Gardener Turns Milk Jugs Into An Epic Multi-Level Hydroponic Garden

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Have you ever wondered what a hydroponic garden is? Hydroponic gardening is the method of growing plants or food without having to place them in soil. Instead, they are planted in nutrient-dense water, allowing the roots to soak up all that they need to grow and thrive. Hydroponics has become increasingly popular for many reasons. It allows for year-round growing, it is a sustainable option in terms of materials, and it's also a great way of gardening without the need for masses of soil, which can be inaccessible for some. 

Hydroponic kits are widely available; however, if you've decided they are not worth buying and you're keen to make your own, be inspired by this video from Keep on Growin on TikTok. It details how to DIY your own multi-level hydroponic garden with some old milk jugs.

The benefit of using the milk jugs at an angle, as opposed to standard level trays filled with water, is that the milk jugs stay half full of water before dispersing water into the next jug. This means that if the electricity goes out or the pump fails, the milk jug system is designed to last for days without water flowing into it, preventing your plants from becoming dehydrated and potentially dying.

Start with two timber posts and a wooden ledge to create your frame. You can then use regular deck boards screwed onto the frame to form your runs. The important thing is that your runs create a downward slope to allow the water to flow from one milk jug to the other. A good indicator outlined in the video is that for every 4 feet of run, you should have 8 inches of rise.

Use a circular drill bit to drill out the holes in your jugs. One hole will be at the back of the jug where the nozzle of the previous jug will be fed through, and then one or two holes will be for your plants to sit in. The hole at the back needs to be towards the top of the jug when it is laid down horizontally. The spout of the jug that's sat above it will enter it at a good angle for the water flow. Attach strips of 4 x 2 timber onto the run, for each jug to be angled slightly upwards. Strap the jugs down to the run using some garden Velcro or ties to keep them stable. 

Finally, it's time to connect your circular system by joining a pump hose to the top point of your hydroponic garden, feeding water through the milk jugs one by one, and then dropping it back into a tank of water. When searching for a pump for your hydroponic garden project, it's best to look for one that has at least a 10-foot lift, like this VIVOSUN pump from Amazon for $25.99. The flow capacity isn't as important for this project because the water simply needs to trickle through.

If you love the idea of this multi-level hydroponic garden but aren't too keen on the overall look of it, there are definitely ways you can make it look more visually appealing. For example, rather than leaving the milk jugs white, try painting the exterior in a color that you love or that would suit the rest of your backyard. Firstly, give your milk jugs a light sanding to create a rough texture that your paint can adhere to, then apply at least two coats of acrylic paint, and seal using an all-purpose sealer.

Would you prefer your hydroponic garden to blend into its environment rather than stand out? A lovely idea would be to forage some fallen leaves from your backyard and stick them on the milk jugs. All you need to do is take some Mod Podge and glue the leaves onto your milk jugs, then finish by coating the entire jug exterior with Mod Podge to seal it.