Evidence: Third-party community guides and research; source-reported versions below; not independently playtested.
Plant and power a crop
Place an owned seed in the Hydroponic System’s seed slot, a liquid container in its water slot and a power source in the appropriate slot. Install compatible modules before running the system, then provide sufficient liquid and power. Leave room for the output so the harvest has somewhere to go.
Community static research lists a base speed of 8 processing points per cycle and base power consumption of 8 kJ per cycle. Modules can modify both values. A crop’s workload is measured in processing points, so it should not be read as a fixed number of nights. A change in machine configuration can change the time and energy budget.
- Choose a seed and inspect its individual traits.
- Check that the container has enough liquid of suitable quality.
- Supply power for the configured machine and install any desired modules.
- Check progress and health, then make room for harvest output.
When progress stalls, examine each input separately. A full water container does not solve a flat battery, and available power does not correct the wrong mineral concentration. Sources: community hydroponics research and Hydroponic Farming Guide.
Compare crop mineral targets
Community research lists the following base concentrations and tolerances. The values describe crop definitions before seed-specific genetics; inspect your actual seed before adjusting its water. For example, the Nutrifruit base range is 0.50%–2.50%.
| Crop | Base mineral target | Tolerance |
|---|---|---|
| Nutrifruit | 1.50% | ±1.00 percentage point |
| Kotton | 3.50% | ±1.50 points |
| Dream Cap | 2.50% | ±0.75 point |
| Coffee | 2.50% | ±0.75 point |
| Fillerweed | 1.00% | ±1.00 point |
| Hydroreed | 1.00% | ±1.00 point |
| Bloomberry | 2.00% | ±0.75 point |
These are concentration ranges, not quantities to add blindly to every container. Water volume and the seed’s own traits matter. A target that works for one crop can be too high or too low for another. Source: community research, static analysis of build 26337366.
Read the signs of poor health
Community research distinguishes mineral deficiency from excess: either side of the plant’s acceptable range can damage health. Pollutants and genetic sensitivity are separate considerations, so correcting the mineral percentage alone does not prove the water is suitable.
| Symptom or check | What to inspect |
|---|---|
| Health falling; minerals too low | Compare concentration with the seed’s target and tolerance. |
| Health falling; minerals too high | Recheck the range before adding more nutrients. |
| Minerals look suitable | Inspect pollutants and the seed’s sensitivity. |
| No progress | Check available liquid and power as well as the plant. |
Use water purification to understand treatment and quality. The DNA Manipulator guide explains how traits can be stored and installed; review the resulting seed rather than assuming an edited seed retains every base requirement. Source: community research.
Modules and the next harvest
Community sources report several specialist conversions: the Dream Cap Neutralizer changes Dream Cap harvests into Meal Cap, the Kotton Auto Loom converts Kotton into Kotton Fabric, and the Hydroreed Filter module produces filters at harvest. These modules also affect machine performance or efficiency, so compare their tradeoffs with your power supply and intended product.
Plan the following cycle as well as this one. Ordinary crops consume the input seed at completion, while perennials retain the plant and begin another fruiting cycle. That distinction affects whether you need another seed ready. Keep enough output space and reassess water and power before leaving the system to run again. Dream Cap processing connects to the chemistry guide. Source: community research.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my plant losing health with a full water container?
Community research reports that mineral concentration, pollutants and seed genetics affect health as well as the amount of water.
Do all crops need the same mineral concentration?
No. Community research lists different base targets and tolerances by crop, and traits can change a particular seed’s requirements.
Does a crop always return its seed?
No. Ordinary crops consume the input seed on completion; perennial plants remain and start another fruiting cycle.
How much power does a Hydroponic System use?
Community sources report a base of 8 kJ per cycle before modules change the value; supply enough power for the actual configuration.
Growing Nightmare Cap
The community database Dream Cap database reports that a Nightmare mod applied to Dream Cap in hydroponics yields Nightmare Cap, and lists the Retired Farmer as a spore source. Inventory and availability have not been independently confirmed; check the actual offer in your save. Build not stated; checked November 8, 2026. For the reported processing chain, see Nightmare Cap chemistry.