Mini DWC system
 

I had an extra aquarium pump laying around and a couple plastic bottles so I thought I'd throw together a little deep water culture system to grow some parsley in. Here's what you need:

1. A plastic bottle
2. Air pump
3. Air stone
4. Some tubing
5. Rockwool plug

First, cut the top off of the bottle. Take the bottom half and make a little hole in it, near the top for the air tube to go through.

http://dougsko.com/garden/images/img_0700.jpg
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Now, invert the top part of the bottle and insert it into the top of the bottom half. Stick the rockwool plug in the hole you would normally drink from, fill with some water and plant a seed in it. Turn on the pump and you're done!

http://dougsko.com/garden/images/img_0703.jpg
http://dougsko.com/garden/images/img_0705.jpg

This bottle is clear which is usually a bad thing since it will allow algae to grow in the water, however, this is a small system so the water will need changed more frequently, thus reducing the problem. Wrapping it in duct tape is also a viable solution.

very neat -- how's the parsley doing? Does a system like this make it grow better/faster?

I actually decided to plant the parsley outside since it does better with a lot of sunlight and this was going to stay indoors. I actually stuck a basil seedling in this today. Hydroponics in general though is more efficient that growing in soil. I have two other, larger planters in 5 gal. buckets that work the same way as this mini system and the plants love it.

Here's an update on what the basil looks like today:

http://www.23hq.com/23666/4547949_dd...8_standard.jpg

Coming up on this plant's one month birthday, here's what it and its root system looks like:

http://www.23hq.com/23666/4623182_cf...8_standard.jpg

wow. that's pretty awesome!

Great post! It's very nice and userful. Thank you so much for Paul post.