Do you want more 10x more production with less hassle and waste?
Then it’s time you jumped on the hydroponics bandwagon.
But hydroponics is complicated, right?
Wrong.
This guide covers the 12 best hydroponic systems that everyone can set up.
Yes, even you.
Let’s get started.
Best Hydroponic Systems: Quick Picks
- Best Hydroponic System, Bar None: OPCOM GrowWall3
- Best Hydroponic System For Beginners: AeroGarden ULTRA LED
- Best Ebb And Flow System: Active Aqua Grow Flow
- Best Vertical Hydroponic System: SuiteMade Vertical Grow Tower
- Best Aeroponic System: Clone King 70
Click here to jump our rankings of the best hydroponic systems.
6 Types of Hydroponic Systems
There’s a hydroponic system for everyone, regardless of your…
- Skill level
- Available time
- Living situation
- Climate
- Budget
Before we get into the 12 best hydroponic kits available, let’s review the six types of hydroponic systems.
1. Wick System
| Description | Wick systems deliver nutrient solution from a lower reservoir to an upper grow tray through one or more wicks via capillary action. These systems are passive with no pumps or moving parts and keep roots in constant contact with moisture. |
| Best Use | Fast-growing lettuces and herbs with low water requirements. |
2. Drip System
| Description | Drip systems run nutrient solution to plants via feeder tubes. A pump is required, making these active systems, to give you control over the flow rate. Drip systems scale well and are great for big hydroponics setups. |
| Best Use | Almost any plant but especially useful for those with high nutrient needs and/or large root systems. |
3. Deep Water Culture (DWC)
| Description | DWC systems completely submerge the root ball in an oxygenated nutrient solution with very little use of growing media, if any is used at all. These systems can be completely passive, but more advanced and productive setups use both air pumps and airstones to keep the water oxygenated. |
| Best Use | Optimal for smaller, lightweight plants like lettuces but can be used with larger plants like tomatoes, though more monitoring and maintenance is required. |
4. Ebb and Flow
| Description | Ebb and Flow systems, also known as Flood and Drain systems, repeatedly flood a grow tray with nutrient solution before letting it drain completely. This is an active, pump-powered system with a timer. |
| Best Use | Nearly any plant but lettuces, tomatoes, and cucumbers work best. |
5. Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)
| Description | NFT systems connect several plants in series with nutrient solution pumped to the high point in the system where gravity helps it flow down to the reservoir, feeding all plants along the way. This is an active, pump-power, recirculating system. |
| Best Use | Primarily small, lightweight, fast-growing lettuces and herbs. |
6. Aeroponics
| Description | Aeroponic systems generally are the most complex and technical hydroponic systems. Roots are suspended in a chamber equipped with nozzles that mist nutrient spray at regular intervals. While complicated, aeroponic systems are highly resource-efficient and generate great yields. |
| Best Use | Small, lightweight plants like lettuces and herbs, sometimes fruits like strawberries, and also for starting viny plants like tomatoes. |
15 Advantages of Setting Up Your Own Hydroponic System
Hydroponic systems give you complete control over your garden and offer a ton of awesome advantages:
- Grow anywhere, including small apartment balconies and cramped kitchens.
- Grow year-round with the right setup.
- Uses 90-98% less water than soil gardening.
- Completely sterile.
- But should disease strike, plants can be isolated to prevent mass loss.
- Easier to grow organic because no harmful pest control methods are needed.
- Total control over nutrient concentrations and feed rates.
- Total control over pH, which is challenging in soil.
- Optimal pH levels ensure maximum nutrient uptake efficiency.
- Roots don’t need to hunt for resources, giving you higher yields.
- Shorter time to harvest.
- Requires up to 20% less space than soil gardening.
- Combined, numbers 10, 11, and 12 mean up to 10x production per unit area.
- No messy soil needed.
- No weeding, mulching, or weed prevention required.
Plus, your friends and family will be fascinated by your skills.
12 Best Hydroponic Systems
You’ve decided hydroponics is for you.
Good call.
Now it’s time to choose from our list of the 12 best hydroponic systems.
1. OPCOM Farm GrowWall3
| Method | Nutrient Film Technique |
| Skill Level | Intermediate |
| Best For | Indoor growing of small greens and herbs for people with limited space. |
| Price | Check Lowest Price on Amazon → |
- Dimensions: 39″W x 8″D x 78″H
- Grow Area: 10.8 square feet total (2.16 square feet per level)
- Water Reservoir: 10 gallons
- Weight: 32 lbs
- Grow Lights: W+R adjustable LED smart lights
- User Manual: Click here
OPCOM’s GrowWall3 is the best hydroponic system available.
