There are a number of different hydroponic kits and accessories used for different purposes; these can include hydroponic kits built for cloning seeds or cuttings, outdoor and indoor hydroponic kits, hydroponic starter kits, hydroponic tent kits, and others just for supporting your plant in a nutrient solution outdoors. However the more you substitute for nature, the more complicated these kits are and the more expensive they become. When plants are removed from their natural environment, as in indoor gardening, then all aspects of that environment have to be duplicated by artificial or technical means. The right hydroponic kit will depend on the stage of development, the conditions the plants are grown in and your available budget. Here are some hydroponic kits you may find indispensable:
A Hydroponic Cloning Kit
Hydroponic cloning kits can range from around $30.00 to $200.00 depending on the level of sophistication. A hydroponic cloning kit can enable you to have faster grow cycles and harvest more often.
The best hydroponic cloning kits will support dozens of trimmings and deliver a high success rate of clones. The cloning kit will consist of a reservoir that holds the water and nutrient solution mix. The growing chamber section usually consists of trays or pots containing a growing medium for root support such as compressed peat or a perlite Vermiculite mix to support the seeds or clippings. An automated hydroponic cloning unit will contain an air pump and watering system that can include a water pump, water spray or mister. You should avoid humidity domes as these can lead to mold and wilting of the plant. Other important components of the kit can include:
- A hormone to enhance the development of roots.
- Hormone rooting compound such as Rootex-L, Clonex, or Eziroot
- Heating pad or propagation mat
- An anti-stress agent such as superthrive
- Nutrient solution and thermometer
- Pruning shears or sharp scissors
You should see tiny root bumps appearing after 3 days and in about a week these roots should be formed and expanding. After about 2 weeks the plants should be ready to be transported into whatever medium you wish – this could be soil or a hydroponic unit.
A Hydroponic Growing Kit.
When your plants have matured to a size that cannot be supported within the cloning kit they can be transported to a hydroponic growing unit. Much of the components required are similar to that of the cloning kit except the unit will be on a larger scale and may be housed within a tent. Also a growing kit will require light either from the sun or a powerful LED grow light and different nutrients depending on the stage of development.
The cost of a hydroponic growing kit can vary significantly in price from hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on the size and type of hydroponic unit, however you can find some cheap hydroponic kits for sale on eBay for less. If you are on a low budget you can usually find cheap hydroponic kits sold on eBay. There are a number of different hydroponic units available to growers and hobbyists each using a different method of water transfer and plant support. These can include the drip systems, Ebb and Flow systems, Wick systems and Aeroponic systems.
Hydroponic Nutrient Kits
While you can make your own homemade nutrients using fertilizer salts, to obtain higher yields and faster plant growth a number of hydroponic manufacturers provide nutrients that contain more than just the major and trace elements. These hydroponic nutrient kits contain crop enhancers such as root boosters, amino acids, microbes, enzymes, vitamins, fulvates, humates and non-ionic surfactant.
A good hydroponic nutrient kit contains all or most of the above enhancers, be easy to use and provide a more than one part formulation containing different formulas depending on whether your plant is in the growth or bloom stage of development. There are many hydroponic manufacturers of nutrients but you should avoid lesser known hydroponic nutrient suppliers as many of these have not made all their own products and sometimes a very different product is sold to you because they switched suppliers which can be detrimental to your plants.
The nutrient manufacturer “Advanced nutrients” passes all the above criteria, it is one of the most widely known and is considered one of the best hydroponic nutrient suppliers by hydroponic gardeners. They provide various kits/bundles depending on your level of experience. These include hobbyist level, Expert Growers Level, Professional Grower level and Grand Master Level.
