The HydroSock passive wick hydroponics system is inexpensive and easy to make. It uses no electricity other than cooling fans and grow lights. This hybrid passive wick system can grow a seven foot or taller tomato plant in a one gallon milk jug! Use everyday things you find around the house. Use easily bought commercial hydroponics nutrient solutions. You can start seeds and grow the plants in the same container. The system uses tried-and-true growing techniques and some experimental techniques.
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The Free, Easy-to-Do HydroSock Passive Wick Hydroponics System

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20 Comments

  • Elementaldomain

    Those milk jugs are full of toxic chemicals which leach into your plant.  You can buy food grade containers that are opaque and aren't expensive. Infinitely reusable.  Use citric acid and baking soda for ph down ph up.  I've been using this passive system for a long time.  I live in the desert, invested a lot in ebb n flow systems which didn't work here because of the heat. Even with air stones the water got too hot in the reservoir.  I found changing to a passive system where the water did not recirculate kept the water cool, even in 100+heat.  Because I have a fairly large operation I found the cost of organic hydro nutrients to be not cost effective.  I changed to foliar feeding, making my own recipe, which is also much cheaper.  The results have been very successful. Now there isn't anything to cause problems in the water/root areas.  Only pure water from a Big Boy.  They are healthier too – and because the root system is no longer responsible for the uptake of nutrients, the root system is small, resulting in less overall stress to the plant.  I think net pots – 3" – would be better than a sock – if you do get some kind of root problem, the sock is going to be harder to clean.  Hydrogen Peroxide that is not food grade has a lot of toxic additives by the way, which is why it is so much cheaper.  I applaud your ingenuity and loved the video, you did a get job.  I love to see people inventing their own systems, expanding their knowledge as they go along.  

  • plain2growJim

    Thanks for your input, Elwynn. I have 24 of my other videos that I believe explain how my systems work. I also have a website that you might find interesting. My playlist lists dozens of other hydroponics enthusiasts' creations and findings. Please keep checking with me. I try to add new videos at least once a month. Appreciate you!

  • Dakheel Dable

    Thanks a lot for your movie.
    I also have the comprehensive step-by-step video directions teaching how to make your very own selfmade Aquaponic system. Its so easy that even your granny is able to do it!
    Have a look at here to acquire more information:
    aquaponics-guide.help1.info

  • Ron Cocaine

    Are the nutrients safe to eat? if the plant is fruiting for a number of weeks can you pick as they ripen or do you flush before picking? Cool idea with the socks.

  • learrus

    This HydroSock addition is a great idea, will be trying it soon, I am running straight up dirt buckets; with lava rocks/eggshells/anything else I have on hand layered up at the bottom about an inch or two for air and water to move around, and a tube running up from that to feed water down into, the tubes can clog if I put too much crap down them at once; so these sock systems would get rid of that problem entirely…

    Will likely post a video when I get around to trying it and link back here.

  • Tiarna Angus

    why don't you change out your nutrient solution do a micro for the first few weeks with some vegetative then to a vegetative solution then a mix of vegetative and bloom then just bloom and just some water storage so you don't waist the unused solution like a 44 gallon drums or some new 60l bins would work
    also try painting your containers black to keep algae out sun is what makes it i use top drip myself easier to control i find

  • Meir Lazar

    Excellent Video, Excellent Technique, Excellent Instructions. I'm going to implement this simple solution in my greenhouse. I was thinking about using a dutch pot system, but this is so much simpler, no electricity, no moving parts, and very very cheap. Thank you for your research and giving this information free to people like me, who will certainly use it.

  • plain2growJim

    Thanks! Yes, my next round of jugs have aluminum foil to keep most of the light out. For the most part, algae doesn't harm a plant but it will rob oxygen and nutrients. It didn't become a real issue until the oppresive summer heat and humidity came in. I always appreciate constructive feedback. Please keep checking for new videos.

  • plain2growJim

    This video seems to have lost a portion of its sound and music track, and is now cued wrong. I will check it and reload it if necessary. Sorry for the problems. Plain2growJim

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