought some promix and 5 gallon buckets and went to town. Plants have been in there for about 4 days, no identifiable shock from transplant so I have high hopes. They've been outside for a bit now but this area is new(the lady hated 11 buckets in the front yard lol) they were wilting during mid-day so I bought/built some shade, now I think they're stylin. These guys almost died from under watering early on but thanks to the great advice from the folks here they're rockin and rollin. 
 
https://www.dropbox.com/s/706usoiw51lr4t2/photo%20jun%2021%2C%205%2013%2007%20pm.jpg?dl=0
 
 
https://www.dropbox.com/s/nnu5cq2vj1dbr86/photo%20jun%2027%2C%202%2041%2000%20pm.jpg?dl=0
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Buckets look good. Hope they work for you. Sounds like there adjusting well. Good luck
ColdSmoke said:
I have it all set up now. I'm not a DIY guy at all but this only took me an hour...I didn't start with a huge hydro root system like in the video (everything was started in soil) but the plant is healthy and should be fine. The roots are very far from the reservoir right now but that'll change I suspect?
 
image_zpsb5vxd9if.jpg

 
I had spare ProMix HP. I only spent eight bucks to get this system going. The nutes I'm starting with were free samples from the local grow shop. 
image_zpsy6zt54xv.jpg

 
Jonah 7Pot Welcome to the grow!
image_zps8pdcgkek.jpg

 
No rain in the forecast so hopefully no cover will help pull the solution up
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Hows the container working?
 
slickyboyboo said:
Could you take a soil potted plant, and convert it over to this hybrid/hydroponic setup?
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Yes definitely.

SavinaRed said:
Would this setup work with the standard 5 gallon buckets with lids ? I get those for free at work.
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Yes, you can do this with 2 buckets inside of each other.
The plant won't get quite as big because of the smaller root area, but it still makes a super productive good sized plant.
 
pepper_rancher said:
Yes definitely.


Yes, you can do this with 2 buckets inside of each other.
The plant won't get quite as big because of the smaller root area, but it still makes a super productive good sized plant.
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You don't have to stack two buckets you can use the lid for a false bottom and connect it higher up in the bucket so you have a bigger reservoir. Just like El Angeleno's set up. 
 
True, but there is a trade off for soil/root available space. I have a design im testing now with 2 buckets but a bigger resevoir by not directly stacking them... I'm testing it to see how it works side by side the full sized container design.
 
pepper_rancher said:
True, but there is a trade off for soil/root available space. I have a design im testing now with 2 buckets but a bigger resevoir by not directly stacking them... I'm testing it to see how it works side by side the full sized container design.
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I was under the impression that more room in the reservoir is preferable. More room for the roots? Would you rather have the roots in the soil or in the reservoir?
 
I had assumed more soil was better so I used the net pots because they were shorter and fatter than solo cups. I thought a smaller reservoir just meant more frequent filling of the reservoir, Curious what the maestro says.....
 
ColdSmoke said:
I was under the impression that more room in the reservoir is preferable. More room for the roots? Would you rather have the roots in the soil or in the reservoir?
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Both are critical, what I am proposing is giving up none of the soil space while still increasing the resevoir size to be adequately deep. Total root size (in soil combined with resevoir) is larger. I'll take some photos of what I'm talking about tomorrow morning or this weekend.
 
pepper_rancher said:
Both are critical, what I am proposing is giving up none of the soil space while still increasing the resevoir size to be adequately deep. Total root size (in soil combined with resevoir) is larger. I'll take some photos of what I'm talking about tomorrow morning or this weekend.
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That would be very helpful!
 
This method is solid too...
 
I think I understand the theory a little better now. I may do a souped up version for a bhut someone's giving me soon and I'll post it.
 
I never followed up with this....but last year's plant I grew using the system was the biggest pepper plant I've ever grown. I got well over 200 pods... see the far corner; not the best picture....most of the plant is hanging off the sides and back of the deck. 
 
image_zpsrrjsi9nc.jpeg
 
I've been growing in homemade boxes for a few years now. I don't get my biggest or best plants, but I get the most consistent results, with the least amount of disruption from heavy rains, and the fewest pests.

For my garden, I have a few different "models" of container. Most of them are based off of a 27 gallon tote, with corrugated pipe reservoirs - a slight modification of the "Albo Tote". http://albopepper.com/30-gallon-tote.php

A couple of my containers are built from 55 gallon plastic (poly) drums. I cut off the top, slit the sides, and press it down into the drum to form the reservoir.

All of these are plumbed to my rain barrel(s). I have a 3/4" PVC line running from the rain barrel, along side the containers in rows. Each container is plumbed to the 3/4" line, and has a shut-off valve, so that I can fill the reservoir. When it's full, I know, because the container pisses out of the drain hole.

Now, I'm only posting this to validate the concept. It can take a few variations, but ultimately, this is a very good growing system. I don't use hydroponic nutes, and will not. Personally, I just use a good organic fertilizer up top, and I don't cover the container. But the point is, you can, and it works. Either way, it works. The only way you're going to mess up growing with this system, is A) don't give it food of SOME kind, B) don't leave proper air space in the reservoir, C) don't keep some water in it.
 
I think my question was just about answered by the previous post, but are the holes in the (was on top, now bottom of soil) lid necessary, other than for the cups?

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eternalsoil said:
I think my question was just about answered by the previous post, but are the holes in the (was on top, now bottom of soil) lid necessary, other than for the cups?

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My understanding with that is that the holes help with soil aeration. What will happen too though is the roots will grow down through them, and start drinking directly from the reservoir solution. Which isn't a bad thing if you're using hydroponic nutrients. Regarding soil aeration, I found this article a while back that has some good info. http://www.postoilsolutions.org/documents/Earthbox.pdf For the larger containers this person would run some perforated pipe horizontally through the area containing the soil mix, and it would be wrapped in landscape fabric. This was to improve soil aeration, which would help the roots. 
 
Thanks. Does make sense. I've been wanting to do a kratky setup but from what I understand you can't refill it, so it's best to do it as large as you can with hot peppers because of the long grow season, which would mean trash can sized. This is a nice in-between from more traditional hydro setups. I want to be able to keep them outside and not plug them in to anything but be able to water them less without an irrigation system.

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