Everything for a grow tent watering system and for hydroponics: IBC tanks of 600 and 1000 L, a 750 L collapsible tank, trays and drip pans from 80 to 150 cm, flood and drain tables, the PLANT!T Aeros DWC system and growPLANT aeroponic propagators. Key rule: pH 6.0–7.0 in soil, 5.5–6.5 in coco and hydro. Complete set-ups are grouped under hydroponic systems.
Three questions narrow the choice: which growing medium you use, how many plants you have and how many days the tent has to run without you. These are the five options.
| System | Growing medium | pH | Maintenance | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| By hand with tray | Soil or coco | 6.0–7.0 soil; 5.5–6.5 coco | Water every 1–3 days | Beginners |
| Automatic in pot | Medium in pot | Depends on medium | Refill reservoir, check pH and EC | Growers often away |
| DWC | Clay pebbles in net pot | 5.5–6.5 | Change solution every 7–10 days | Fast growth |
| Aeroponics | None | 5.5–6.5 | Clean nozzles, fresh water | Cuttings |
| Flood and drain | Rockwool, clay pebbles, coco | 5.5–6.5 | Clean table and reservoir each cycle | Many pots |
In soil, water when the top 2–3 cm are dry and the pot feels light, until 10–20% of the water runs out of the bottom. Coco is watered more often, even daily, and should never dry out. Solution EC follows the stage: 0.4–0.8 mS/cm for seedlings and cuttings, 0.8–1.6 in the vegetative stage, 1.2–2.0 in flowering.
To size a reservoir, multiply the daily use of all plants by the days of autonomy you need and add about 20% reserve. Mixed nutrient solution should be renewed every 7–10 days anyway, so for storing tap water or rainwater a separate tank makes sense: 600 and 1000 L IBC tanks and the 750 L collapsible tank have their own category. For run-off there are FlexiTray and SK trays from 80 to 150 cm.
At Gro.w.LaB all prices are in Swiss francs, including Swiss VAT. We deliver throughout Switzerland by Swiss Post; bulky items such as IBC tanks travel by courier. For technical advice, send an email to our support team or call +41 79 359 67 58; you can also visit the shop in Quartino by appointment.
You need a reservoir, a pump on a timer or an automatic system such as growSYSTEM AirPot, plus a tray for run-off. In the first week, check daily that every pot gets water and adjust the timings.
In DWC the roots sit in oxygenated solution, in aeroponics they are misted in air, and with drip irrigation the water reaches a growing medium in a pot. Drip with a medium is more forgiving; DWC and aeroponics are faster but need frequent pH and EC checks.
In soil usually every 2–3 days, when the top 2–3 cm are dry; in coco daily, and several times a day in flowering. The weight of the pot matters more than the calendar.
For a first grow, hand-watered soil is the easiest because it buffers pH and nutrient mistakes. Hydroponics grows faster: switch once you can measure and correct pH and EC confidently.
