If you’re interested in home hydroponics, then you’ll more than likely also be interested in the Hydrofarm brand and its products.

Hydrofarm’s headquarters are in Petaluma, California. There are over 5,000 Hydrofarm products, some of which are made in the US. Hydrofarm is a wholesale company, with over 80% of their net sales going to specialty hydroponic retailers. Reviewers give their products 4.4 stars out of 5.

In this article we’ve answered your most common questions about Hydrofarm hydroponics products – so let’s dig in (pun intended). 🙂

What is Hydroponics?

If you look at the origin of the word hydroponics, you learn that it means “working water”. Humans have let water work for them for millennia. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon may be the first known example of hydroponics.

Hydroponics is the farming of plants without soil. The soilless media contains plant nutrients. Because you can use hydroponics anywhere (even in your basement), grow lights are often used. Hydroponics allows gardeners to grow crops more efficiently in small spaces, all year long.

There are many organisms that live in soil. Some are good and some are bad. Traditionally, pesticides helped with the bad bugs. No soil – no pesticides. 

With hydroponics, you can set up your garden anywhere in the world (or space). A hydroponics system encourages plant growth. Plants grown in more scientifically controlled spaces are healthier and produce more. Studies have shown hydroponic plants grow up to 25% more quickly.

Fruit crops like tomatoes and strawberries do well hydroponically. Microgreens, herbs, and lettuce also thrive.

Believe it or not, a hydroponic garden uses LESS water than a traditional soil-based garden. Much less, because in most hydroponic systems, water is recycled.

There are several methods to grow hydroponically, like aeroponics, ebb and flow, deep water culture, floating systems, drip systems and the nutrient film system. The simplest is the nutrient-film technique. In it, plant roots dangle from baskets down into a water bath. 

The water bath contains nutrients. Water moves across the roots with a pump. The water is oxygenated with an air stone and air pump.

Some hydroponic companies grow in warehouses where plants are stacked vertically many feet high – the fields of the future?

This is a good reference for hydroponics.

Where Are Hydrofarm Products Made? (Are They Made in The USA?)

Hydrofarm’s headquarters are in Petaluma, California. There are over 5,000 Hydrofarm products. Some are made in the US. They are available at hundreds of retail locations across the US, Canada, Spain, and Chile.

Who Makes Hydrofarm Hydroponics Products? (Will They Stand Behind Them?)

For over 40 years, Hydrofarm has supplied growers, farmers and cultivators with hydroponic equipment and grow lights. Hydrofarm doesn’t sell plants – they are a distributor and manufacturer. They represent over 400 vendors and over 2,000 wholesale customers. 

Hydrofarm is a wholesale company. It doesn’t sell to the public – only to retailers. Over 80% of their net sales is to specialty hydroponic retailers, which they connect to with a proprietary E commerce marketplace.

Here’s a quote from Hydrofarm’s 2020 Annual Report “Our products are used to grow, farm and cultivate cannabis, flowers, fruits, plants, vegetables, grains and herbs in controlled environment settings that allow end users to control key farming variables including temperature, humidity, CO2, light intensity spectrum, nutrient concentration and pH.”

Hydrofarm is on the supply side – the picks and shovels side. They pride themselves on supplying the products growers need without the supply chain hassle. 

Hydrofarm calls themselves a 40-year-old start up because they are constantly adding innovations to their supply chain model. They produce innovative, branded CEA products that are supported by 24 patents and 60 registered trademarks.

CEA (controlled environment agriculture) is a booming business these days, even in 2020. Hydrofarm went public in 2020 and now trades on the NASDAQ as HYFM. Hydrofarm anticipates that CEA will grow to a $100 billion market, thanks to cannabis and micro-resourced, sustainably farmed, indoor produce.

Hydrofarm’s goal is to offer the best selection products for all CEA needs. They strive to be the gold standard in distribution and service to their wholesale clients. 

They have 6 distribution centers in the US and 2 in Canada, designed to deliver JIT (Just In Time) service to garden centers, hardware stores, commercial greenhouse builders and commercial resellers.

Hydrofarm brand products are the most popular choice for indoor gardeners and gardening retailers than all the other brands combined.

What Products Are in The Hydrofarm Collection?

