GREAT FIRST KIT In stock

Deep Water Culture Bucket

5-gallon DWC bucket with air pump and starter nutrients.

$39.99

free shipping over $75 · arrives in 3–5 days

  • Simplest possible hydroponic system — great for beginners
  • Grows one large plant: tomato, pepper, or basil
  • Opaque food-grade bucket prevents algae
  • Continuous aeration keeps roots oxygenated
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Warranty 1-yr warranty · 30-day returns
By the numbers

Field-tested performance

5 gal
food-grade bucket, one large plant
2 wk
nutrient starter included
1
moving part — the air pump
Specifications

The details that matter

Bucket 5 gal opaque, food-grade
Lid 6-in net pot lid
Aeration Air pump + air stone + tubing
Media Clay pebbles included
Nutrients 2-week starter supply
In the box

Everything that ships

  • 5-gal opaque bucket + lid
  • 6-in net pot
  • Air pump, stone & tubing
  • Clay pebbles
  • 2-week nutrient starter
  • Quick-start card
From our test beds

Honest note: warm water above 75°F holds less oxygen and invites root rot. In summer, keep the bucket out of direct sun or add a second air stone.

FAQ

Questions, answered

How often do I change the water?

Top up as the level drops and do a full change every 2–3 weeks. Watch the roots — healthy ones are white and firm.

Is one bucket enough?

For one large plant, yes. Growing several? Line up multiple buckets on one air pump with a splitter.

Growers also add

Pairs well with

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The long read

Why we grow it this way

The easiest way in

Deep Water Culture is hydroponics at its simplest: a plant sits in a net-pot lid with its roots dangling in oxygenated, nutrient-rich water. An air pump keeps the roots breathing, the opaque bucket keeps algae out, and that is the whole system. It is the kit we hand beginners and classrooms.

One big plant — a tomato, a pepper, a basil bush — thrives in a single bucket. Master this and every other method makes sense.

First time growing without soil? Read the hydroponics field guide.

Reviews

What growers say

4.5 2 reviews
Hannah D. Verified purchase
Jul 23, 2026

My first hydro plant

A single basil plant turned into a bush I could not keep up with. Dead simple and cheap. Buying two more.

Carlos V. Verified purchase
Jul 23, 2026

Great classroom project

Used it with my students to teach roots and oxygen. Easy to explain, easy to run. Summer heat needed the extra air stone the note mentions.