How It Works

Hydroponics made simple: faster growth, less space, Texas-tough.

The Basics

1

Fill the bucket

Add water and nutrients to your 5-gallon bucket.

2

Pump circulates water

A quiet pump lifts solution to the top to trickle past every site.

3

Roots absorb nutrients

Direct delivery to the roots fuels fast, healthy growth.

4

Harvest faster

Pick fresh herbs and greens sooner—with less mess.

Grow Medium

Hydroponics replaces soil with a clean, inert grow medium that anchors roots, keeps oxygen flowing, and lets the nutrient solution feed plants directly, faster growth, less mess.

Shop Growth Medium

pH Control (Simple + Reliable)

Keeping your nutrient solution in the right pH range makes nutrients “available” to the roots. Too high or too low and plants can’t absorb what’s already in the water.

Target range: pH 5.8–6.3 (leafy greens/herbs) and pH 5.8–6.5 (fruiting plants).

Stay consistent: small, steady adjustments beat big swings.

  • pH test: digital pH pen (see accessories for our favorite) or liquid color test kit
  • pH Down: typically phosphoric acid (for lowering pH)
  • pH Up: typically potassium-based (for raising pH)

Quick-start routine (5-gal bucket reservoir)

  1. Mix nutrients first. Add nutrients per label, run the pump 5–10 min to circulate.
  2. Measure pH. Aim for 5.8–6.3 (greens/herbs) or up to 6.5 (fruiting).
  3. Adjust in tiny steps. Add a few drops (≈0.5–1 ml) of pH Down or Up, let circulate 5–10 min, then re-test. Repeat until on target.
  4. Log it. Note date, pH, and what you added. Patterns = less guesswork later.
  5. Top-offs. When topping up with water, check pH again, tap water can nudge it upward.

How often to check

  • Startup / new mix: daily for the first week.
  • After stable: 2–3× per week (more often during heat waves or rapid growth).
  • If pH drifts the same way every time, make a small preventive tweak after refills.

Common causes of drift

  • Alkaline tap water: pushes pH up. Consider RO/filtered water or a small pre-dose of pH Down when mixing.
  • Plant uptake: as plants feed, solution chemistry changes, minor drift is normal.
  • Light leaks/algae: can shift pH. Keep the reservoir opaque and lid on.

Safety notes

Acids and bases can irritate skin/eyes. Wear gloves/eye protection, add chemicals to water (not water to chemical), and keep bottles away from kids/pets.