(Unless you’re looking for a huge Ebb and Flow setup or a DWC system for tomatoes and other vining plants.)
It’s a fully self-contained, automated, smart, and efficient NFT setup that takes all of the work out of managing your hydroponic plants. What does it feature?
- Efficient LED lights that reduce power usage by 57%.
- IR wireless remote.
- Auto mode to make the whole process hands-off.
Capable of growing 180 individual plants in just 2.2 square feet of floor space, hydroponic systems don’t get much more space, time, and energy-efficient than OPCOM’s GrowWall3
And while it takes 1-2 hours to assemble, OPCOM does have a helpful YouTube video tutorial.
Pros
- Grows up to 180 individual plants.
- Extremely space-efficient.
- Link cable lets you expand your system to include a second GrowWall3.
Cons
- Small baskets only are capable of growing small- and medium-sized plants.
- Takes 1-2 hours to assemble.
- Higher price point.
2. Miracle-Gro Aerogarden ULTRA LED
| Method | Drip System |
| Skill Level | Beginner |
| Best For | Those looking for an all-included, hands-off kitchen countertop lettuce and herb garden. |
| Price | Check Lowest Price on Amazon → |
- Dimensions: 17″W x 11″D x 15-34″H
- Grow Area: 1.3 square feet
- Water Reservoir: 1.1 gallons
- Weight: 12 lbs
- Grow Lights: 30W LED with 20,000-hour rating
- User Manual: Click here
It doesn’t get any easier to grow your favorite lettuces and herbs from farm to table.
Built by Miracle-Gro, one of the most-trusted leaders in gardening, Aerogarden ULTRA LED is an all-inclusive, ready-to-go hydroponic system that comes with absolutely everything you’ll need:
- Grow tray, water reservoir, and pump
- Seed pods
- LED lights that extend up to 34″ as your plants grow
- Digital interface with notifications to take stress and worry out of the equation
You can have the whole thing up and running in just 10 minutes.
In particular, the digital interface gives you useful notifications for when it’s time to add more water or nutrients, and it comes equipped with a timer that turns the LED lights on/off on schedule. (But you can also manually turn them on/off at any time.)
The seed pods are labeled with the plant you’re growing (e.g. basil) and the plant’s approximate height. The included user manual, linked above, is an awesome two-page resource that tells you everything you need to know about your new hydroponic system.
The AeroGarden ULTRA LED system isn’t massive and certainly won’t satisfy that DIY hydroponics urge that many gardeners have, but it’s an amazingly easy way to add some life to your kitchen and zest to your meals without adding a ton of work to your daily routine.
Pros
- Comes with absolutely everything you could need.
- Included user guide is complete and easy to follow.
- Digital interface takes all the guesswork out of the equation.
Cons
- Included tomato seeds grow a tarter tomato.
- Small plants get cramped by larger ones, so it’s best to user the spacers, which decreases overall yield.
- Parts are reliable when cared for but plastic components are thin.
3. Active Aqua Grow Flow 2-Gallon, 12-Pot System
| Method | Ebb and Flow |
| Skill Level | Intermediate |
| Best For | Large-scale growers looking for a good, cost-efficient, basic flood and drain kit that can be expanded to include more pots. Also serves as a good starting point for advanced growers who will want to purchase additional equipment such as LED lights and water chillers. |
| Price | Check Lowest Price on Amazon → |
- Dimensions: 25-50 square feet of grow space needed
- Grow Area: 24 pots x 2-gallon pots with 6-inch diameter
- Water Reservoir: 50 gallons
- Weight: 88 lbs dry
- Grow Lights: None
- User Manual: None
The Active Aqua Grow Flow system comes with 24 2-gallon pots and a massive 50-gallon water reservoir, making this one of the largest systems on our list.
When built out to its full 24-pot capacity, you’ll need about 50 square feet to house everything. However, you can size the system down as much as needed and still get results from this sturdy, reliable Ebb and Flow system.
The included Bucket Brain controller handles all of the flood and drain logic and can be used with up to 48 pots, double the size of the system as shipped.
This kit also comes with three, one-quart bottles of General Hydroponics nutrient solution:
- FloraMicro 5-0-1: Foundational “building block” for general use
- FloraGro 2-1-6: Structural and vegetative growth
- FloraBloom 0-5-4: Flower and fruit development
The only thing this kit doesn’t include are growing media, seeds/seedlings, LED lights, water chillers, and a grow tent (the last three being optional).
