How to Grow Hydroponic Cucumbers – The Wick Method
May 3, 2007 – I set up the following contraption from things I had around the house. The first thing I did was take a cotton work glove and cut it at the finger joints making longer strips that will fit into the hole in the base of the pot.
I pushed each of the strips into a different hole in the bottom of the pot, making sure that each strip would reach the top of the pot.
This is what the inside of the pot should look like.
Next I found a bigger container that was capable of holding a decent amount of water. In this case I found a plastic shoe box. I drilled a one inch hole in the top.
I filled the pot with dirt, making sure that each of the cotton strips made their way to the top of the dirt in several different places. I also filled the shoebox with water and one of my favorite liquid fertilizers. I slid the bottom of the cotton glove through the hole I made in the top of the shoebox. Then placed the top of the shoebox on top of the base of the shoebox. I placed 4 seeds just under the dirt and gave them a small drink from the top.
May 11, 2007 – This is the results as of one week later. The plants are growing well. I did water the plants the first couple of days to help germinate the seeds. Bu now they are growing all on their own with the water in the shoebox.
May 18th, 2007 – I have completely quit supplementing water. It is thriving on the water in the shoebox.
May 26, 2007 – They are so much taller than the rest of the cucumbers that I have been watering daily in clay pots.
 June 2nd, 2007 – Some of the leaves started to aquire brown edges. I am not sure what that means. I am going to have to do some research to find out I think.
June 12th, 2007 – I have been told that my water/soil’s PH is off and that is why my leaves have brown edges. I have yet to do anything about it. I figure it is only going to get worse. I will do some research, implement it and report my findings.
Here is the latest Photo taken today. The vines have now over grown the sides of the pot and are growing along the ground. I moved the box off the hot concrete to it would not burn the plant. I hope this was the correct move. I also had to refil the container for the first time.
June 25th, 2007 – You can see the difference between the two plants. On the left is the hyro-cucumber. it is still fighting a PH problem, because I won’t take the time to pick up a PH test. Lazy me. I through a scoop of dirt into the shoebox when I filled it up this week. I don’t know if that will help. On the right is the plant that has been in a pot the entire time. It is catching up and is actually doing much better than the hydro.
July 9th, 2007 – The Hydro-Cucumber is still doing OK. It is a figher. Nope, I still have done nothing about the PH levels. The potted Cuke is doing great. In fact I have a nice sized cucumber growing on it right now. MY camer ran out of juice, so I will have to provide a picture of it at a later date.
July 15th, 2007 – They decided that they want to take over the yard.
I have picked my fist cucumbers this past week. This one makes 3.
I also noticed that the Hydro Cucumber plant has started to grow new leaves at its base. I guess it is trying to shade its roots. The grass around the cucumbers has gone wild. I will not cut it till I pull the plants at the end of the season. Should be interesting how tall it gets.
August 4th, 2007 – I have harvested 4 Cucumbers so far and there are about a half dozen more growing on the vines. I did have one that had one side under grown. That half tasted horrible. I may have picked it too soon.
August 13th, 2007 – The vine is almost a long as the patio. I wonder how big this thing would have gotten if I had taken care of it properly.
Here is a example pf the newest cucumbers. Aren’t they pretty?
September 2nd, 2007 – This plant has created a few really nice cucumbers and a few that didn’t taste all that good. So I went ahead and pulled it early. It took a little while to get the plant out of the grass that had grown up around it. I took it to the front yard and laid it out on the driveway just to see how long it really grew.
This is what the roots looked like inside the container. I think if I want to try this again nect year, I am going to have to use a bigger container to hold the hydro solution.
See You Next Year.
June 8th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
I am growing Hydro Cucumber as well for the first time. The browning usually occurs if your PH is bouncing around. Check your PH for a few days make sure it is constistent. Tomato’s and Cukes like the same PH range. I grow Maters’ Hydro as well and I have this problem, if I am being lazy and not checking my PH. Also, knowing if you have Hard or soft water will help you make your adjustments properly.
