In this article, we will explore the process of building a simple and affordable DIY hydroponic system that doubles as a plant cloner. The technique behind this system will be explained in detail, along with the materials needed and the steps involved in constructing it.
To begin, the system requires a 20-liter or 5-gallon plastic bucket with a lid that has been drilled with holes to accommodate 1-inch hydroponic collars or DIY foam inserts. The bucket is fitted with a drip irrigation pipe and a small submersible pump to circulate water and nutrients to the plants. The system can be used to propagate plant branch cuttings with a high success rate, and it can also be used for hydroponic growing.
Key Takeaways
- The DIY hydroponic system doubles as a plant cloner and is affordable to build.
- The system requires a 20-liter bucket, hydroponic collars or foam inserts, a drip irrigation pipe, and a small submersible pump.
- The system can be used to propagate plant branch cuttings with a high success rate and for hydroponic growing.
Materials Needed
To build the 2-in-1 plant cloner and hydroponic system, one needs a 20-liter or 5-gallon plastic bucket with a lid. A 5-gallon empty paint bucket can be used as a cheaper alternative. The lid should be drilled with holes, with the diameter of each hole not exceeding the diameter of the pot. One can choose to insert 1-inch hydroponic collars, DIY foam inserts, 1-inch net pots, or 2-inch net pots depending on what they want to grow. If one wants to use the system as a plant cutting cloner or propagator, they need to make a few 1-inch foam collars to insert their branch cuttings. These foam collars can be purchased or made from recycled packaging foam.
To set up pipes inside the bucket, one needs a 16mm drip irrigation pipe and a T-connector. The inner circumference of the bucket should be measured, and a 16mm pipe of the same length should be cut to make a circle inside the bucket. The T-connector should be connected to complete the circle. A small submersible pump should be fixed or placed at the bottom of the bucket, with a 12-watt or 18-watt pump being ideal depending on the bucket size. A 16mm pipe piece should be cut to measure the vertical dimension left between the pump and the T-piece and connected to the bottom of the T-piece and the pump.
Holes should be punched into the 16mm pipe circle using the drip hole-maker, and little sprinklers or sprayers should be inserted uniformly. Water should be poured into the bucket, about half or less than half, to test the system or the sprinklers by connecting the pump to a power supply. Finally, plant cuttings should be inserted into the foam collars and then inserted into the holes.
Building the Hydroponic System
Drilling the Lid
To build a hydroponic system, one needs a 20-liter or a 5-gallon plastic bucket with a lid. A 5-gallon empty paint bucket can be used as a cheaper solution. The lid needs to be drilled with holes to insert 1-inch hydroponic collars or DIY foam inserts or 1-inch net pots or 2-inch net pots, depending on what you want to grow. The diameter of each hole should not be more than the diameter of the pot. Using a 1-inch hole saw bit or door knob drill bit, one can carefully make as many holes as required. If the system is to be used as a plant cutting cloner or plant propagator, one needs to make 1-inch foam collars to insert branch cuttings. The foam collars can be purchased or made by cutting out any thick foam.
Setting Up the Pipes
To set up the pipes inside the bucket, one needs a 16 mm drip irrigation pipe and a T-connector. The inner circumference of the bucket needs to be measured, 1 or 2 inches below the rim. A 16mm pipe of the same length needs to be cut and made into a circle using 16 mm pipe into the inner side of the bucket. A T-connector needs to be connected to complete the circle. A small submersible pump needs to be fixed or placed at the bottom. The vertical dimension left between the pump and the T-piece needs to be measured, and a 16mm pipe piece needs to be cut and connected to the T-piece bottom and the pump. Some holes need to be punched into this 16mm pipe circle using the drip hole-maker and insert these little sprinklers or sprayers uniformly. Optionally, fix this loop to the bucket with some cable ties or twist ties. Then take out the wire of the pump from the top of the bucket to avoid leakages.
