Many people are unaware of the new wave of science making indoor gardening more accessible than ever. Introducing Hydroponic grow kits, self-contained systems which allow plants and crops to be grown without soil in the comfort of your own home.
Hydroponic grow kits work by circulating nutrient-rich water solutions directly to the root of your plant. This process saves water and enables rapid plant growth. Most kits are accessible and easy to use for beginners, but for me, the best part about these kits is just how sustainable they are, and here’s why:
- Indoor gardening requires fewer chemicals, so no herbicides or pesticides
- As the plants are being fed nutrients directly, plants grow faster and consistently often resulting in less waste
- Growing at home is often low-cost and produces fewer emissions than buying from a regular shop
Now with all these new systems, there are some downsides, as some systems require grow lights which burn electricity, some of the nutrients required to feed the plants are industrially produced, and the packaging of the home kits are often plastic, which is why it does matter which system you use, how you take care of them and how you choose to use these systems at home.
But think about it, when you have the option to grow your own crops, such as lettuce, herbs, spinach, kale, etc., it’s definitely worth it, especially when you find the right system.
One kit I want to introduce you to is a kit from a brand called Hydroherb – an at home hydroponic system made from recycled wine bottles – yes, you read it right, recycled wine bottles.
I came across this kit after meeting one of the brands representatives who told me the story of how this kit came to fruition, and the story was so captivating, I had to try it for myself.
Julian, an engineer and founder of a Suffolk-based eco-craft company, first developed the idea while completing his MSc Engineering end-of-year project. One of the projects challenged him to come up with product ideas based around recycling and the reuse of household waste.
Inspired by his weekly ‘walk of shame’ – the walk of shame to the bottle bank that is – the opportunity to reduce the number of wine bottles being exposed for all to see was especially appealing and became the basis of his project.
From this concept came the beautifully designed hydroponic kits which come with easy-to-understand instructions and all the parts you need to grow your plants, including the liquid nutrients.
When I opened the kit, I was pleasantly surprised to see the gardening system has been designed inside an actual green wine bottle, which you can also recycle. With just a few easy steps, in 7-10 days, you’ll notice the seeds beginning to germinate.
The brand also has an ongoing partnership with Ecologi, which means every purchase goes towards the planting and maintenance of a sapling around the world.
I have Basil, Mint and coriander, but you can shop their full range of herbs on their website here and check updates on how my plant-growing journey is going on our Instagram.