Shawn Turner
June 9th, 2007 at 3:12 am
Hey. Thank you so much for the reply. I have not done any research on the ph levels. I need to do that. That may very whell be the makie or break of this little experiment. I have noticed that the cucumbers are drinking a lot more water now. I am going to have to watch my water levels. over the next few weeks. I am thinking next year I will be using a larger container that holds the water and fertilizer. We’ll see.
June 13th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
90% of cukes are water, they will begin to drink alot when they fruit/flower. I have mine sitting on a 3 gallon bucket with the cukes planted in a 1 gallon plastic potting container(also Wick – I also have a hydro system I created and built, I use that for my Maters in the winter).
Have your Cukes started to grow down into your nutrient solution? Mine has, when this happens you will need to check the water level every few day to make sure it is top off if not your plant will stop growing. Seems if the roots are sumerged under water they most remain underwater. When the roots are exposed to air after being submerged for so long they die. (This is what I have experienced with Maters and scientist that I have read their experiments at university have agreed with my findings. They had the same issue when water level where allow to drop).
It also, looks as if you dont have a lot of room, it would have been better to trellis them upward. This is an efficient way when you dont have much space. When this is done, you cukes will greatly increase their yield. Your cukes will still produce pretty well. Depending on Variety, they need room. This is why trellising cukes work so well.
Keep up the great, work its good to see people invovled in hydroponics. I have a soil garden as well. When we entertain friends and family. People are alway interested in the hydroponics as well the soil garden. Like you have experienced the hydroponic system is much more efficent and green.
July 9th, 2007 at 1:04 am
I have added 2 new photos on the progress of my Cukes. The hdors are still hurting a bit. I have yet to see them produce anything. The potted one is doing really well and is starting to over pass the Hydro. I even have a nice sized cuke on the potted plant.
August 21st, 2007 at 1:23 am
Fantastic article! I enjoyed your insight on hydroponics. It is a fun hobby.
I personally own a hydroponic
grow box system by Homegrown Hydroponics and I am able to grow plants year
round, completely automated. We live in a cold climate here in British Columbia,
and now we don’t have to wait for the right time of year to grow fresh flowers!
November 4th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
This is a great pictoral. The pH should be 6.0 for cukes. All you should need is some pH down from the hydroponics store, or Red Devil Lye (Use EXTREMELY small amounts) and some pH paper from the hydro or pool store.
I have a web page where I do a lot of hydro and gardening stuff at http://red-icculus.com
November 16th, 2007 at 12:36 am
[...] season is almost over and I have documented some of what I have learned this year (Check out my Cucumbers and Tomatoes), it is time to start doing research for next [...]
January 26th, 2008 at 2:23 am
[...] Wick Hydroponic Cucumbers [...]
June 10th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Based on your idea, I did the same thing with cucumbers using hydroponic solution:
http://red-icculus.com/?p=102
November 21st, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Well thats certainly a novel way of growing cucumbers anyway. I’ll give it a go in my garden.
November 24th, 2008 at 10:08 am
I had fun doing it. I want to experiment with an aquaponic version of it having the fish provide all the nutrients for the plant; that way I won’t be watering it with chemicals. I don’t think it will happen this year.
April 9th, 2009 at 2:35 am
You are using a transparent reservoir. Light is able to hit the roots which will cause shock, Try something darker and nontranparent.
April 9th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Good Point. This year I am using an opaque storage container. It is much bigger as well. I expect a better experience this time around.
September 2nd, 2009 at 8:36 am
hello sir, m a school teacher workin on a project on hydroponic gardening. can u suggest if instead of commercial medium can i use any other homemade fertilizer for makin nutrient solution? we have to make use of allthe resources available around us
September 2nd, 2009 at 10:16 am
If I were you, I would look into Aquaponics. Using fish to create natural fertilizer for your plants. go to backyardaquaponics.com to learn more and to see systems others have put together.