Build an affordable small hydroponic garden using a $3 plastic bin from IKEA, a handful of 3D printed parts, and some inexpensive purchased components.

This system can be operated in a number of ways. You can add air pumps and a recirculating water pump to do a deep water culture (DWC) setup. You can also run it totally passively by simply drilling one hole in the center of the lid for your net cup or a 3D printed Aerogarden pod adapter.

Check out these Youtube videos that explain how to build the DWC variant of this system. To simplify and set it up Kratky-style, you can omit most of the holes I drill in the lid and just drill as many 2" holes as you need to fit your net cups.

• Part 1: I show how to modify the Ikea bin. The 3D printed tools I use in the video are available here as "drill blocks." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUQ236HlwN0
• Part 2: I show how to assemble the finished product. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtmLA_urcFY

The complete bill of materials is available on this shared Google spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/140NJgnDm5aTWNqSGU7r5p_UNfO09xHHKGXLjrYhKuko/edit?usp=sharing

Printed parts breakdown (DWC/Kratky-style)

• Mandatory for DWC
• Pump cap (black TPU or other flexible)
• Recommended
• Hole cap 2 inch (black TPU or other flexible)
• 2x Ikea bin clip (PETG)
• Optional
• Hole cap 1.25 inch (black TPU or other flexible)
• Hole cap 0.625 inch (black TPU or other flexible)
• Aerogarden adapter (black PLA or PETG)
• Float8 bushing, cap, and float (PLA or PETG) - use this with a ping pong ball.

Strictly speaking, everything printed is optional. You can run this system with an air pump, a water pump, both, or neither. You can print an Aerogarden adapter to use Aerogarden pods, or you can just print or buy some 2 inch net cups and put your plants in those. The lid clips are nice but once your plants grow and gain some weight, they will probably hold the lid closed well enough.

I have also provided "Rigid cap" models that can be printed using non-flexible material.