I believe in the power of asking within your neighborhood. As a disabled senior, I am severely financially limited, so I always have to think outside the box. Gardening can be extremely expensive; so I’ve found numerous ways around things so I can afford to grow, can, and eat as healthy as a rich person. For food grade plastic 5 gallon pail’s; just ask for a donation at ice cream shops or deli’s. Both have them piled up, and are happy to give them away, or sell them for the cost of their deposit. I hope this idea helps. We ALL deserve to eat healthy, and we can ALL do this! 😊
The bakery dept at our local grocery store has used icing buckets they will give out free. Hot water with a little vinegar usually dissolves all icing residue.
I use my 50 gallon stock tank with gold fish to water my plants. Its a low stocking rate and has multiple aquatic plants and water filter for chlorine. Never lost a fish. The frequent water changes keep the water nice and clean but microbial active and nitrogen rich. Im making a tower to see how herbs grow with just my fish water and no suplemental nutes.
Thanks to everyone for all the constructive comments and ideas for "on the cheap" that really add up! I get medical grade one gallon bowls with lids that I "basement garden" in all winter. My co-workers love pictures of the "forest" and it really does help seasonal depression with the lights and growing plants. I owe so much to this channel. This is one of the most positive places with smart savvy subs on YT.
Yes! I knew it can be done! What lighting do you use and for how long (hours per day).I have a special indoor UV tower I think it's about 10 k lumen. Used them on my Aloë Vera but never tried hydroponics so I am extremely interested in how you do it.
I usually drill an overflow hole with an upside down 45 with a mesh screen on the end to prevent mosquitoes from getting in, but this method seems like it will work as well. Nice job!
Thank you for helping the world be a greener place in small spaces. I'm learning and loving all your ideas. I have my first grandbaby and am hoping to help feed him safe homegrown food. Thank you again. I'm passing all the info onto my family and friends. Together we can grow better food.
So cool! As a homeschooling, no building skills mom, I just had to buy my towers. Watching all your past videos now! Future goals to try and build one.
I have been experimenting with hydroponics for about 3 years now, I have watched you and many others. It really is an interesting adventure. I use alot of ideas I have from you all but it has made me come up with ideas that work for me. I love all of it, not so much when I screw up but it is all learning. Hope to share some of my ideas on here one day.
Thank you and keep up the great work. Join the community at kog.thinkific.com/communities/Q29tbXVuaXR5LTMzOTYx We would love to see pictures of your gardening.
This is my first day watching you all, and I was a person that quit to do this and quit, but I do want to do this. So how to get buckets I went to HEB in Tx and went to the bakery section and asked if I could get buckets from the cake frosting, and I went weekly and got at least 10 a week for free. If you go to your bakery store, you can get buckets, also.
Absolutely EXCELLENT Video... "BRAVO" WOW... I am so Happy to have found your videos (this is my second one to watch)... I have always wanted to do Hydroponics, but didn't think I could do the set up for it... This video is CRAZY Good.... Thank you so much for being a great Teacher... (I should know, because I am a Teacher too). Excellent Tutorial.
What a great idea. I'd been fretting about the Rain problem. I don't have the space tomake a sheltered grow areas. Every popup green house I build ends up destroyed by falling branches in storms. My back yard is a forest... This a really cool idea. I'd be willing to try this with at least one bucket. I want to grow some berry style tomatoes, and I have a half circle wire mesh I can use as a trellis if I put some tomato plants on one side and maybe grow some herbs in the holes on the front side. Has anyone grown basil and tomato in the same kratky bucket? That might not work since basil is just leaves and tomato is fruiting. That Variety Pack looks nice. I just want to provide a kind warning about one of the herbs. Shiso is a very popular in asian dishes for its pungunt anise like flavor. I learned the hard way to NOT let it go to seed. it is very invasive because it is a member of the mint family, if allowed to go to seed and catch ground. Shiso is extremely toxic to ruminants like cows, horses, goats, pretty much any livestock , and other animals like dogs and cats. Its toxicity doesn't diminish when cut. if shiso leaves, live or dead, fresh or dried, are eaten by animals, even dogs, it can cause interstitial pneumonia and death very quickly. If you have any pets or animal friends, or fields that animals might graze, you will want to keep Shiso away from them, and don't let it go to seed, because the seeds concentrate the chemical that causes the animals harm, and it is very prolific, similar to basil. if you let it seed in your yard, you will have and entire field of shiso in less than one season, and it won't just stay in your yard... I hope I don't alarm anyone, just want to be sure no one gets any unpleasant surprises.
