Frequently Asked Questions
What does it cost?
The DWC system described in Larry Cipolla's book and on this web-site is the most cost effective hydroponic system you can own.
You can use standard food-safe buckets, totes and PVC tubes. For example, a 10-gallon tote with cover would cost you about $8.00. A five-gallon bucket with cover would cost you about $3.00.
More information to follow in this web-site.
You should be able to set up your basic DWC system for less than $100. Larry encourages you to purchase locally if at all possible.
What Tools do I Need?
How does NO TOOLS or using just TWO TOOLS sound to you?
Normally, you would need only a 12V drill and a two-inch hole saw. You would use these tools to create the two-inch holes for your two-inch net pots.
Not excited about drilling or buying another tool? You can purchase wide-lip baskets that fit or snap over any standard 3.5- to 6-gallon buckets. No drilling required. No need for any tools.
Review the articles shown under ARTICLES: HYDROPONICS on this site for more detailed information.
What Fertilizer do I Use?
Hydroponic fertilizer is unique. Use it with your system. It includes all thirteen - sixteen essential macro and micro elements.. And because it is more complete than any soil-based fertilizer, you can use hydroponic fertilizer with the plants, including flowers, in your soil-based garden.
More information to follow in this web-site.
Is it Complicated?
No. If a child can do it, so can you. No gardening experience needed.
Think back a bit. Do you remember putting toothpicks in a potato and suspending it in water? After a while did you notice roots and a green shoot or two growing out of the potato above water? That is hydroponics. Easy and fun.
Does it Take a lot of Time?
No. The deep water culture hydroponic system takes much less time , labor, and expense than a soil-based garden.
Once the root system has extended through the slots of your WLB or net pot and are in contact with the nutrient solution, your work is pretty much done. Set it and forget it.
Will Mosquitoes breed in the Water?
Those critters are not able to breed in a DWC system. There is no exposed or standing water when you use buckets, totes or PVC tubes.
The seedling and its root system is covered with a substrate, such as a mix of perlite and peat (or coconut coir) or clay pellets, which supports the plant.
The nutrient solution is beneath the substrate by at least two inches, thus blocking access by the female mosquito.