Hydroponic system for beginners-Wick system

About Wick system-What is it?

The Wick system is the simplest type of hydroponic garden and is perfect for beginners. Its main parts are a growing tray for the plants and a reservoir for the nutrient-enriched water that’s placed under it.

This system doesn’t use any electrical components or moving parts, so it only needs minimal maintenance. This method is best for microgreens like broccoli, mustard, kale, and peas, as well as beans, herbs, and peppers. 

What you’ll need:

• Wicking material (wool, cotton, or nylon rope or strips of fabric 0.6cm in diameter will suffice)

• Container to serve as a reservoir

• Styrofoam, wood, or plastic tray

• Net pots or seedling trays

• Seedlings

• Growing medium (coconut fibre, vermiculite, perlite, hydroton, or any combination of these)

• Cutting tools (craft knife or drill with a hole saw)

• Marker

• Ruler or tape measure

• Drill or screwdriver

• Water and nutrient solution

• Light fixture (optional)

How to set up the Wick system?

Step 1. Prepare the water reservoir

Mix distilled water and the hydroponic nutrient solution in your container. You may need to fill the container almost to the brim, but be sure to follow the appropriate ratios the manufacturer prescribes. Set the container aside in an area away from direct sunlight; cover the container with a lid if it has one.  

Step 2. Prepare the tray

Place a piece of wood, plastic, or styrofoam over the reservoir, ensuring it has a good fit. Measure the tray so you can have an evenly-spaced grid of seedlings that are all 15cm apart from each other. 

Depending on the size of your tray, you can place 4 to 8 net pots or seedling trays. Avoid placing too many pots or trays; the 15cm distance is necessary to ensure every seed or seedling gets enough nutrients to grow.

Use a marker to mark the spots for the net pots or trays. Drill or cut out holes for each of them, and make sure they fit well. 

Step 3. Place the seedlings

Fill each of your net pots or seedling trays with your chosen growing medium. Place a single seedling in each tray or pot.

Connect the wicks to each net pot or seedling tray. Make sure that the pots or trays dangle just above the water, and the wicks are long enough to dip into the solution. Make sure the wicks also make contact with the growing medium for each seedling. Through capillary action, the wicks should feed each net pot or seedling tray with the nutrient-rich solution. 

Step 4. Add a light fixture

You can skip adding a light fixture if your hydroponic garden has access to natural light. If it’s in a dark area with no windows, set up an LED or fluorescent lamp above the tray at a distance of 15 to 30cm.  

Step 5. Maintain the system 

Change the nutrient solution every week until your plants are ready to harvest. You may have to do this more frequently in some cases, but that depends if your plants are more water- and nutrient-hungry. Depending on what you planted, you should have your first harvest in about 30 days.