Take a clean 5 gallon bucket, Cut some holes in the top to hold some net pots. Fill the bucket up to the bottom of the net pots with a nutrient solution. Put an air stone in the tank and hook up an air pump running 24×7. Put plants in the net pots and you are growing,.

This is the most basic and fool proof hydroponic system and it’s super effective! If you are planting something that grows tall you are going to NEED supports for the plant to shape it’s growth and keep it standing when the wind blows. The net pots will simply tip out with a couple feet of plant pushing on them.

5 gallon buckets also leak light when in the direct sun. When light hits the nutrients algae grows. While it isn’t fatal for your plants the algae is eating the nutrients and oxygen intended for your plants. We want to avoid it if possible. The simple answer is to paint/wrap/box the bucket to keep out the light. Keep in mind that the water will hold more oxygen when it’s cooler so I suggest avoiding dark colors if you are painting.