This one isn't for balconies, but it is for apartments, so I hope it makes sense that I am posting this here.
With window hydroponics, you take:
- used water bottles
- a pump kit (with tubing and joints)
- a bucket of water
- growing substrate
- a hanging anchor kit
- silicone steel tube
- chain (for hanging)
- tools (electric drill, plier, hole punch)
... and convert them into a tiny food garden that hangs by your window. This gives food options for those who live in apartment’s that might not have had the choice before.
You'll of course need plants that do not get too big (such as dwarf tomato plants instead of full-sized). If your window does not get enough sunlight, you may also have to supplement that with grow lights and a plug timer.
You do not need to buy an expensive kit. There are DIY sources everywhere, including this video explaining to use a pool noodle to create a growing substrate(an option to save an old pool noodle from the trash) instead of rockwool or pebbles.
I have not tried this myself, but thought I would share it in case it helps someone.
More Info:
The tech is called Window farm and had a quite large, global community developing the system for simplicity, climates and yield. I haven't looked at it since pre-pandemic times, but the site seems to have been updated since.
Check it out, there's a lot of cool solutions upcycling everyday objects!
As for NFT, I haven't tried it yet, but have had Kratky, DWC, Ebb & Flow, window farm, and am currently designing an aeroponics system to play around with.
Haven't ever chosen NFT as the simple setups require a lot more supports and/or floor area than I can comfortably accommodate. And DWC/Kratky with a bubbler seems to outperform it with less fiddling or effort.
I'm now curious to see if aeroponics will lower the water usage, and how it will affect yields.
For home use, I'd suggest DWC, with or without bubbler, as probably the most yield/fun for least hassle. Having multiple plants in the same system will always lead to complications and unnecessary mass death.