DIY Milk Carton Hydroponics

With this simple DIY homemade hydroponic system, you will be able grow vegetables and flowers in milk cartons.

Items needed:

Half-gallon milk carton with a screw cap spout.
Two-inch plastic net pot.
Oasis cube, 1 1/2 inches by 1 inch. (A 1 inch by 1 inch Oasis cube can be used. However, the larger Oasis cube fits snug in the net pot preventing the Oasis cube and the plant from shifting).
Hydroponic fertilizer, synthetic or organic, depending on your choice.
Plastic tray with a clear cover with ventilation holes.
Vegetable or flower seeds.

The advantages of this system, especially when used with miniature (dwarf; compact) plants (less than 12 inches tall) are:

1. The low profile of the cartons enables using a shelving unit with multiple shelves to support the cartons.

2. Having a carton with a screw cap spout makes adding additional nutrient solution over several months possible. For example, I’ve grown miniature tomatoes in cartons for over seven months, adding nutrient solution about twice a week through the spout with a funnel. The spout makes this possible because once the plant grows large, it covers the net pot making it difficult to add any nutrient solution through the net pot.

3. Miniature vegetables are convenient for single serving harvests, for example, harvesting an entire lettuce all at once.

4. Keeping the Oasis cube with the roots on the harvested plant helps increase shelf life in the refrigerator.

5. Recycles milk cartons and plastic trays.

Additional information:

Micro-Hydroponics, http://microhydroponics.weebly.com

Disclaimer: The author intends the information to be reliable, but does not assume any responsibility for consequences of using the information provided. Mention of a company, organization, or agency does not imply recommendation of that source to the exclusion of others that may also be suitable, and no endorsement by the author is implied.

DIY Milk Carton Hydroponics

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