Do-it-yourself projects are part of the fun when growing cannabis! We offer a number of DIY tutorials in our Table of Contents. On this page, we brought all the lists together to make finding the products easier. Here you can find all of the supplies and equipment that you need to build an automatic watering system, self-draining saucers, and an auto-pumping drain bucket. We also list all the products you need to buffer and prepare your own coco and to make cannabutter. Browse below, but be sure to read the complete tutorial for each project!
There are several handy little things to have during a grow. We are interested in your suggestions for other Neat and Handy tools for growing cannabis! Let us know the neat and handy things that you use in your grow: Suggestions!
Auto-Watering System
An automatic watering system allows you to truly unlock the magic of growing in coco coir! They also make growing so much easier. We have simple instructions that anyone can follow to put together and manage their own automatic watering system for your cannabis grow.
Reservoir Tank
When selecting a bucket, barrel, tank, or tub for your reservoir there are a few things to consider.
Size: You want a reservoir that will hold enough water to run your system for at least a day or two. In a 4x4 tent I can use up to 3 gallons per day.
Height: Tall reservoirs allow you to use fountain style aeration. However the siphon effect problem may limit how much water you can fill in a tall reservoir.
Color: The reservoir should protect the nutrient solution from light as much as possible. Avoid clear plastic or white containers that allow light to penetrate.
14-Gallon Plastic Drum
Irrigation Pump
400 Gallon Submersible Pump
Digital Timer
A good timer is important, but there are some over-priced cycle timers that are actually less convenient to use. I recommend a good digital 24 hour timer. It should allow you to set multiple events per day and control the timing and spacing of each event.
Digital Timer with one second intervals
Oxygenation
When you keep nutrient solution in a reservoir it is important to keep the water oxygenated. Water with a high level of Dissolved Oxygen helps to prevent bad bacteria and is great for the plants. For small tanks, up to about 30 gallons, air-pumps and air-stones provide adequate oxygenation. If you run a larger reservoir or use organic nutrients, then you should use a stirring pump to mix and oxygenate the solution. A stirring pump is a small fountain pump which should sit in the reservoir and run periodically to “stir” the nutrient solution.
Air Pump
Air Stone and Tubing
Stirring Pump
Aquarium Thermometer
It is best to keep the temperature of the water in the reservoir between 65-68f (18-20c). This temperature range helps to maintain dissolved oxygen and prevent infestation with anaerobic bacteria. Read more in our guide, “How To Manage Automatic Watering Systems”.
Main Water Line
This water line attaches to the pump in the reservoir and runs into the tent. I prefer “poly tubing” over “vinyl tubing” for the main water line. Poly tubing is a semi rigid tubing that bends gently and resists being crushed. When using the drip emitter system, you need to use this Poly tubing. With the Hydro Halo system, you could technically get away with using vinyl tubing for this task, however poly tubing is a much better option.
1/2 inch Black Poly Tubing
I have used two different systems for distributing water to the plants. I originally used a system with feeder lines and drip emitters. I have since “upgraded” to using Hydro Halos. Both systems work well but have different advantages and disadvantages.
Hydro Halos offer superior water distribution. I can go weeks without hand-watering the plants because the distribution of water does not leave any dry spots within the media. The drawback to Hydro Halos is that they really can only be used in final containers – leaving you to hand-water all through the first several weeks.
Drip Emitters offer much more flexibility. You can put just one in a seedling pot and then add more as the pots and plants get bigger. The drawback is that you will end up with a lot of water lines running around and it can be difficult to set enough emitters in large pots to get good saturation.
Hydro Halo System
I think that the Bloom Brother’s Hydro Halos are the perfect option for a DIY drip system for indoor cannabis. They have greatly improved the distribution of water in my system from the dripper lines that I used to run. This can reduce or even eliminate the need for periodic hand-watering. They are also easy to use with Ball Valves to control the flow to individual plants.
6" Hydro Halos
9" Hydro Halos
½” Vinyl Tubing
Connectors
Ball Valves
Drip Emitter System
The drip emitter system offers more flexibility than halos. However, they do not distribute the water as effectively. If you set up a drip emitter system, you should plan to hand-water at least once per week to flush out salts that can accumulate in the regions of the pot that don’t get well saturated by the drippers.