Holy moly. I just read that perilla(shiso) is really good for helping gout flares. I use tart cherry juice but having other natural avenues to use is good. But I do have cats that chew on plants. Thanks for the helpful info. I will be keeping them away from the furballs I only just read the small print thst said to put packet of seeds In fridge to stratify but I have them in the fridge in the soil day 3 so far. And they need light to sprout. Cross finger I bought the red and green mix packet.
@@Emeraldwitch30 Holy Mackerel! That's news to me about Gout. I have a family member who is very recently dealing with a flare up! Thanks for that tip! Now I have another good reason to go shiso hunting in my backyard, so I can give it to them. Yay, for social media!
If you have a plant from which you want to have a continuous supply of seeds, once you see that the seeds are starting to get a little closer to being ripe, you could take an organza bag and tie around the seed head, so that they can still have excellent air circulation and the sun can continue to shine on them, but when they’re ready to disperse their seeds, the bag catches those seeds.
I just bought a lettuce grow, then found your page and realized, "What if my power goes out while im gone?" I'm definitely getting your seed pack and making grow towers. Sharing with everyone. Please keep healing the world. We appreciate you more than you know ❤
Another interesting idea! I can't wait to try hydroponics outside. 24 degrees here in NC this morning! And supposed to be 70 on Wednesday. All the weather in one week, lol
If you have a Firehouse Subs near you they have their 5 gallon pickle buckets for 3 bucks, pickles sold separately. Very sturdy and food grade. The only issue is that you normally can only get 2 or 3 at a time or you may need to call more than 1 location to find some in stock
I had a friend who used to work at Dunkin Donuts. overnight shift. She was the one who made the donuts. Anyway, they would use up several 2, and 5 gallon buckets of frosting each night on those donuts. If you can get a friend on the inside, you'd have a source, They are not going to miss them. But If you ask you might have to pay someone to hold them for you. I wish I'd gotten more before she left. Most of them smelled like vanilla icing.
Also, Publix bakery will give you their food grade icing buckets for free. Call ahead and ask them to set a few aside for you. They usually don’t mind. And in Florida, we have a Publix on every corner 😁
Dollar tree this last year had orange and black for Halloween, red, green and white for Christmas red for Valentine's day, green St. Pat's day. I'm sure they get some for Easter and other holiday. Try lander mats that take in lander for buckets
Just a thought about overflow... Can you drill a few holes under the pool noodles to maintain the water level no higher than that. You may need to put some kind of overhang on top of them to prevent water from going in those holes and also cover them with some kind of mesh to prevent mosquitoes and other critters from getting in, but that should work to keep water levels. I hope what I just wrote makes any sense (IK it does in my brain, but there are all sort of strange things there).
It makes sense but I may start these off with microgreens at some point and want the water level that high. I would have to plug and unplug it. You can try if you are just using transplants.
Thank you 🙏 love that you’ve really made it as simple as possible. I’ve always wanted to try hydroponics but have hesitated. You’ve made it a low cost, no-brainer fun project.
Great channel. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I do suggest however, that people do paint the buckets or wrap them. C'est la vie is all well and good but the algae uses all the air in the water for its own growth and that will kill or severely dibilitate your plants.
I grew dinosaur kale and broccoli and tatsoi and baby bok choi last year and even harvested the last of the kale and broccoli leaves right after Christmas in the greenhouse so I bet you'll have great luck with your hydroponics
I saved money to wrap my buckets with that Shiney bubble wrap insulation. In my greenhouse sometimes the bucketscare getting too hot. I havent tried it yet but I am hoping it works good this summer. I heard from the store I buy my cat litter buckets from and their distributors say that food grade buckets are actually cheaper so their cat litter us in safe buckets. I go through at least 2 buckets a month with my 5 babies (a stray momma blessed me with 3 little furballs who instantly stole my heart 🤦♀️im such a sucker for a cute face) and so far the bucket are working really well. What surprised me was the bucket with 3 pole bean and one basil on my front porch. They produced handfuls of beans almost all summer and more basil than ive ever grown before. I do think tho I will take a few buckets and put the holes on the sides as the ones I had outside did go water logged a few times in the storms. Your new design is genius 👌 👏 I really enjoy your videos and thorough explanation of things. Thanks again!
