What Is A Hempy Bucket? [Best Easy Hydro System For Beginners]

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What is a hempy bucket? A hempy bucket is probably the simplest passive hydroponic system there is.

It is easy to build. It is great for large plants and the best easy hydro system for beginners.

If you’re not familiar with the term “hempy bucket,” you’re not alone. This phrase is relatively new and has only started to gain popularity in recent years.

Don’t let the name hempy bucket put you off. Although the term was coined and popularized by cannabis growers who used it to grow cannabis plants it works great for peppers and tomatoes and just about any large plant.

What Is A Hempy Bucket?

So what is a hempy bucket?

A hempy bucket is an extraordinary growing system that is widely popular among growers of plants and vegetables today due to its many benefits.

It provides better drainage and aeration with dramatic increases in yield and quality while eliminating the hassle of frequent watering and maintenance.

It makes hydroponic growing simple and easy and because it does not need electricity it is perfect for an indoor or outdoor grow with equally good results. 

The hempy bucket is a passive hydroponic system and a variation of a sub-irrigated planter.

It is simply a bucket usually 5 gallons but the size of the bucket can be larger or smaller.

It has a drain hole about 2 inches from the bottom. The height of the hole from the bottom of the bucket sets the water table and water level.

It is passive (no pump or air stone) and so needs no electricity. It is also a top feed drain to waste system.

The construction of hempy buckets consists of a pail or bucket that holds either coco coir, perlite, or a mix of the two and the nutrient solution, and plant roots.

The added mediums provide the perfect air-to-water balance for optimal growth cycles. You don’t need to worry about root rot with the hempy bucket method.

This revolutionary growing method allows for maximum oxygen levels in the root zone allowing for sturdy plants with thick stems, healthy leaves, and superior harvests.

Anyone looking for an easy yet effective way to grow vegetables will likely find themselves turning to the hempy bucket as their growing process of choice.

How Does A Hempy Bucket Work?

To use a hempy bucket you simply add water on top until it runs out the drain hole. So you will want something to catch the runoff.

Water is held in a small reservoir in the bottom 2 inches. It wicks up by capillary action to water your plant.

Every time you add water to the top it forces out the old water and so the reservoir is refreshed each time you water.

How To Build A Hempy Bucket

To construct a hempy bucket system, you will need an opaque 5-gallon bucket and inert grow media such as coco coir or perlite/vermiculite mix. 

Get some quality nutrients. While it can be done with just basic growth nutrients, many people find that their plants respond well to specific nutrient formulas designed for hydroponics or coco coir.

Hempy buckets can be any size. But since they are usually used for large plants like tomatoes or peppers most people use 5-gallon buckets for them.

They are usually readily available and even if you have to buy them they only cost a few bucks.

You can use other sizes and grow smaller plants in them too. But it is best to use opaque buckets to keep light out. However, you can wrap white buckets with tin foil or spray paint them black.

All that you need to do to build a hempy bucket is drill a drain hole about 2 inches above the bottom of the pot on the side of the bucket.

Size is not critical but you don’t want it too large because you are going to fill your bucket with planting media and you don’t want it washing out.

The hole can be as small as a 1/4 inch hole and a half inch is plenty.

Some people glue a small piece of screen to the inside of the bucket over the drain hole to keep all the contents in the bucket but it really is not necessary.

Filling  Your Hempy Buckets

Hempy buckets are very versatile and there are several types of growing media you can use.

They can be filled with coco or perlite or a mix of the two. You can use peat-based potting soils too but they don’t work as well.

Don’t try to use garden soil though. It will compact too much and it may have unwanted bugs in it too.

The most popular grow mediums are pure perlite or hydroton or a growing medium of 50% coco/50% perlite mix.

I think this mix gives the best results and you can adjust the parts perlite up or down until you are happy with the watering times. 

Some growers use straight perlite or a perlite and vermiculite mix.

Running just perlite or hydroton works great. It does not attract bugs like other media can but it will require daily or even multiple daily waterings.

Using coco in your hempy will reduce watering times the most but many people still like to mix in perlite.

Hempy Bucket Nutrients

You have a wide choice when it comes to hempy bucket nutrients. I prefer using hydroponic nutrients.

But organic nutrients are just fine in a hempy. You can add teas, microbes, and other organic inputs as long as they can be dissolved in your feed water.

Also, I should mention with the exception of some hot super soil mixes you should feed every watering, especially with coco, perlite, or mixes of the two.

How Often To Water Hempy Buckets

There is no hard and fast rule for this. It depends on the size of the plant you are growing and what grow medium your hempy bucket is filled with.

Large plants may require daily watering and a young plant may go several days.

The best advice I can give you is to lift your hempy buckets. You will get a feel of when to water after you do this for a while.

If they feel heavy they don’t need to be watered and if they feel light they need watering.

Don’t let your hempy bucket dry out but don’t drown it either. When the liquid comes out of the drain your hempy is full.

If you think it might have been overwatered you can tip the bucket to drain off excess water. Learn about using a grow tent for vegetables

Who are hempy buckets good for?

Hempy buckets are an ideal growing system for hydroponic gardeners. Not only are they extremely cost-effective, but they also provide optimum aeration levels and reduced water use.

Furthermore, the simplistic design is perfect for any grower, beginner, or experienced alike.