Pros
- Easily scalable for small applications or huge capacity.
- Individual pots are easy to move and/or replant.
- Suitable for somewhat larger plants than just lettuces and herbs.
Cons
- Doesn’t come with growing media or seeds/seedlings.
- Robust systems may want to add LED lights, water chillers, and a grow tent.
- Recirculating system opens plants up to shared disease, which makes water chillers a great addition.
4. PowerGrow Systems 4-Bucket DWC Kit
| Method | Deep Water Culture |
| Skill Level | Beginner |
| Best For | Those looking for a simple system to grow large, nutrient-needy plants, such as tomatoes. |
| Price | Check Lowest Price on Amazon → |
- Dimensions: 4 x 5-gallon buckets with 12-inch diameters
- Grow Area: 3.1 square feet (4 x 12-inch buckets at 0.8 square feet)
- Water Reservoir: 4 x 5-gallon buckets
- Weight: 17 lbs
- Grow Lights: None
- User Manual: None
PowerGrow’s four-bucket DWC kit comes with four FDA-approved 5-gallon buckets, each with a 10-inch net pot capable of supporting your largest, most nutrient-needy plants. The included Elemental air pump has a 254 gallon per hour flow rate for sufficient oxygenation, and the system comes with four airstones.
Not included are the nutrient solution, seedlings, and growing media. Hydroton is recommended.
This DWC system is designed as a flow-to-waste system, meaning the nutrient solution in each bucket doesn’t recirculate through a central reservoir. While less water-efficient, flow-to-waste systems are simpler to set up and keep all plants in isolation, reducing the risk of disease for your whole system.
This DWC system is idea for large, nutrient-needy crops, such as tomatoes, and can be rigged to support vining plants by attaching vertical supports (sold separately).
Pros
- Simple assembly.
- Flow-to-waste setup isolates each plant and reduces risk of disease spreading.
- Easily expandable to add more buckets to your system.
Cons
- Doesn’t come with Hydroton, which is a $30-$40 expense.
- Doesn’t come with check valves to prevent air pump from filling with water when power shuts off.
- pH adjustments and nutrient additions must be done through the tube, which is tedious.
5. Hydrofarm Megagarden Ebb and Flow System
| Method | Ebb and Flow |
| Skill Level | Beginner |
| Best For | Those looking to get into Ebb and Flow hydroponics for small kitchen herb gardens. Also fits well in small grow tents. |
| Price | Check Lowest Price on Amazon → |
- Dimensions: 23″W x 23″D x 10″H
- Grow Area: 3.7 square feet
- Water Reservoir: 7.5 gallons
- Weight: 32 lbs
- Grow Light: None
- User Manual: Click here
The Hydrofarm Megagarden system is your standard top-and-bottom Ebb and Flow system that holds up to 15 5-inch plastic grow pots on top of a 7.5-gallon water reservoir.
But honestly, you probably won’t want to use all 15 at once. The plants get way too squished competing for light. You’re better off using about half that.
This all-included system also comes with Hydroton, a submersible water pump, a timer, RockWool starter cubes, 16 oz of Hydrofarm All-Purpose nutrients, and a pH test kit.
You’ll need to refill the water reservoir about every two weeks and clean the pump monthly, but that’s about all the maintenance required.
Pros
- Cheap, all-included Ebb and Flow system.
- Included pump capable of cycling up to 12 times per day, which is suitable for Hydroton’s recommended 4-8 cycles.
- If well maintained, it should last you 5+ years.
Cons
- Water reservoir basin is a little thin, which makes it a challenge to empty.
- Doesn’t come with an air pump or airstone.
- The advertised 15 grow pots are too cramped.
6. Viagrow Complete Ebb and Flow Kit
| Method | Ebb and Flow |
| Skill Level | Intermediate |
| Best For | Almost any crop except large vining or bushy crops, like tomatoes or peppers. For those, a DWC system or large Ebb and Flow system is recommended. |
| Price | Check Lowest Price on Amazon → |
- Dimensions: 24″W x 24″D x 22″H
- Grow Area: 14 x 5.25″ grow pots (4 square feet total in grow tray)
- Water Reservoir: 20 gallons
- Weight: 41 lbs
- Grow Lights: None
- User Manual: None
The Viagrow Ebb and Flow kit comes with everything you need except seedlings, nutrients, and grow lights (if desired). It has the submersible pump, the timer, all tubing, seals, and gaskets, and is ready to assemble right out of the box.
The included timer can be programmed to 15 minute intervals–15 minutes on, 15 minutes off–which means you can max out at 48 cycles per day.
