A Cheap Alternative to RockWool and Net Cups

A cheap net cup and rockwool alternative in your hydroponic or aquaponic system. Nutrient film technique hydroponic farming at home.
Having taken my first step into hydroponic farming at home using a system known as nutrient film technique I tried to streamline the process of taking plants from seed to system.
Eliminating the need for net cups and rock wool, my puck system is the solution to minimising your cost and maximising you’re output with as little effort possible.

Here are some of my videos outlining the processes and how to build the systems I use in the method I have developed to take plants from seed to system in NFT hydroponics.

How to Build a NFT Hydroponic System:

How to Build a Hydroponic Seedling/Clone Propagator:

Seed to System in NFT Hydroponics:

Planting Seedlings in NFT Hydroponic System:

How to Change the Reservoir of a NFT Hydroponic System:

For those worried about toxicity pool noodles and jigsaw foam sheets are made from ethylene-vinyl acetate. So is hot melt glue, shower curtains, and even as an additive for time-release drugs. EVA is considered nontoxic.

Hoochos explores the worlds of Hydroponics, Aquaponics, Permaculture, Homesteading, Fermentation, Technology Vanlife and DIY Builds to look at the world through a larger lens that can incorporate the best of everything into a rich and rewarding lifestyle.
Through self sufficiency we can reduce consumption and increase our hyperlocal household production.

Merch:
A way to support the channel and get some cool stuff too.
There are two stores because dependant on where you live in the world one will be cheaper than the other (shipping) and it gives a range of design flexibility.

If you have personal queries about hydroponics or other matters please join me on Patreon for limited individual support or post in the Hoocho Reddit community and there are a lot of friendly helpful likeminded people that may have answers for you.

Happy Hydroponicing!

[danbaker]

This guy is the best. The reluctant tone of his videos along with him saying it to some extent in every video "i am not doing this for attention, but to help share gardening techniques" is perfect.

[kimvaughan]

This 60 year old just made some pucks! Although I could only make mine 85mm, it fits the 60mm hole beautifully. I punched a hole in the middle for the stems. I feel so proud of myself. Thank you so much for the wonderful idea.

[kenvng]

Thank you. Pool Noodle to support the plants. Genius idea! Bravo sir. Thank you so much.

[tastyfishsauce]

I know this is an old video, but I think your idea is brilliant. I have seen the pool noodle, the foam padding, the sponge, the rock wool, the expandel clay, the coco coir/peat. Yours combined the foam padding with the pool noodle, both easily obtained, relatively inexpensive and are reusable. The transition from seedlings in the DWC to the NFT appears seamless, Good job.

[forageforage]

Hoocho - Eliminating the RW altogether.  The easiest  way to do this is use a tray filled with about 1" of fine/powder Coco Coir. I would use a double tray, and bottom water. Then carefully place your seeds on to the layer of coco coir. Purposefully Placing them/spacing them a distance apart.  Once they've popped up/sprouted, and I wait till they've at least got their second set of leaves, you can now easily remove them individually from the coco coir, and put them into your foam puck or pool noodle. This method allows you to skip the extra handling, and you don't have to thin out the seedlings, like might with rockwool. You sort of get more bang for your money...making each seed and your handling time count.

[oueuc]

I love that cross design, and the support idea. Genius!

[lexboegen]

I got more useful information in the first five minutes of this video, than I have from hours of other videos on hydroponics here on YT. Subscribed.

[tonitouchberry]

I'm so proud of you! What a great and simple solution! Sometimes the answers are right in front of us and we just don't see them! I was hesitating at starting hydroponics because of that extra, cup and wool coat!! Thanks!!😁

[rblyle]

This is genius! My wife and I are wanting to get started and I've had a hard time finding good videos for beginners. This is a great one!

[Kobe]

Your's also dear friend is the stuff that changes worlds and lives! Thank you for your generosity! Here's to the end of whole-food shortage!

[trumpsahead]

I knew about the foam but your notching four corners is smart, and the pipe insulator foam is a good idea too. Excellent. I had thought to use good quality paper towels which are economically cheapest way to go, and roots grow right through them. I'm doing aeroponics this year. ciao. Good show.

[nicholecrouch]

Well I understand when you're talkin to the general people about you know keeping costs down but as a poor person they can't afford to go out and buy already you know established young plants as opposed to having to start everything from seed I like your idea and I appreciate you sharing your knowledge I'm definitely subscribing to your Channel thanks man cuz I've been trying to figure out a way to keep food growing indoors over the winter time in the cold months here it Oklahoma which we have 195 good days of growing on average and I am trying to extend that to year round and this definitely helps so I got three kids and me and my wife are trying to figure out any way we can to make food cost be lower but it's hard to do with three kids I was glad my two-year-old son prefers fruit over candy but again thank you for sharing your knowledge and I'm subscribing your Channel

[brianchristine]

Wow, you are a freeking genius! Thank you so much for this video. I'm just getting started in hydroponics after 30 years of soil gardening, and your info is gonna save me so much money and time. Thanks for shortening my learning curve! Blessings mate!

[tshmgzp]

Genius thank you for making the time to share may your journey in this wild crazy life be fruitful and abundant as you have helped mine God bless. If your ever in alabama come stop in

[debbieexcell]

😍. Thank u for being so creative, innovative and for recognizing the financial constraints that others may face.
Please continue to make more videos like this. I really appreciate the level of practicality that ur video brings.
As a single parent, and only income earner, I just love ur video.

[angelsinthecloset]

I have to say, i really love your garden!!! It makes me long for living on a farm, or out of the city at least. But you have inspired me, and i am going to design a wall system for strawberries using ideas ive seen on your channel!

[Samoasoa]

Just about to hole saw the PVC pipe, your channel came to my stream. Good and practical and above all save me some money too. Thank you for sharing.

[ML]

Accessible to everyone...what a legend! Love your work.

[cindyholton]

Excellent idea - I'm just about to try hydroponics out for the 1st time, and will go with this to save money - so glad I saw your video - will watch the others now! thanks!

[MacGuyverr]

Hi, im geting into hydroponics based of a 3D print idea for towers. My hang up so far is understanding the grow medium. I feel like everytime i search for a product or watch a video the information is geared for people with much higher knowledge than someone like myself. I wanted to do dirt gardening, but i am learning the hard way how resilient grass is.