Dutch bucket is perhaps the most commonly used container for holding plants in a hydrponic growing system.
It can be connected easily, allowing hydroponic systems to be scaled to virtually any size needed.
At first glance, the Dutch bucket looks
like nothing more than a square conventional planter.
However, appearances are deceptive.These buckets are
used for both hydroponics and aquaponics, and feature
the ability to use a single watering line and a
single drainage line for multiple media beds when
lined up together.
Hydroponics rely on the use of growing mediums to
ensure that plants have a place to anchor, and
benefit from stability. While larger media beds can
be used, they are not always ideal. The Dutch
bucket system provides a solution that offers
scalability, combined with a small form factor.
While Dutch bucket can be used to grow
virtually any plant type, they are especially useful
for vining crops like tomatoes and cucumbers, as well
as for growing larger plants. It’s also interesting
to note that vining plants can be trained upward, as
well as horizontally, to create living walls of
plants that are easy to monitor and, after fruiting,
easy to harvest.
Unlike other hydroponic systems, each bucket acts as
both a host for a media bed, as well as the water and
nutrient solution required for plant growth. The
buckets are connected in series, and use the same
water line, and the same drainage line.
They can be set either on a bench or table, or
directly on the floor if necessary.
When connected in series, they should be staggered,
with each alternating bucket’s drain port facing
inward to ensure that a central drain line can serve
all buckets in the series.