Testing the System
To test the system or the sprinklers, pour water into the bucket, about half or less than half, and connect the pump to a power supply. Plant cuttings can be inserted into the foam collar and then inserted into the holes and keep it turned on. The rooting process starts faster in this setup, mainly due to oxygen supply directly taken up from the air. Nutrient solutions can be added to this water, mainly phosphorous to start rooting faster. Once rooting starts, introduce Nitrogen and Potassium into the water like how one does in hydroponic farming. Another hack to induce rooting faster is to add half or 1 tablet of Aspirin 350mg dispersible tablet into the water. Aspirin is acetyl salicylic acid and induces rooting faster. After 4 to 6 weeks, once sufficient roots develop, the cuttings can be repotted into independent containers.
Cloning the Plants
Preparing the Foam Collars
To prepare the foam collars, one can use readily available Neoprene hydroponic collars or cut out any thick foam. The top diameter of the foam collar should be slightly more than 2.5 cm. One can cut the foam from one side towards the center to easily insert the cuttings without damaging the nodes. The foam collars can be inserted into the holes to make it a plant cloner device.
Inserting the Cuttings
To insert the cuttings, first, take some plant cuttings with a 45-degree cutting angle. Then insert these cuttings into the foam collar and insert the foam collars into the holes. The rooting starts faster, mainly because of the oxygen supply, which is directly taken up from the air. Roots can be induced faster by adding half or one tablet of Aspirin 350mg dispersible tablet into the water. After 4 to 6 weeks, the cuttings can be repotted into independent containers once sufficient roots develop.
Monitoring the Results
Day 8
After setting up the hydroponic two-in-one plant cloner device, the user can monitor the progress of their plant cuttings on day 8. By this time, rooting has already begun in most of the cuttings. This is due to the oxygen supply provided directly from the air. The device uses the Nutrient Film Method, which can be supplemented with nutrient solutions such as phosphorus to promote faster rooting. Additionally, adding half or one tablet of aspirin (350mg dispersible tablet) to the water can also induce rooting faster.
Day 15
On day 15, the user can observe that more roots have started growing, with a nice new set of leaves growing in to start photosynthesis. This is much faster than the conventional method of growing a cutting in soil, which usually takes 4 to 6 weeks. Some cuttings have progressed faster with more root formation and healthy roots, while others have shown nice foliage growth and even fruit formation, such as the mulberry cuttings. A simple tip to redirect the plant’s energy towards root and leaf development is to snip off any fruits early. After 4 to 6 weeks, when sufficient roots have developed, the user can repot the cuttings into independent containers.
Note: The results may vary depending on the type of plant cuttings used and the specific conditions in which the device is being used.
Tips and Tricks
Nutrient Solutions
To induce rooting faster, one can add nutrient solutions to the water. Mainly, phosphorous should be added to start rooting faster. Once rooting starts, Nitrogen and Potassium can be introduced into the water, similar to hydroponic farming.
Aspirin Hack
Another hack to induce rooting faster is to add half or 1 tablet of Aspirin 350mg dispersible tablet into the water. Aspirin is acetyl salicylic acid and induces rooting faster.
Fruit Snipping
One simple tip is to snip off any fruits early to redirect the plant energy or rather conserve the energy for root and leaf development for now.
Repotting the Plants
The hydroponic two in one plant cloner is a simple and effective way to grow plants or propagate plant branch cuttings with a high success rate. To repot the plants, wait until sufficient roots have developed, which typically takes 4 to 6 weeks. Once the roots have developed, the plants can be repotted into independent containers.
It is important to note that some cuttings may progress faster than others, with more root formation and healthy roots. Additionally, some plants may begin to produce foliage and even fruit formation.
One simple tip is to snip off any fruits early to redirect the plant energy or conserve energy for root and leaf development.
Overall, the hydroponic two in one plant cloner is a great school project for kids and can instill an interest in gardening. With a few basic materials, such as a 20-liter or 5-gallon plastic bucket with a lid, 1-inch hydroponic collars or DIY foam inserts, and a 16mm drip irrigation pipe, anyone can create a simple and effective hydroponic system. By following the basic rules of taking cuttings and introducing nutrient solutions, such as phosphorus to start rooting faster, anyone can successfully grow plants or propagate plant branch cuttings with a high success rate.