Project Submitted By: John McCandless
Hydroponics, Aquaponics, or Aeroponics Project: Hydroponics
Type of System: Deep Water Culture (DWC) with two buckets
How Did You Get Into Hydroponics?
“While I used to do hydroponics and aquaponics in high school, it wasn’t until the pandemic shutdown that I decided to get back into the hobby. Since then, I’ve been a growing machine, growing whatever I can get my hands on. So far I’ve grown lettuce, cucumbers (tried at least), radishes, tomatoes, basil, and cilantro. Oh, and I just planted some spinach so we’ll see how that goes.”
Project Overview: Home Office Hydroponics
“The idea was really simple and a no brainer for me. I wanted to be around my plants while I worked and I wanted to move everything out of the kitchen (at my wife’s request). So, I bought some lights, moved the setup into the office, and got to work. The project took about 30 minutes and includes two buckets, two lights, and a desk. I also have an iDOO countertop garden that sits on top of the desk (figured I might as well move it in there too).”
Step 1: Figured out what I wanted it to look like and assembled all of the materials from stuff I had around the house.
Step 2: Used some impromptu hooks to fasten two lights underneath the desk.
Step 3: I used some hot glue and velcroed the two lights together so they wouldn’t wobble.
Step 4: I placed the two buckets underneath the light and turned everything on.
What Inspired You to Create Your Project?
“While I would love to say that I had always wanted a hydroponics setup in my office, in actuality, I only moved it there because it was taking up too much space in the kitchen. The buckets had been propped up underneath the kitchen table for a couple weeks which wasn’t really working for the chairs. So, at my wife’s request, I moved them to a more suitable space, which just so happened to be my office.”
What Was Your Favorite Part?
“My favorite part is being able to look at my project while I work. It’s easy to get sucked into work, but when you’ve got a little side project sitting next to you, it makes the day a little more interesting. Plus, if you need to do a little plant maintenance, it’s a great excuse for a 5-minute break!”
What Was the Most Challenging Part?
“The most challenging part was trying to secure the lights to the desk. Because I didn’t have i-hooks, I had to improvise with what I had lying around the house. So, I took two small metal fasteners and bent them into a hook using some pliers. I then hung the lights and stuck the two lights together using hot glue and velcro.”
Want to Submit Your Own Project to Ponics Life?
If you’ve built, created, or grown something in hydroponics and aquaponics, make sure you check out our project submission page. We’d love to hear from you and we’d be more than happy to get your project published! All you have to do is fill out our quick and easy form and we’ll share your project with the world!