PVC Hydroponics Systems

 

PVC hydroponics, or PVC pipe gardens, are usually employed in commercial growing or large scale situations and involves the use of PVC pipe of around six inches. One of the great things about this type of system is that it is often far less expensive than some of the other methods used and adapting it for home hydroponic systems is relatively easy. In the following article we shall take a closer look at this system with a view to creating your own.

Building Your Own

When creating your own home system it is important that you scale the plans to match your exact requirements. Although ordinary round PVC building pipes can be used you will find that by using five inch square extrusions is far easier all 'round (square pipes need far less support and are easier to handle). You will be able to source your materials from construction and fencing suppliers.

Getting Started With Your PVC Hydroponics System

You will need a large tote reservoir, lengths of the above mentioned PVC pipe, suitable endcaps. poly/vinyl opaque tubing, spray line, an inline filter, a submersible pump and various fittings (we may later add a complete list and diagrams). You will need various tools and fixing materials such as PVC cement.

Along the top surface of your PVC pipe you will need to cut a series of evenly spaced holes for your mesh pots, this is best done using a template! You will also need to cut a large hole at the end of each pipe to enable access. You will need to run spray line along the inside upper surface and the best way to do this is to cut short sections of a larger bore plastic pipe and fix it at regular intervals so that you can then run the spray line through it.

You can now arrange each row of PVC pipe at regular intervals with one end situated a short distance above the reservoir. At the other end of each pipe you will need to add connecting pipes which connect from each row into one single inlet which you connect to your pump. Simply drill suitable holes in the endcaps at each end. You should now have one or more rows of square pipe with several holes for pots, an access point, one end connected to the pump and the other leading back into the reservoir. All you need to do now is connect your spray line to each end so that it runs along the top from the pump inlet end, excess water will fall to the bottom and then drain back into the reservoir (as long as ypu have your pipes angled correctly.

As soon as I find the time I shall add a suitable diagram of a completed PVC hydroponics system to support this article. If you study the photograph at the top of this page you should be able to understand the procedures.

 

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