| Deep water culture (DWC) is a type of | | | | with the air stones and instead connect the |
| hydroponic gardening in which the roots of a plant | | | | buckets. The water is recirculated with spray |
| are suspended in a solution of oxygenated water | | | | nozzles, resulting in better aeration and |
| and various nutrients. | | | | oxygenation. By constantly recirculating the water |
| Traditionally, DWC has been practiced using plastic | | | | in this fashion, nutrients are mixed more |
| buckets. The plant itself is suspended in what is | | | | effectively and pH levels are stabilized throughout |
| known as a net pot. The main feature of deep | | | | the system. |
| water culture is this net pot - a type of pot | | | | Building a DWC system is neither particularly |
| resembling an open wire basket - is suspended | | | | difficult nor expensive, and can be done for under |
| from the bucket lid in such a manner that the | | | | $100. To start, you will need a five gallon bucket, |
| roots are suspended in the bucket containing the | | | | a fish tank air pump, an aquarium airstone for |
| water and nutrient solution. Within the hydroponic | | | | breaking up the bubbles, a six inch hydroponic |
| garden, the water is oxygenated with an air pump | | | | growing net or net pot, duct tape, and a |
| and an aquarium airstone such as are used in fish | | | | hydroponic growth medium (organic composted |
| tanks. | | | | bark is best). |
| Once the hydroponic garden reaches the | | | | The first step is to cut a hole in the bucket lid |
| flowering stage, the level of the nutrient solution is | | | | that is the same diameter as the net pot. The |
| reduced, gradually exposing the roots to the open | | | | net pot should fit snugly when the lip rests on the |
| air, where they can absorb greater amounts of | | | | edge of the pot. You'll also need to cut a small |
| oxygen. The massive ingestion of oxygen and | | | | hole in the side of the bucket near the top in |
| nutrients leads to maximum growth throughout | | | | order to accommodate the air line. This should be |
| the plant's life cycle. | | | | run down to the bottom of the bucket and into |
| A variation on DWC is recirculation deep water | | | | the airstone. |
| culture (RDWC). An RDWC system employs a | | | | The bucket should then be wrapped in about five |
| reservoir which in turn provides water to several | | | | layers of duct tape in order to prevent any light |
| buckets. If these buckets are not connected in | | | | from reaching the reservoir (which would lead to |
| some way, it will be necessary to test each one | | | | the growth of algae). |
| for proper pH levels (acidity vs. alkalinity) and | | | | The net pot is then filled with the growth medium |
| conductivity factor (CF, a measure of electrical | | | | and the seedling of the plant you are attempting |
| conductivity used to determine nutrient levels). | | | | to grow. Fill the bucket with clean water, put the |
| In order to avoid the need for testing of each | | | | lid in place, insert the net pot, turn on the pump, |
| individual bucket, some RDWC systems dispense | | | | and your new system is in operation. |