How to manage outdoor hydroponics in a hot and humid climate

I recently found out how to make solar powered air pumps.

The problem would be keeping the res cool.

My idea around this is going for a larger res 10-15gallons but instead of using a tote. Use a bucket style res that way the res is deeper in the "cool" dirt. I'd also add 1-2ft of Styrofoam to the lid snug around the plant. This will help with keeping out heat as well as rain water also adding 1-2ft to the depth of the res helping it stay even cooler.
H202 every 3 days
Ice pack if necessary
Res change every 4-8weeks
Top off as needed


Do you gents think this will work?

i saw a pic of a dude in Arizona that buried 55 gal barrels up to the lid and grew that way. had some huge trees in a greenhouse

rkymtnman said:

i saw a pic of a dude in Arizona that buried 55 gal barrels up to the lid and grew that way. had some huge trees in a greenhouse

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Yeah it gets hot there too so thats a good sign that this will work. He used 55gallons though which we all know its harder for the temp fluctuate when there's a larger res. At least I know the 55 gal would work but id need alot of air stones for that big a res. But I can just imagine the size it would get (especially if u vegged a month or 3 before spring). Probably gain something like 3-4inches a day throughout veg. Giving you a 20lb monster lol. If only I lived in a legal state then I could REALLY grow

BionicΩChronic said:

Yeah it gets hot there too so thats a good sign that this will work. He used 55gallons though which we all know its harder for the temp fluctuate when there's a larger res. At least I know the 55 gal would work but id need alot of air stones for that big a res. But I can just imagine the size it would get (especially if u vegged a month or 3 before spring). Probably gain something like 3-4inches a day throughout veg. Giving you a 20lb monster lol. If only I lived in a legal state then I could REALLY grow

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i would just fashion up a waterfall instead of airstones for your tubs. if you can power the airpump,, a small water pump should be doable.

and @Jypsy Dog runs dwc outdoors with 91F temp with something similar to hydroguard.

rkymtnman said:

i would just fashion up a waterfall instead of airstones for your tubs. if you can power the airpump,, a small water pump should be doable.

and @Jypsy Dog runs dwc outdoors with 91F temp with something similar to hydroguard.

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You know that might be a better idea. I would need to rig up some pvc tubing and bury it coming out bottom of res and through the plastic siding up top to drop the water down. May need 4 of these working simultaneously to keep the water aerated. Or maybe two water falls with airstones aswell. But if only wanna build so sofisticated if I was building a large res
I might have to do a little investigative stalking to see his outdoor hydro

BionicΩChronic said:

You know that might be a better idea. I would need to rig up some pvc tubing and bury it coming out bottom of res and through the plastic siding up top to drop the water down. May need 4 of these working simultaneously to keep the water aerated. Or maybe two water falls with airstones aswell. But if only wanna build so sofisticated if I was building a large res
I might have to do a little investigative stalking to see his outdoor hydro

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You don't have to dig deep at all to reach cooler ground. If you dig a few inches with your bare hands, you'll feel how much of a difference it is between the surface and the soil.

You might have some luck burrying stainless steel wort coils a couple ft below the surface. Same concept as geothermal conditioning for your home.

change your res more often than once a month, that will help you and your plants

chiqifella said:

change your res more often than once a month, that will help you and your plants

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I know indoors changing the res during veg isnt needed. It actually harms the plants if done in the first 3 weeks. I.M.E

BionicΩChronic said:

I know indoors changing the res during veg isnt needed. It actually harms the plants if done in the first 3 weeks. I.M.E

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what?
ever consider drain to waste, using fresh new nutrients with each application? that never harmed plants.

if you're having issues in your 1st 3 wees with nutrient changes its not because the nutes are fresh, its because your ph is whacked and your ppm's are too high possibly. besides what of growers vegging for months on end for trees? old res nutes come with issues.

chiqifella said:

what?
ever consider drain to waste, using fresh new nutrients with each application? that never harmed plants.

if you're having issues in your 1st 3 wees with nutrient changes its not because the nutes are fresh, its because your ph is whacked and your ppm's are too high possibly. besides what of growers vegging for months on end for trees? old res nutes come with issues.

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all I'm saying is in my experience it causes a seedling stress when changing out a res when its trying to establish itself. I change my res out twice to three times a grow with no problems. Only time I had problems was when I changed it on unestablished plants. I respect your opinion though I'm not trying to start an argument tho my dude

BionicΩChronic said:

all I'm saying is in my experience it causes a seedling stress when changing out a res when its trying to establish itself. I change my res out twice to three times a grow with no problems. Only time I had problems was when I changed it on unestablished plants. I respect your opinion though I'm not trying to start an argument tho my dude

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oh, not at all, I'm always trying to understand too. like you do, I would stick with what works.
I just dont see how a res change(proper ph, etc) would do any harm to a plant, seeing as a steady drip of brand new nutes
is welcomed by them.
seems in 3 weeks some vital nutrients may be depleted when needed, while disease could flourish?

BionicΩChronic said:

I recently found out how to make solar powered air pumps.

The problem would be keeping the res cool.

My idea around this is going for a larger res 10-15gallons but instead of using a tote. Use a bucket style res that way the res is deeper in the "cool" dirt. I'd also add 1-2ft of Styrofoam to the lid snug around the plant. This will help with keeping out heat as well as rain water also adding 1-2ft to the depth of the res helping it stay even cooler.
H202 every 3 days
Ice pack if necessary
Res change every 4-8weeks
Top off as needed


Do you gents think this will work?

Click to expand...

skip that shit build ya self some swamp tubes,outdoor hydro!

thumper60 said:

skip that shit build ya self some swamp tubes,outdoor hydro!

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Oh yes! Hopefully ill be able to run one this yr! This outdoor dwc thing is hypothetical at my current state and in it. I can't wait to make it a reality tho

BionicΩChronic said:

Oh yes! Hopefully ill be able to run one this yr! This outdoor dwc thing is hypothetical at my current state and in it. I can't wait to make it a reality tho

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i've done outdoor hempy buckets (passive hydro) for tomatoes and they worked killer. 8 ft tall plants in a greenhouse that got up to 100F in full sun.

rkymtnman said:

i've done outdoor hempy buckets (passive hydro) for tomatoes and they worked killer. 8 ft tall plants in a greenhouse that got up to 100F in full sun.

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I tried hempy last year kept getting root rot but would still feed. Eventually I transplanted it to 100% perlite

BionicΩChronic said:

I tried hempy last year kept getting root rot but would still feed. Eventually I transplanted it to 100% perlite

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hehe, shoulda changed your res more often

chiqifella said:

hehe, shoulda changed your res more often

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Yes that one was outdoor so I changed it every like 3 days basically as fast as it could drink it

Adding bennies in the from of recharge to my hydro res was the easiest and most surefire way i've found of growing hydroponically in a hot environment (think very close to the equator)

I'm interested in your solar powered air pump, if you could pleeeeeease share?

eyderbuddy said:

Adding bennies in the from of recharge to my hydro res was the easiest and most surefire way i've found of growing hydroponically in a hot environment (think very close to the equator)

I'm interested in your solar powered air pump, if you could pleeeeeease share?

Click to expand...

BionicΩChronic said:

I tried hempy last year kept getting root rot but would still feed. Eventually I transplanted it to 100% perlite

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What color was your bucket? Black will heat up to much, orange seem to fade and let a lot of light in, white let’s some light in but works, grey works very well. I’ve been growing in 5gal he not buckets outdoors and the plants get huge. It can be in high 90s and 100s for months here. Once they get big it’s watered everyday. I used river rock up past the hole and then peat/perlite mixture.