Hacker Blog

I’ve never before played with hydroponics but, decided to make a hyrdo system without spending a dime.

I had all the items at home and you probably do to.
You will need..

• Jar w/ lid (peanut butter jar is perfect!)
• 2 straws
• Styrofoam Cup (must be styrofoam for buoyancy)
• Tape
• Pin
• Nail
• Hammer
• Exacto Knife
• Plant
• Miracle Grow

From the pictures you should be able to figure it out, but heres the sknny. 
(Hopefully Garbage Bio Magazine will let me write a more complete article on this soon!)

• Take two straws and connect them together.  Take one of the “skrunchy” ends and bend the tip over itself and strap it down with tape.  Take your pin and gouge the end until satisfied.  (I recommend dipping the straw in your jar full of water and seeing how well the water flows in a mirror)
• Grab your paper cup and exacto knife and start making little rectangular slits.   Make sure to put some holes on the bottom, otherwise a majority of te oxygen from your air pump wont get to the plant!
• Now take your lid and put a fairly large hole in the middle.  You can use a hammer and nail or better yet a drill.  Remember that your hole will need to be big enough for your plant to grow into.  Make another hole for your straw to fit into.  To finish it all up poke a few holes around the lid so excess air has a place to go when you feed your little plant oxygen.
• Put it all together!  (use pics below as a reference)
• I used a spider plant bud as they are fairly easy to grow, but have fun and choose something you like.
• Add a little plant food (miracle grow) and your done!

(pin-pricked straw is used as an ultra cheap air pump)

Note: So far I have one complaint with it. I dont like the hole on the top for the plant. Over time the plant will need more space. Ill have to find another solution…