Hydrofarm has a product line of over 5,000 items. Their products include seed starting kits, cloning systems, warming mats, lighting, atmospheric controllers, pumps, irrigation, filtration, and garden accessories. 

For hydroponic systems, Hydrofarm products include hydroponic systems, nutrients, controllers, monitors, timers, growing media, plastic pots, trays, air purifiers, filters, tables, tents, grow lights, fans, pumps, pots, and meters.

Hydrofarm markets brands like Phantom, Digilux, Quantum, Autopilot, Xtrasun, ActiveAir, ActiveAqua, ActiveEye, CannaBrush, CenturionPro, CAN-A-WIPES, Corona, Jump Start, SunBlaster, Phantom, Dirt Genius, AgroBrite, Grow!t, Phat Family, OxyClone and PhotoBio.

What Do The Reviews Say About Hydrofarm Hydroponics Products?

We considered reviews from almost 50 products with over 10,000 reviews.

Of the over 10,000 reviews, the global rating was 4.4 stars out of 5.

Reviewers loved the grow systems and the Hydrofarm products. Some reviewers had had the same system for 7 years and still loved them. One reviewer called the quality “A+”. For products requiring some assembly, they thought the assembly was well documented and easy.

Reviewers thought their products were awesome and good, basic systems. They loved that they could grow their own lettuce without any fear of pesticides and with such a good taste. One reviewer loved that their family was eating more greens.

Hydrofarm refers customer support issues to the seller, in many cases, Amazon, and sometimes your local hydroponics store. Most people love Amazon’s customer support.

Some negative reviews thought the assembly was too complicated and not all the parts were well-made – some leaked. Also, holes didn’t line up where they should. One reviewer called the written instructions “abysmal”. Several reviewers said they didn’t get all the parts.

Many negative reviewers reported that the products came without packaging – only the clear plastic – or damaged packaging.

How Much Do These Products Cost?

With over 5,000 products, the Hydrofarm product price range is huge. The cheapest product is a portable planter at $2. The most expensive product is an LED grow light fixture for $2,100.

How Do I Use Home Hydroponics Products?

These instructions are for the Hydrofarm Salad Box. It is a “passive” hydroponic system that will grow leafy greens and herbs. A passive system means you don’t need a pump to circulate or oxygenate the water. 

You won’t need electricity, but you will need to supply the light or sunshine for this system. Set your Salad Box in a sunny window or Hydrofarm recommends two-foot fluorescent light systems.

This grow system is designed for live seedlings or plant starts.

Salad Boxes are sold on Amazon. Of 100 global ratings, the Salad Box got 4.1 out of 5 stars. One reviewer called the Salad Box “surprisingly awesome”.

1. When you get your Salad Box, unpack all the parts. You should have a reservoir tray, a top plate lid with eight holes for plant sites, one top off bottle, 8 net cups, 8 root wraps, one package (50g) of hydroponic nutrients, 6 drain plugs and an instruction manual.
2. Locate the six plugs and put them in the holes in the bottom reservoir.
3. Locate the top off bottle. It sits on top of the bottom tray. 
4. Fill the top off bottle with regular water and screw on the lid. Experts recommend using water with a pH between 5.5 and 6.0.
5. Put the top off bottle upside down on the bottom reservoir.
6. Mix the powder nutrient into the reservoir tray. Hydrofarm recommends a half teaspoon for every 1 gallon of water. The reservoir try holds up to 2 gallons. You can mix it up in a bucket, then pour it into the reservoir tray.
7. Store the nutrient packet in a dry, cool place.
8. Buy eight small young plants. Gently take them out of the pots. 
9. Place the root ball on a root wrap.
10. Wrap the plant roots in the root wrap (sort of like an enchilada).
11. Put the root wrap and plant into the root cups.
12. Make sure the root wraps are touching the water level in the reservoir tray. Don’t let them dry out!
13. To clean the reservoir tray, use the plugs to drain it. For the fastest growth, Hydrofarm recommends draining, cleaning, and replacing the water and nutrients every two weeks.

Here’s a link to the Salad Box instructions.

Summary: Where Can I Buy The Hydrofarm Range?

Hydrofarm has hundreds of retailers across the US, Canada, Chile, and Spain. Hydrofarm sells only to retailers, but you can find a retailer near you here.

There are also many products available on Amazon, Planet Natural, Home Depot and Walmart.