It’s the definition of set and forget, aside from replenishing the nutrient solution every two weeks and cleaning the pump monthly.
Pros
- 15-minute intervals on the timer is plenty for nearly all Ebb and Flow systems.
- Comes with Hydroton.
- Great build quality on all tubing, the table legs, the reservoir, pump, and all gaskets and seals.
Cons
- The included 20-gallon tank is decent but a 40-gallon tank would be better.
- Table legs are very tall and could use to be shorter with less space between the reservoir and grow tray.
- When grow tray is full, it sinks a little in the middle. I’d recommend reinforcing it if possible.
7. Jeteven Drip Irrigation Kit
| Method | Drip System |
| Skill Level | Advanced |
| Best For | Those looking to set up a robust drip system but don’t mind DIY-ing some components, like finding grow pots and growing media. |
| Price | Check Lowest Price on Amazon → |
- Dimensions: Not applicable
- Grow Area: Not applicable
- Water Reservoir: Not supplied
- Weight: 3 pounds
- Grow Lights: None
- User Manual: Included but not published online
This Jeteven drip irrigation system isn’t a dedicated hydroponic system–it can be used in a standard garden as well–but it’s great for hydroponics.
The kit comes with everything you need for a massive drip irrigation system:
- 20 x 1/4″ Barbed Tees
- 20 x 1/4″ Flat T Pipe Connectors
- 20 x Atomizing Nozzles
- 5 x Fountain Nozzles
- 15 x Adjustable Drippers
- 1 x 4-Way Atomizing Nozzle
And with 132 feet of tubing, you can mix and match all of those components to create the perfect system for your needs.
Pros
- Piecemeal kit can be combined in hundreds of ways for your perfect system.
- Sturdy and durable.
- Great instructions and documentation.
Cons
- No timers or regulators to manage flow rates.
- Can be challenging to assemble for less savvy.
- 1/4″ line runs low on pressure at the end of the line.
8. SuiteMade Vertical Grow Tower
| Method | Nutrient Film Technique |
| Skill Level | Intermediate-Advanced |
| Best For | Those looking to transform their hydroponic systems from horizontal to vertical or those looking to DIY a vertical tower by adding a pump and water reservoir (sold separately). |
| Price | Check Lowest Price on Amazon → |
- Dimensions: 5 feet tall
- Grow Area: 20 x 2-inch diameter net pots (0.4 square feet total)
- Water Reservoir: Not included
- Weight: 4.3 lbs
- Grow Lights: None
- User Manual: None
As far as kits go on this list of the best hydroponic systems, this one is pretty basic. Honestly, it isn’t even the kit. It’s just a five-foot tall vertical hanger with 20 2-inch net pots.
You’ll need to do the rest of the work sourcing equipment and setting it up, but you don’t need anything fancy:
- Water reservoir
- Submersible pump
- Hydroton
- Nutrient solution
- Seedlings
- Tubing
- Appropriate barbed joints, glue
- Spray nozzles (if desired)
That’s all basic hydroponics equipment you can find online or at your local hardware store.
For that minimal work, this vertical system takes up virtually no space, making it ideal for small apartment balconies or backyards.
Pros
- Takes up virtually zero space.
- Easily expandable by adding a second or third vertical tower.
- Can be configured in numerous ways, such as dripping water from the top via tubes to more complicated sprinkler head assemblies.
Cons
- Doesn’t include several required components.
- Because components have to be sourced, it takes more time to set up.
- Only good for small plants like lettuces.
9. Back To The Roots Aquaponic Water Garden
| Method | Nutrient Film Technique |
| Skill Level | Beginner |
| Best For | A great, aesthetically-pleasing hydroponic system for offices, desks, kitchen counters, or other small spaces. Also great for kids! |
| Price | Check Lowest Price on Amazon → |
- Dimensions: 13″W x 10″D x 13″H
- Grow Area: 0.9 square feet
- Water Reservoir: 3 gallons
- Weight: 7 lbs
- Grow Lights: None
- User Manual: Click here
The Water Garden by Back To The Roots is less a hydroponic garden and more a visual display. It still features the soilless growing you’re looking for in a hydroponic system, but it isn’t designed to be a highly efficient source of herbs and greens.
But it does have a beta fish!
This aquaponics system uses a pump to move water from the reservoir into the grow tray where it flows over the root balls of three plants before cascading back into the reservoir.
That makes it an NFT system, which is entirely self-contained. The fish produces nitrogen-rich waste, which the plants then absorb, cleaning the water and keeping the fish healthy.