Awesome! I am so glad things are working out for you. I heard a few people say that about the kitty litter buckets. I may have to keep an eye out for some.
One idea you might try is to put a hole about 1/2 or 2/3 of the way up the bucket and put a clear hose in it (sealed). Then you can have the hose somehow hooked to the top of the bucket until the plants get big enough. Then drop the hose so that the bucket can't get too full and drown the plants. I know it's an extra expense, but maybe the hose doesn't need to be very long and maybe there's a way to find some clear hose cheap.
Just get 5 gallon pickle buckets from local restaurants, clean them, and get growing. Most will give you some weekly, especially more during outdoor weather season for restaurants to have more clients. Get these from several sites if you need multiple buckets. My restaurants provide lids, too.
Hi I’m using a 40 liters reservoir as deep culture and nutrition to grow melon but the leaf texture is thick however I use very low ec concentration like 0.5 to 0.8, really appreciate your comments
first off you are awesome. Please procreate a lot. We need more of you in this world. ok now for the shorter comment. I believe the reason your white buckets have the least algae, is because they are food grade. If one gets used or new defected, white buckets from food supply places, they dont promote algae's. There are tons of surplus stores who sell them cheap. I got some from a guy selling them on the side of the road, from a restaurant that shut down. That's my 3 cents worth. Inflation and all. LOL
Awesome. It will be awesome to see how Weil these work! (I know you won’t be painting these, but it would be cool to see Keely use one buck as a canvas.)
Hey! Reaching out from NC. I have a great idea for you. My son works for a guy who makes custom H-VAC systems for commercial sights. These guys get machine screws in 5 gallon buckets and have stacks of empty buckets. Mountains of buckets and don't know what to do with them. It NEVER hurts to ask. Hope you can find some!
Great tips on this channel. I just recently found it. Thank you. I've got an 8-bucket DWC system, (1) AeroGarden- clone system, with more on the way, and getting ready to do a vertical garden. I gardened indoors (in soil) for years, years ago, but now I'm totally obsessed with hydroponics. The way it's looking everyone should probably be growing at least some of their own food, or at least know how and have the supplies to get it up and going if/when _needed._ I've also become a bit of a seed collector. I eventually want to start collecting some of the rare seeds that are still available. Seeds are life!
I am a homeschool mom and teacher at a co op. I am planning to teach a nature study class at my co op next semester. I would love to show the kids this idea and allow them to take a bucket home and care for the plants. What would be the best plant(s) for them to start out with? I was going to do microgreens, but after watching this video, I'm thinking microgreens wouldn't work since they do better starting in a gutter type thing first. What would be the easiest, but most useful plant to start the kids with? Thank you for your time. Your videos are great! My 10 year old son loves them.
That's awesome Amanda! To me, basil would be the easiest. You can propagate from seeds or cuttings. Once they get going, they grow fast and have a wonderful aroma. Email me at keepongrowin1@gmail.com and tell me this story so I remember. I will get you my ebook and course for info.
Stacked Kratky Tower. (SKT) Nice idea. The white bucket will probably have algae problems. Some aluminized paint applied would solve the algae problem and keep the solution cooler.
Love this idea. I'll have to give it a try, since I definitely have more microgreens than I have space for in my current setup. I'm wondering how well pak Choi (which is what I currently have about 40 seedlings for that need a home) will do in these, or if they'll get too heavy and droop. As for the nursery tray idea - soda cans with the tops cut off are perfect for that, and the dollar store pool noodle fit perfectly in them. I sent you some pics of those a while back, feel free to share if you'd like, or let me know if you need me to send them again. I move all my microgreens to cans and then transplant the best ones, eat the rest - they're more substantial than microgreens, and don't take up too much space.
@@Metqa The exact one I purchased is no longer available on Amazon but if you do a search for Beer Can Opener, you'll find several - they're square with an round opening you insert the can into, and then twist. It cuts the entire lid off just under the rim. Thus does leave a sharp edge though so be careful. I have 2 sizes and found the 2.3" one works better than the 1.9" one. Very few listings include the size though - both will work, one just works much better.
