Hydroponics for Beginners: What Actually Worked for Me (and What Didn’t)


My Hydroponic Systems: What’s Working (and What I’ve Learned So Far)

If you’ve ever tried gardening in Florida and felt like everything either burns, gets eaten, or dies… the feeling is mutual. 

I didn’t start out as a “hydroponics person.” Honestly, I just wanted a simple way to grow fresh food at home without fighting Florida soil and bugs. 

I currently have two hydroponic systems running, and I’ve learned a lot (some the easy way… some not 😅).

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

What Hydroponic Systems I’m Using

Right now, I’m using 2 different types of systems:

I like both these setups; they both have their advantages and disadvantages. 

  • The tower:
    • While very easy to set up, I have gone through 2 pumps already. 
  • VIVIOSUN hydroponic system 
    • I have had more success with larger plants in this system than in the tower. It didn't come with a container for the water and nutrients to flow through (They're $3 a piece, and the money goes to a good cause). I just use a pickle bucket from Firehouse Subs to circulate my water and nutrients. The only real issue, for my situation, is that plants on the bottom are less likely to thrive because when the higher plants get bigger, they start to block out sunlight. You could always just get a grow light to help with this, but I prefer just natural lighting. 

Why I Started Hydroponics

Living in Florida (Zone 9a), you’d think growing food would be easy… but it’s actually not always that simple.

Between:

  • Sandy soil

  • Heat stress

  • Pests (so many pests 😩)

…it can get frustrating fast.

Hydroponics gave me a way to:

  • Control the environment more

  • Grow faster

  • Keep things cleaner and more manageable

And honestly? It just feels really cool watching plants grow without soil.

🌿 What I’m Growing


So far, I’ve had the best success with:

  • Lettuce

  • Herbs (like basil, dill, oregano)

  • Leafy greens (collard, mustard, Swiss chard)

These grow quickly and don’t give me much trouble.

Some things I’ve experimented with:

  • Broccoli (a little trickier) - have to transplant when bigger

  • Bell pepper (still testing) 

  • Tomato- transferred when bigger

What I’ve Learned (The Real Stuff)

1. Algae Happens

If your system gets too much light in the water reservoir… algae will show up.

What helped me:

  • Covering exposed areas

    • I have netting over both my systems to keep the systems from getting 100% direct hot Florida sun. I also have some leftover screen from rescreening the patio door that I put over the pickle bucket to keep debris and bugs from falling into the water and nutrients. This is in part why I think my first pump failed: debris clogged up the pump in the tower. 



  • Keeping water out of direct sunlight

    • Keeping the systems out of direct sunlight reduces algae bloom. It doesn't completely eliminate it, but it does help reduce the amount. 
    • Here are two things I use to help with debris and algae: 

2. Water Quality Matters More Than You Think

This isn’t like watering a plant and hoping for the best.

You need to pay attention to:

  • Nutrients: I use 1/4 tsp per gallon of each nutrient. You can test it out to see what works best for you. [This is what I use]

  • pH levels: It is important to test your pH levels. I usually just do it when I need to refill the containers and add nutrients. [I use this for testing the pH levels]

I’m still learning this part, but even small adjustments make a big difference.

3. Growth Is FAST

This surprised me the most.

Once everything is dialed in, plants grow way faster than in soil. It’s super rewarding—especially when you’re harvesting your own food regularly.

4. It’s Not “Set It and Forget It.”

Hydroponics is simple… but not passive.

You still need to:

  • Check water levels

  • Monitor plant health

  • Clean the system occasionally

I usually check mine while Callie is napping; it’s become part of my routine.

👶 Mom Life + Hydroponics

One of the biggest reasons I’ve stuck with this?

It fits into my life.

I’m not out there digging for hours. I can:

  • Do quick checks during nap time

  • Harvest in minutes

  • Keep everything contained and manageable

  • It takes up a fraction of the ground cover when compared to traditional gardening. Perfect for small backyards, or even patios or garages. 

It’s a really realistic way to grow food as a busy mom.

👍 Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Faster plant growth

  • Less mess than soil

  • Space efficient

  • Fewer pests

Cons:

  • Initial setup cost

  • Learning curve with nutrients/pH

  • Requires consistent monitoring

    • You have to make sure our water levels don't get too low, so you don't burn out the pump.
    • If you have a power outage, your pumps won't work to circulate the water and nutrients, so have a backup plan ready.
      • In the future, I plan on buying a solar-powered generator, so I'm not reliant on house power for the pumps. 
      • Have spare pumps available. It's stressful worrying your plants are going to die, and not sure if there's a spare pump lying around. I've had to rob one from one of my garden fountains before. 

Plants can be transferred

Another thing I like about this system is that you can successfully transplant plants to be replanted in pots or garden beds. So far, I've done it with tomato, Swiss chard, mustard, collard, bibb lettuce, broccoli, and dill. 

Would I Recommend It?

Yes! Especially if you:

  • Have limited space

  • Want quicker results

  • Get frustrated with traditional gardening

Hydroponics isn’t “no work”… but it is more controlled, and that makes a big difference.

Final Thoughts

I’m still learning, still experimenting, and definitely still making mistakes.

But that’s part of it.

If you’ve been thinking about trying hydroponics, this is your sign to just start. You don’t need to have it all figured out; you’ll learn as you go (I definitely did).

Like what you read today?

If you enjoyed this post, check out some of my other posts. This one here, on backyard chickens. 


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