Maintenance is easy:
- Add water every two weeks
- Unplug, remove, and rinse the pump monthly
This Water Garden is a great way to add some life (and happiness) to your office and serves as a great lesson on life cycles for kids.
Pros
- Aesthetically pleasing.
- Comes with everything you need and can be set up in 10 minutes.
- Can be configured with or without the fish.
Cons
- Definitely not a robust hydroponics system.
- Tendency to grow mold near the roots in the grow tray.
- 3-gallon reservoir is a touch small for a beta fish.
10. Clone King 70-Site Aeroponics Kit
| Method | Aeroponics |
| Skill Level | Intermediate |
| Best For | Those looking to clone plants or set up their first aeroponic system for small, lightweight plants. |
| Price | Check Lowest Price on Amazon → |
- Dimensions: 22″W x 8″H x 18″D (without hood)
- Grow Area: 70 x 1.65″ pots (2.75 square feet)
- Water Reservoir: 5 gallons
- Weight: 8 lbs
- Grow Lights: None
- User Manual: None
The Clone King 70 technically is a cloning machine, but cloning machines really are just another type of hydroponic system. This one is a high-quality, reliable aeroponic system from a reputable manufacturer.
This system has a small footprint, measuring just 22″ on its longest side, but it holds up to 70 small plants, which are fed using the atomizing sprayer in the reservoir underneath.
Aeroponic systems are the most nutrient-efficient, high-yield hydroponic systems out there, and the Clone King 70 is an easy way to give them a go. All you need to supply is the growing media (Hydroton recommended) and seedlings.
Pros
- Easy way to get started with aeroponics, regarded as one of the most complex yet high-yield hydroponic systems.
- Clog-free spray nozzles rarely back up.
- Plastic hood (propagation dome) included.
Cons
- You won’t be able to fit 70 plants in here if you’re doing more than just cloning. Probably half that.
- Lower-quality plastic compared to Viagrow 24 below.
- No instructions included.
11. Viagrow 24-Site Aeroponics Kit
| Method | Aeroponics |
| Skill Level | Beginner-Intermediate |
| Best For | Those looking to clone plants or set up their first aeroponic system for small, lightweight plants. |
| Price | Check Lowest Price on Amazon → |
- Dimensions: 17″W x 12″D x 9″H
- Grow Area: 24 x 1.65″ pots (1.4 square feet)
- Water Reservoir: 2 gallons
- Weight: 4 lbs
- Grow Lights: None
- User Manual: None
Like the Clone King 70 above, Viagrow’s 24-site aeroponic cloning system can be used either for cloning or as a dedicated aeroponic system. Ultimately, choosing which system to purchase comes down to capacity.
Because this system is intended for cloning and propagation, it isn’t suited for fully grown plants like lettuces, which take up a lot of space. You’ll want to space them out, which means this 24-site system really becomes a 12-site system. Still, that’s a lot of lettuce in a small space, especially for farmers just dipping their toes in the world of aeroponics.
Pros
- Easy to assemble.
- Better quality materials than the Clone King 70.
- Just 17″ on its longest side.
Cons
- Foam inserts fit a little loosely in their holes.
- Less capacity than the Clone King 70.
- No dome included.
12. AutoPot 4-Pot Hydroponic System
| Method | Wick System |
| Skill Level | Beginner |
| Best For | Passive, electricity-free, large-scale growing applications for plants that aren’t hugely water-needy. This system works for both hydroponic and traditional soil gardening. |
| Price | Check Lowest Price on Amazon → |
- Dimensions: 8-12 square feet of space needed
- Grow Area: 4 x 8-inch square pots (1.8 square feet)
- Water Reservoir: 12 gallons
- Weight: 8 lbs
- Grow Lights: None
- User Manual: Click here
AquaPot’s 4-Pot Hydroponic System is a completely passive, pump-less watering system that isn’t a true wick system (because there’s no wick) but operates on the same principles of passive water movement along a concentration gradient via capillary action.
This system is great because it’s easily maintained and expandable.
AquaPot’s 8-inch pots are large enough to grow bell peppers, provided they’re maintained well, with a vermiculite-perlite media, but you’re best suited to lettuces and herbs with lower water requirements.
Pros
- Easily expandable with additional pots and water reservoirs.
- Completely passive with no pumps required.
- Works with both hydroponic and traditional soil gardening.
Cons
- Passive watering gives you limited control.
- Prone to molding if planter trays aren’t cleaned out every 2-4 weeks.
While the 12 systems above are our picks for best hydroponic system, there are plenty of other systems out there. Do you have a favorite? Let us know in the comments!
