How to build a Greenhouse Hydroponics system
A hydroponics system can be set up indoors or out. If outside you may want to consider greenhouse hydroponics system - in other words, build a greenhouse for yourself. Why would you want to do this? An outdoor hydroponics system needs to be under cover or rain will dilute the nutrient solution and it will change the PH rather quickly. Furthermore, a greenhouse provides warmth, humidity and animal protection in a completely controlled environment making a greenhouse hydroponics system one of the best ways to set up an outdoor hydroponics system.
This is my portable greenhouse hydroponics system. It measures 14 x 18 feet and has a ceiling of 12 to 14 feet. It is constructed out of 1 inch PVC piping and covered with 8 mil plastic. It has survived 3 inch surprise snow storms, 60 mile per hour winds and the ever present rain storm. Each year I assemble it in early spring and take it down in fall and the best part...it only cost me around 300 dollars to build and is almost completely reusable - each year all I replace is the plastic covering. For the covering I purchased a 100 foot by 20 foot roll of 8 mil plastic used as a painter's drop cloth. This is why I only built it to be 18 feet long. I can cut a long solid piece of plastic for covering the greenhouse and at a 20 foot width it just fits over the greenhouse (18 feet) hanging down 1 foot on each end so you can staple it down. It is a little 'rough around the edges' but it does the job quite nicely. Here is another picture:
To build this you first need to select and prepare a site
Site selection and preparation
Now that you have the site all layed out it is time to assemble your tools and materials. The entire structure is built of PVC, plastic, plastic zip ties, 1 x 2 inch pine boards, a little deer netting and some screws and hinges. I found the actual construction plans for this greenhouse in a web site I had trouble finding a second time. But I managed to locate it and I recommend you download and follow his plans - I did and I was able to construct it (have I mentioned yet that I really have no mechanical ability?). If I can do it so can you.So, here is the web site. Just look for the link to build your own PVC greenhouse:
Greenhouse Building Plans
Once you have a greenhouse built there are certain things to keep in mind. One thing to consider is exactly what to grow in your greenhouse? Click on this link for a short story of
what not to put in your greenhouse
Once the greenhouse is up and the hydroponics are running there is not much left to do besides general hydroponics maintenance except to harvest your crop! But there are some things to consider. Click on the following:
Greenhouse Maintenance
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