Top-Feed Buckets

Marijuana Horticulture

by Jorge Cervantes

Self contained top-feed buckets consist of a growing container nested inside a reservoir containing a pump. Individual buckets make culling out and replacing sick plants quick and easy. Self contained top feed bucket systems are perfect for growing large mother plants. The container can be moved anywhere easily. Some containers have a net pot suspended in the lid of a five gallon bucket / reservoir.

An air stone in the bottom of the reservoir aerates the nutrient solution. A separate pump cycles the irrigation to the container. Other self contained top feed buckets use a large growing container filled with expanded clay pellets. A pump constantly cycles nutrient solution in the system, aerating the solution and irrigating the plant. Roots grow down into the nutrient solution to form a mass on the bottom.

Irrigation from the top circulates aerated nutrient solution and flushes out the old oxygen poor solution. Some systems contain a one inch pipe to draw air directly down to the root zone. There are many different variations of this system, and they all work. Some systems contain a one inch pipe to draw air directly down to the root zone. There are many different variations of this system, and they all work!

Other top-feed bucket systems employ multiple buckets that are connected to a main reservoir. A flexible drain hose is attached near the bottom of the bucket / reservoir. The hose is connected to a drainage manifold that shuttles runoff nutrient solution back to a central reservoir.

Each reservoir below the growing container holds an inch or two of water. It is important to regularly cycle irrigation in these gardens, so the solution in the bottom of the buckets does not stagnate.

Top-feed buckets can also be lined up on a drainage table. Square containers make most efficient use of space. Plants are fed with irrigation tubing attached to a manifold. Once delivered, the nutrient solution flows and percolates through the growing medium. Roots take in the aerated nutrient solution before it drains onto the tray and back to the reservoir.

Individual containers in top-feed bucket systems are easy to arrange to fit into the allotted garden space. Plants can also be transplanted or removed from pots and cared for individually.