Wal-Mart get icing for cake decorating in buckets if you ask the people working there will usually give them to you also a lot of Delhi's get pickles and such in buckets and what's great they are food grade and free
I’ve had trouble with white buckets growing algae. Thinking Home Depots or Lowes blue bucket a better deal. However, I did duck tape my white ones. Thank you for all you do. Somehow list my subscription.
Connie Smith; You could spray paint the outside of the buckets, so that daylight doesn’t penetrate the plastic, and that should keep algae from growing in the buckets.
Love the idea. I'm a hydroponic newby. I'm thinking you probably will have to start seedings in the trough. Does anyone out there have any experience starting the seeds in dry foam and the roots reaching the water like in this system? This is a genuine question and not mocking. I'm a long haul truck driver. I don't see the results of anything I try for at least 7 days, when I get back home. Videos like this are therefor extremely important to me, being new to hydroponics. I really do learn from others experiences.
Here is a playlist for beginners, gets the basics down: ru-vid.com/group/PLk4IGbDM3vfq2M2nx8_SkExMP0rRgBHLg My wife and I used to be away to work for days at a time, this worked well for us. Especially when you first put your plants in, they can go weeks with no attention.
Very interested in this concept. I have access to some clear plastic buckets at work and I am wondering if they would heat up faster than a white bucket... Could always give them a coat of paint on the outside of course. Now I have to watch all your videos!
I would be sure to paint them. A clear bucket would create algae pretty fast. But as long as you paint em should be good. Please be careful cutting plastic though and make sure to wear PPE it like to shard
Thank you so much for teaching me !!!! I'm so inspired and I hope you inspire others as well !!! Keep up the wonderful amazing work ! :) once I can I will donate to your garden. Thank you so much. Respectfully, Sabrina R.
Use a bucket on the bottom an use your down spots tubs together in the middle of the five gallon bucket an sum how but the three or four down spot tubs together an use a led strip lighting system too. or just put together four down spouts together an do it vertical but in a smaller place an use a the smaller paint container an save money.
Would you be able to grow tomatoes or onions or even bell peppers like this? I went and got a 5 gallon bucket yesterday at harbor freight. The bucket and lid cost 6 dollars. Im excited to start growing food
Have seen the 55g type that got too hot in the sun... will try it and wrap in cheap foil to see if it stays cool enough.. will look for what you grow and how to fix the water
What about using a Heron's fountain with your original tower system? It's just a thought, not sure how practical it would actually be in application or how it would integrate into the structure. Heron's fountain uses physics/gravity to create a fountain and so doesn't require power/pumps. That being said, it isn't continuous and would have to be manually reset (probably once a day or every other day), but I think this could work fine for plants that require less water. I already have to water my ornamental indoor plants regularly, so personally, I wouldn't mind the extra maintenance.
I get my food grade buckets free from the Winn Dixie bakery. Walmart charges $1 ea, publix doesn't give theirs out... you have to ask around. But grocery bakeries use these buckets for icing, deli depts use them for pickles... check your local grocer.
This sounds super cool!! I have a problem though - I live in a condo lol. Do you think it’d be possible to do something like this indoors or on the balcony? Would be a rly cool challenge to see!
Milliene Xu: Even if your Condo doesn’t get quite enough daylight, you can definitely do micro greens on the windowsill most of the time, but you could also mailed a grow light next to the tower, and Grow on the same side as the light is mounted. If you’re feeling really ambitious and had a little extra funds, you could mount three Around the tower, and pretty much grow all year while you’re inside.
Stop buying buckets! Go to a local restaurant or a pizza place and ask them for buckets. They use tons of them, with lids. They're white, they're food-grade. They'll give them to you and they won't wind up in a landfill. So what if it has a pickle label or a name of a tomato sauce on it. It's free!
Relax, not everyone wants to go and ask for buckets. Some places act like it is an inconvenience. They are in the food service business, not bucket sales.
@@KeepOnGrowin you just have to go at the right time of the day. If you go during rush hour yeah they're going to treat you like that, but I've never had a problem. And there's no way I'm going to pay $8 for a bucket!
