Guides
16 entries on file.
- №0012026-05-19
Aeroponics vs Aquaponics — Mist Roots or Live Fish?
One sprays bare roots with sterile nutrient mist; the other recirculates fish waste through a planted bed. Different philosophies, different failure modes, different yields.
- №0022026-05-19
Aeroponics vs DWC — Misted Roots vs Submerged Roots
Aeroponics oxygenates roots with a nutrient mist; DWC submerges them in aerated water. Complete comparison of yield, cost, failure modes, and crop fit.
- №0032026-05-19
Aeroponics vs NFT — Two Soilless Methods That Look Similar and Behave Differently
Both mist or stream water past bare roots. One needs a pressure pump and clean nozzles; the other needs a tilted channel and a thin film. Which one is right for your build?
- №0042026-05-19
Aquaponics vs Soil — Two Living Systems with Different Bottlenecks
Soil is the original food production system; aquaponics is the engineered indoor version. Yield, water use, learning curve, and what each one fails at compared.
- №0052026-05-19
Baby Greens vs Microgreens — Different Crops, Different Markets
Microgreens are 10-day seedlings; baby greens are 21-day young plants. Same crops, different harvest stages, very different prices and production models.
- №0062026-05-19
Coco vs Perlite vs Rockwool: Best Hydroponic Media
Coco vs perlite vs rockwool: starting pH 5.8–6.2 vs 7.0 vs 8.0+, reuse 3–4 cycles vs indefinite vs one, cost $0.20–0.80/L. Which medium to pick.
- №0072026-05-19
Drip vs Ebb and Flow — Two Active Systems with Different Personalities
Drip delivers nutrient continuously to each plant; ebb-and-flow floods the entire tray on a timer. Cost, crop fit, failure modes, and which one rewards inattention.
- №0082026-05-19
DWC vs Kratky — Active vs Passive Hydroponics
Compare Deep Water Culture (DWC) and the Kratky method for hydroponics. Learn about their differences in cost, complexity, yield, and suitability for beginners.
- №0092026-05-19
DWC vs NFT: Cost, Water Use & Which to Choose
DWC vs NFT compared. DWC costs $70 to build and survives 24 h without power; NFT uses 50–60% less water and stacks vertically. Lettuce in 28–35 days.
- №0102026-05-19
EC vs pH — The Two Numbers Every Hydroponic Grower Must Watch
pH controls what nutrients plants can absorb; EC measures how much is there. Get one wrong and the other is irrelevant. A practical guide to running both.
- №0112026-06-02
Hydroponic Parameter Reference — pH, EC, DLI & Harvest Time for 55 Crops
Target pH, EC, DLI and days-to-harvest for 55 hydroponic crops in one chart — leafy greens, herbs, fruiting crops, and microgreens. Sourced and fully metric.
- №0122026-05-19
Hydroponics for Beginners — Your First 30 Days
A complete first-month hydroponic plan — build a DWC tote, plant lettuce and basil, measure pH and EC, and harvest a salad without killing anything.
- №0132026-05-19
Hydroponics vs Aquaponics — Which Closed Loop?
Hydroponics is fast, predictable, sterile. Aquaponics is slower, organic, and ties plants to fish. Complete comparison for hobbyists and commercial growers.
- №0142026-07-30
Hydroponics vs Soil — Which Growing Method is Better?
Compare hydroponics and soil gardening side-by-side. Learn about their differences in growth speed, water usage, yield, and ease of use for home growers.
- №0152026-05-19
LED vs HPS Grow Lights — 2026 Cost & Yield Math
LED won. Modern Samsung LM301H quantum boards beat HPS on PAR/W, run cooler, last 5× longer — and the price gap is closed. Complete comparison with full numbers.
- №0162026-05-19
What is Hydroponics? The Complete Beginner Guide
Hydroponics is growing plants in nutrient-enriched water instead of soil. Complete guide to the science, the six common systems, what to grow, and what you need to start.
Frequently asked
- Where should a hydroponics beginner start?
- With the hydroponics for beginners guide, then the pH vs EC guide. Lettuce in deep water culture is the most forgiving first grow.
- What is the difference between pH and EC?
- pH (ideal 5.5–6.5) controls which nutrients are chemically available; EC (1.2–2.4 mS/cm for most crops) measures how much is dissolved. You need both in range.
- Are the guides available in my language?
- Yes. Every guide is published in all of our languages, with the same values in each.