Hydroponics Made Simple!

    This is a set of instructions in setting up your own hydroponic setup. Tips and additional information are available below. You are encouraged to read the instructions fully before performing the tasks. If you wish for a more comprehensive set of instructions, you may refer to the manual provided by the manufacturer or you may consult with GTG through the contact details below.

    In setting up your hydroponic setup, you will need the following: seeds of your crop of choice, plastic container, styrofoam cups, grape Styrofoam box, coco coir, black garbage bag, packaging tape, barbecue sticks and SNAP hydroponics solution. 

PART 1: GERMINATING YOUR SEEDS
1.    Prepare the coconut coir by immersing it in water. Squeeze out excess water.
2.    Prepare your plastic container. This may be a used food or butter container, keeping in mind that this will be used to germinate your seeds. Punch holes on the base if you are not confident with your watering. Add at least an inch of coir.
3.    Sow the seeds to the container according to the seed packet’s instructions. It is not necessary to follow the spacing recommendations at this stage. Top the seeds with some coir.
4.    Prepare a solution of 2.5mL SNAP A + 2.5mL SNAP B per liter of water. Use this to water your seeds.
5.    Wait for the seeds to germinate. This will take days depending on the crop.

PART 2: PREPARING YOUR SETUP
1.    Get your Styrofoam box and cups. Using the lip of the cups, trace eight circles at the cover of the box, such that they are equally spaced apart.
2.    Make holes on the cover using the traced circles as your guide. Make sure that you don’t make the holes too big as the cover will be used to hold the cups. If you accidentally make holes too big for the cup, you may try to cutout Styrofoam cups to narrow the holes.
3.    Now get the base of the box and your garbage bag. Line the base with the garbage bag, making sure that the bag is lined flat on the corners of the base. After which, use the packaging tape to secure the bag in place.
4.    Fill the box with water. Check for leaks. If there are leaks, you are recommended to either replace the lining or double line the lining of the box.
5.    Transfer the water to a pail. You may use this for any purpose.
6.    Now get your Styrofoam cups. Make six to eight slits that are around ¼ inch wide and extends from the base to half the height of the cup.

PART 3: TRANSPLANTING
1.    Get your cups with slits. Add a half-inch worth of coco coir, slightly compressing the coir.
2.    Once your seeds have germinated, gently uproot them by using a barbecue stick.
3.    Transfer one seedling to the cup with coir. Bury the roots, making sure that the leaves are left above.
4.    Add these to your Styrofoam box. Place your box to its final location (since it will be hard to transfer once water has been added). Make sure the location has ample amount of sunlight (at least 4 hours) and has protection from rain.
5.    Add water until the level just reaches the base of the cups. A good indication would be if the coir is saturated by water.
6.    Add 2.5mL SNAP A and 2.5mL SNAP B per liter of water added on the setup. Add them one at a time, NOT simultaneously. For grape boxes, water added is usually 10 liters, so 25mL SNAP A and B are added.
7.    Inspect the setup. Make sure that the water level is sufficient, the plant/s is/are not submerged, and that there are no leaks.
8.    You may now leave the setup alone at this point. Check it up once a week, troubleshooting any possible issue.
9.    Harvest your crops at the recommended day of harvest, or if physical looks indicate that it is ready for harvest.

TIPS AND REMINDERS
1.    Materials need not be strictly followed. Alternatives that can serve the same purpose may be used.
2.    Likewise, measurements (except the SNAP proportions) need not be strictly followed. They only serve as guides and approximates.
3.    Black garbage bag is recommended to avoid algae growth.
4.    Coco coir is not recommended for re-use. You may use them for composting or for soil growing after use.
5.    Likewise, used solution is not recommended for re-use after harvest. You may use it for watering instead.
6.    Although rain will not directly kill the plants, it will fill up the setup with water, diluting the solution and eventually drowning the plants. In the event that this happens, drain the water to an acceptable level.
7.    You may customize your setup based on materials available and to your preference for as long as the requirements for setting up a hydroponic setup are met.

A printable document can be downloaded here (SOON!)