[ DIY Systems ] guides.diy-hydroponics
Build your first hydroponic
system this weekend.
Kratky, DWC, NFT, all documented.
Jo Mulligan's Kratky setup cost $18 and took a Saturday afternoon. Every guide here comes with a parts list, real cost, and outcome from the person who built it.
Jo's build: mason jars, net cups, Masterblend. 30 days to harvest.
4
System types covered
kratky · dwc · nft · ebb-flow
$18
Lowest documented build
jo's kratky, mason jars
30 days
Time to first harvest
lettuce, verified
100%
Builder-documented
real setups, real outcomes
[ 01 ] Results.log
Four systems, four documented builds
Each guide is a build log from a real person who built the system, documented the cost, and reported the outcome.
Jo's $18 mason jar setup, 30-day harvest
The simplest possible hydroponic system: no pump, no electricity, no timer. Just a jar, a net cup, and the right nutrient mix.
[beginner] · $18 · Weekend build
Deep water culture: faster growth, same budget
Jordan's DWC bucket setup produces lettuce twice as fast as Kratky. The air pump adds $12 but the results speak for themselves.
[beginner] · $45 · Weekend build
[ 02 ] Process.log
How to pick your system
Three steps from "I want to grow" to "I'm building this weekend."
- 01
Compare the systems
Kratky vs DWC vs NFT vs ebb-flow, side by side with real build costs from each. Read the guide →
- 02
Source your parts
Every guide has an itemized parts list. Jordan's DWC list totaled $47 including nutrients. Read the guide →
- 03
Build and document
Each guide is a build log: what was ordered, what worked, what didn't. Read the guide →
[ 03 ] Method.md
Why these guides produce results
Three principles that separate these guides from the rest of the internet.
Real builder logs
Every guide documents what was actually built, costs, outcomes, mistakes. No aspirational specs.
// itemized · verified · no filler
Open-source only
No proprietary software in these guides. Every tool and firmware link points to an active open-source repo.
// open-source · no license fees
Beginner-first writing
We explain why things work, not just what to click. A beginner is just an expert who started recently.
// practical · grounded · accessible
[ sudo build ]
Build this: no-pump Kratky system
Jo's $18 build is the fastest way from zero to harvest. Mason jars, net cups, Masterblend. Thirty days to lettuce.