With a few modifications, these buckets are highly versatile for any type of crop ranging from tomatoes to cannabis.

The lightweight, sturdy material makes them easier to move and rearrange when needed and even easy to store away for future planting seasons.

Any gardener working with limited time or space should definitely look into giving hempy buckets a try.

Tips for using hempy buckets

Growing plants with a hempy bucket can be an amazing and rewarding experience. However, if you’re new to the process of growing hydroponically, there are a few essential tips to keep in mind inside the grow room.

• First, make sure to mix the solution correctly according to the instructions on your nutrient bottle; using too much or too little of a certain nutrient can drastically affect your plant’s growth. You probably don’t want to use full strength nutrients if you are just using perlite.

• Second, you should always water your plant from the top your drainage hole will overflow when your hempy is fully watered. This prevents overwatering and ensures that all of your roots get adequate access to good water and air levels.

• Additionally, never use tap water as it will contain chlorine which can disrupt pH balance and stunt the growth of your plants. You should use distilled or reverse osmosis purified water whenever possible.   

• On top of that, be sure to perform small pH tests daily since shifts in pH levels can affect nutrient availability which may be harmful to plants grown in hempy buckets.

So you will want to test the runoff water for pH and also TDS (total dissolved solids) which tells you how strong your nutrient solution is.

If your TDS is going up you need to feed less and if it is going down you need to feed more.

Look at your plants they will tell you if they need more or less or are being fed just right. 

With these tips in tow, you’ll have no problem providing a nurturing environment for your beautiful home-grown plants.

GroBuckets Are A Hempy With A Built In Reservoir

I don’t grow my veggies in a hempy bucket instead I use GroBuckets which are really just a hempy bucket with an improved reservoir and a feed tube.

peppers in a grobucket a modified hempy bucket

The only difference is an insert that goes in the bottom of the bucket. It gives separation from the grow media and the reservoir.

Because my 5-gallon bucket has more water-holding capacity I can water less often. Here is an article I wrote about GroBuckets

FAQs

What is a hempy bucket?

A hempy bucket is a type of hydroponic growing system that was designed for growing cannabis or hemp plants. However, it can also be used for other large plants like tomatoes or peppers.

In a hempy bucket system, the plants are grown in containers filled with a mixture of soil-less growing media and nutrients.

The containers are typically made of plastic and are often referred to as “buckets.” The plants are typically grown in a soilless growing medium, such as coconut coir, perlite,hydroton, or Rockwool, which is watered with a nutrient solution to provide the plants with the necessary nutrients and moisture.

The hempy bucket system is a popular choice for growing cannabis or vegetables because it is relatively simple and inexpensive to set up, and it allows for precise control over the growing conditions.

How often do you water a hempy bucket?

The frequency of watering a hempy bucket depends on a variety of factors, including the size of the plants, the size of the containers, the type of growing medium being used, the ambient temperature and humidity, and the stage of plant growth.

In general, plants in a hempy bucket system will need to be watered more frequently than plants grown in soil, as the soilless growing medium does not hold moisture as well as soil.

As a general rule of thumb, it is a good idea to check the moisture level of the growing medium daily and water the plants as needed to keep the medium evenly moist. 

In the early stages of plant growth, it may be necessary to water young plants every day or every other day to help get them established. 

How do you use a hempy bucket to grow large vegetable plants like tomatoes or peppers?

To use a hempy bucket to grow large vegetable plants like tomatoes or peppers, follow these steps:

Set up your growing area. You will need a suitable space with good lighting and ventilation for your hempy buckets.

You may also need to install grow lights or other equipment like fans to provide the plants with the necessary light and a good growing environment.

Gather your materials. You will need containers (buckets) for your plants, a soilless growing medium (such as coconut coir, perlite, or Rockwool), a nutrient solution, and vegetable seeds or transplants.

Prepare your containers. Wash the containers thoroughly to remove any dirt or debris, and drill a 1/4 inch hole in the bottom side of the containers about 2 inches up to allow excess water to drain out.

Add the growing medium and water it with nutrient solution. Follow the instructions on the nutrient solution label.

Leave enough space at the top for the plants to grow. Plant your transplants.

Water the plants by hand for the first few days to help their roots become established. Keep the growing medium evenly moist.

Monitor and care for the plants. Keep an eye on the plants and make any necessary adjustments to the growing conditions, such as adjusting the lighting or temperature, or nutrient strength.

Follow the instructions on the nutrient solution label for feeding the plants, and be sure to monitor the pH and nutrient levels of the nutrient solution.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, hempy buckets are an incredibly efficient and cost-effective way to grow plants.

With the right supplies, a hempy bucket system proves easy to construct and maintain.

The versatile nature of this growing method makes it ideal for both beginner and experienced gardeners alike.

By following a few simple tips such as using RO (reverse osmosis) water, maintaining proper nutrient solutions and pH levels, and watering correctly until the water just starts to run out of the bottom drain hole, you can rest assured that your plants will receive the best care possible.

So why not give hempy buckets a try? Discover what other hempy growers already know, that hydroponic systems can do some great things compared to traditional methods. You’ll be sure to reap bigger rewards from hydroponics.

Learn how to use your hempy buckets in a grow tent for vegetables