I've been growing bell peppers, banana peppers, and chili peppers in a cheap and easy hydroponic bubbler system that I built for less than $30. I really built it more as an experiment than as an example of "how to" grow peppers, but it has actually worked better than I originally expected. The 18 gallon tote, 6 net pots, an inexpensive fish tank pump, some tubing, and four air stone bubblers are all I needed.
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| 18 Gallon Tote from Home Depot |
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| Orange Bell Pepper |
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| Green Bell Pepper |
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| Chili Pepper |
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| Green Bell Pepper |
The biggest challenge with growing peppers using a bubbler system is regulating the amount of nutrient being used. I started out changing the water and nutrient each week. Then I switched to every 10 days and later to every 2 - 3 weeks. As the plants have been fruiting more and more now that the plants are maturing, I've used a lot less nutrient and done fewer water changes.
With warmer temperatures this spring, there has been more evaporation of the water from the tote. The leaves begin to wilt a little when the water level drops, so that tips me off to the need to add more. I usually just top off the tote with fresh water every 4 or 5 days.
I'm not sure whether I will continue to use this tote as a bubbler after this growing season, but if I can figure how to better regulate the nutrient flow it would be more likely. At this point, I've just been alternating 4 TBSP of fish emulsion with one water change to 4 TBSP of Bone Meal with the next water change.
Disclaimer: I have no idea if that is too much or too little nutrient, but it has worked o.k. in this experiment.
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