New to hydroponics
Understand the basic parts of a small indoor system and the words that show up in every guide.
Read the basicsHome hydroponics, without the fog
Home Hydro Lab
A beginner-friendly place to learn indoor hydroponics with clear guides, simple calculators, and small experiments you can repeat at home.
A calm first path
Grow lettuce, basil, and herbs before chasing complicated systems.
Home hydroponics gets easier when the first setup is small: one container, clean water, simple nutrients, enough light, and a habit of checking pH and plant health. This site is built around that path.
Pick a starting lane
The first guides
Want the simplest build
Start with the Kratky method, a passive setup that works well for lettuce and herbs.
Learn KratkyChoosing plants
Compare beginner crops by harvest time, light needs, pH range, and common mistakes.
Choose a plantUseful from day one
Simple tools for small grows
Use quick calculators to estimate nutrient amounts and convert EC readings to PPM scales. They are not a replacement for the product label, but they help you avoid wild guesses.
Open tools
Beginner EC
0.8-1.4
mS/cm for many leafy greens
Common pH
5.8-6.5
check crop and nutrient guidance
Easy crops
Lettuce
basil, mint, bok choy
The editorial promise
Research first, claims second.
Home Hydro Lab is written for beginners. Guides cite extension resources, manufacturer labels, and practical setup notes. Product pages are buyer guides unless a page clearly says a hands-on test was completed.
- No fake lab claims.
- No pretending to be a university or manufacturer.
- No advice without a source or a clear experience note.