End Cap
Small feed lines: ¼” PE tubing
Clamp and Pierce Connectors
In-Line Drippers: 1 GPH
Terminal drippers: Adjustable Bubblers
Self-Draining Saucers
Self-draining saucers remove the run-off from the plants easily and effectively. If you are moving plants around or using a shop vac, then this will be a huge improvement to your grow set-up. If you plan on using automatic watering, these are the best way to remove water from the plants without supervision. They are easy to build and save a ton of work throughout the grow.
Note: In addition to the items listed below, you will need a 2x4 cut into 8" sections along with wood screws.
Saucers
You want a durable saucer that is thick and fairly rigid. Avoid the cheap flimsy saucers!
Hydrofarm 14" Saucer
Drain Lines
3/8"ID 1/2"OD Clear Vinyl Tubing
Filter Washers
3/4 Inch Hose Connector
Silicone Sealant
Gorilla 100% Silicon Sealant
Super-Glue
Brush-On Super-Glue
Auto-Pumping Drain Bucket
An Auto Pumping Drain Bucket removes the waste water from your tent automatically. Water can enter the bucket at a height of only 2”. This allows you to minimize the height that you have to raise the plants. The Drain Bucket that we explain in our tutorial is designed to work with our self-draining saucers. This is the system that I (Dr. Coco) designed and have used in my own grow tent. It is reliable and very effective. You will love having this drain bucket.
Drain Bucket
You need two buckets for this automatic drainage system. One sits in the tent and holds the pump. It is the "Auto-Pumping Drain Bucket". The other sits outside the tent and is the final catchment. I use 5-gallon buckets for both.
5-Gallon Bucket with Lid
Shallow Pan Condensate Pump
This is a pump that is designed to sit in a tray (or bucket) and turn on automatically when the water reaches a certain height. This is the “shallow pan” model, which turns on in only 1.75” of water and shuts off again when water is about 1”.
Little Giant Shallow Pan Condensate Removal Pump
Rubber Grommets
1/2" Rubber Grommets
Drain Line
½” Vinyl Tubing
Preparing & Buffering Coco
When you buy brick coco, you are responsible for turning it into a superior growing medium by rinsing, buffering, and mixing it with perlite. All of the products that you need are below. Be sure to see our video and read the tutorial!
Rinsing Coco Coir
10 Pound Brick of Coco
11" Perforated Strainer
Buffering Coco
General Hydroponics CaliMagic
7-Gallon Fabric Pot
Mix with Perlite
Whether you use a prepared coco product or a dehydrate brick, you should mix your coco with perlite.
Hoffman Horticultural Perlite
Cannabutter
One of the great joys of being a home grower is the ability to use your trim to make a variety of different products. Cannabutter is always a favorite! Most of the things that you need to make cannabutter should already be in your kitchen. However, there are a couple special things that you might need to get.
Cheesecloth
Cheesecloth is used for straining the hot infused butter from the plant material.
One Yard of Natural Cheesecloth
Silicone Oven Mitt
You may already have these, if not, get them before making cannabutter.
Silicone BBQ Gloves
About Our Product Recommendations
At Coco for Cannabis, our mission is to help growers maximize the success of their cannabis crops by providing scientifically accurate information and sharing proven growing practices.
The products that we recommend are the actual products that we chose to purchase and use ourselves. In a few cases, we recommend products that we would buy if we needed them. We do not accept advertising and will not recommend any product that we would not buy for ourselves. We offer this guide as a resource to growers.
We may receive a referral when you purchase products through this page. This is the main revenue stream that keeps Coco for Cannabis up and running! When you click through our links and make purchases you are supporting our work! As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Whether we receive a referral does not influence our recommendations. For example, when products are cheaper to buy locally, we’ll tell you that rather than just recommend a more expensive online option.
Disclaimer:
The information on cocoforcannabis.com should not be considered as financial, legal, or medical advice. You are responsible for knowing and following the local laws that pertain to cannabis cultivation, possession, and use. Decisions to grow cannabis should be made in consultation with a lawyer or qualified legal advisor. Decisions to use cannabis should be made in consultation with your doctor or medical professional.