Are mosquito’s an issue with this and the standing water? If so do you know any ways to mitigate that? Awesome channel and videos, I’m studying up and am planning my first setup here in the near future. Thanks a million and keep it up! ✌🏻
They are not BPA free and u Construction workers use them with chemi6ehat seep into the plastic and that can transfer to your plants, and in your food which can cause cancer
Another thought, people say alge from sun , line bucket with black bags (not sure if organic).My daughter will be painting hers on the outside, cute things ☺️☺️🙏
Loving the idea of installing the seedlings on the sides of the buckets to prevent taking on excess rainwater! However, positioning the seedlings on the sides of the buckets will cut down on the amount of sunlight that the seedling will receive. Is that a valid concern...that the plant may not receive enough sunlight? I ask because if the seedlings were placed through the lids on top of the buckets, they would be exposed to maximum sunlight. Again, is this a valid concern?
Thank you so much for your videos! I’m starting to explore hydroponics and I’m particularly interested in having an indoor vertical garden. Would it be possible to have this system indoors and add LEDs to simulate sunlight? Thank you!
You can get fish that eat alga & there poop turns into fertilizer so you done have to buy, just fish. They eat the roots. Look up aquaponics. The pet stores sell cheap gold fish, at least they did when my daughter was raising mollys. If you have an aquarium pour the water into your garden or hydroponics or rain water. You can get from rain barrels. My family took a class at the library on how to make them. We got 3 barrels. 😅😅❤
If different plants have different PH requirements, are you limited on the types of plants you can put in your plant towers together, or is it different with hydroponics? I don't know how well a plant that enjoys acidic soil like strawberries would do with one that doesn't like acidic soil.
Hi, love your videos. I am from Australia. Which fertilisers I can use? I found Epsom-salt but other 2 fertiliser not easy to find here. Can you suggest us any substitutes for those 2 fertilisers? Thanks in advance.
If I just use one bucket to start do I just fill With water up to the noodles ? Top with lid and plant? Is that all there is to it? Just found your channel.
Has anyone tried pond snails in the buckets to take care of the algae? I have a few aquariums that produce tons of snails that are great algae eaters, but I'm weary if they'll survive in the nutrient solution I'm using
What about water up high down threw drip lines ,teed to each bucket connected to chicken water cups designed for buckets but upsidedown and bowl stuffed with foam board as a cheap float? Any better ideas for that anyone?
I am thinking about trying this for strawberries, and since it will be in a tight area, I want to put a "lazy Susan" bottom on it, so I can rotate it to be able to harvest more easily. If anyone has tried that, please let me know. Thank you!
How can I best use a large igloo cooler for Hydroponic Gardening? I feel it would be easy to drain the water out when needed. I would prefer to not ruin the lid by drilling holes in it. I am looking for the best suggestions. Thanks a bunch!
Hi, first time using a hole saw. How's the best way to take the plastic cutout out of the hole saw? I'm picking away at it - it takes ages so hoping someone will have a great idea for removal. Thanks
I have been wanting to get into this, would little goldfish work inside the bucket to keep the algae down and feed the plants? If not how would you feed them if you are trying to keep from moving your buckets off each other?
I have a thought for you. I know Fire House Subs sells the buckets, but we used to get them from bars and restaurants. I don't know if they still give them away, but you might find a place that does. It doesn't hurt to ask, right?
I have been toying with the idea of keeping a bucket nearby and putting a water line to the grow bucket from this reservoir. if the plants are growing out of the sides instead of the top, I could stack a 5 gallon reservoir right on top, and just run it straight down into the tank with a small float valve to keep the level topped off. I've been thinking of doing this because it can get so hot mid summer where I am and it can sweat a whole bucket in half a day. I fear letting it recede and refill might harm the roots? Maybe use one of the air holes for the funnel for reservoir line.
You give me an idea. Problem... This year I was invaded. I lost everything to mice. So I'm thinking A platic white 55 gallon drum. Put on of these 5 gallon buckets in. I'm hoping the 55 gallon drum will be too high for mice to jump into Oh even better ( yes thinking as I write) Use an IBC tote . Little costly but better to spend $100 and get vegetables then be without. Wonder how tall I can go before wind knocks over the 5 gallon buckets. I get strong winds also. Well guess I don't know until I do it. I want to get a green house so I can grow longer. But don't want to until I fix this pest problem. I may use that other type too. As rain is far from a problem with me. It only rains like 2 days a year here on the Mexico, New Mexico border. Heat is usually my big problem