Kenshi Hydroponics: A Guide to Sustainable Farming in the Wasteland
Farming in Kenshi is a challenge. With harsh environments, limited fertile land, and constant raids, growing food can be tough. But hydroponics offers the perfect solution—allowing you to grow crops indoors, safely, and efficiently.
If you want to build a self-sufficient faction, hydroponics is the best way to farm in any location.
What You’ll Learn in This Guide:
✔️ How to unlock hydroponics in Kenshi
✔️ The best crops for hydroponic farming
✔️ How to power and maintain hydroponic stations
✔️ How hydroponics can support large factions
Whether you’re playing as a desert survivalist, a tech-based faction, or a trade empire, hydroponics will help you thrive in Kenshi’s wasteland.
What Is Hydroponics in Kenshi?
Hydroponics is an advanced farming method that allows you to grow crops indoors using hydroponic basins instead of soil.
✔️ No need for fertile land—works in deserts and wastelands
✔️ Grows food indoors—safe from bandits and weather
✔️ Produces crops faster than traditional farming
Feature | Hydroponics | Outdoor Farming |
---|---|---|
Requires Fertile Land? | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Works Indoors? | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
Growth Speed | 🚀 Faster | 🐢 Slower |
Defensible? | ✅ Safe from raids | ❌ Vulnerable to attacks |
Hydroponics is essential if you want to survive in areas like The Great Desert, Black Desert City, or The Ashlands.
How to Unlock Hydroponics in Kenshi
You can’t start hydroponics immediately—it requires high-level research.
🔬 Research Requirements
To unlock hydroponics, you need:
✔️ Tech Level 5 (Research Bench Level 5)
✔️ Ancient Science Books (Found in Lost Libraries & Workshops)
✔️ Engineering Research (Bought from Tech Hunters or looted from ruins)
Once you reach Tech Level 5, research:
- Hydroponics (Base technology)
- Wheatstraw Hydroponics (For bread & rum)
- Riceweed Hydroponics (For rice bowls & sake)
- Cactus Hydroponics (For chewsticks & rum)
- Hemp Hydroponics (For fabrics, hashish, and medicine)
Pro Tip: Skeletons and Hivers are excellent researchers because they don’t need food!
How to Set Up a Hydroponic Farm in Kenshi
🏗️ Step 1: Build an Indoor Structure
To grow crops inside, you need a large building like:
✔️ Stationhouse (Best for big hydroponic setups)
✔️ Stormhouse (Good for small-scale farming)
✔️ Outpost Buildings (For large faction farms)
Tip: Choose a strategic location that’s easy to defend and close to power sources.
💧 Step 2: Build Hydroponic Basins
Each crop needs its own hydroponic station.
✔️ Wheatstraw Hydroponics – Used for bread and rum
✔️ Riceweed Hydroponics – Used for rice bowls and sake
✔️ Cactus Hydroponics – Used for chewsticks and rum
✔️ Hemp Hydroponics – Used for fabric, hashish, and medicine
Hydroponic stations require:
🛠️ Iron Plates (For construction)
⚡ Electricity (To keep the system running)
💦 Water (For plant growth)
⚡ Step 3: Powering Your Hydroponic Farm
Since hydroponics needs constant electricity, you must have a stable power supply.
✔️ Wind Generators – Best for desert bases but unreliable in low-wind areas
✔️ Biofuel Generators – Great if you produce excess cactus or greenfruit
✔️ Battery Banks – Store extra power for nights and emergencies
Tip: Always have backup power sources to prevent crop failure.
💦 Step 4: Managing Water Supply
Even though hydroponics doesn’t use soil, it still requires water.
✔️ Build wells and water tanks near hydroponic stations
✔️ Assign workers to refill water barrels regularly
✔️ Store extra water in barrels to prevent shortages
Tip: Bases near rivers or lakes have unlimited water, making hydroponics easier to sustain.
Best Crops for Hydroponics in Kenshi
Crop | Best For | Used In |
---|---|---|
Wheatstraw | Food & Trade | Bread, rum |
Riceweed | Food & Trade | Rice bowls, sake |
Hemp | Medicine & Trade | Fabric, hashish, medicine |
Cactus | Survival Food | Chewsticks, rum |
✔️ Wheatstraw & Riceweed – Best for feeding large factions
✔️ Hemp – Best for fabric production or drug trade
✔️ Cactus – Best for desert food survival
Pro Tip: Hemp is highly profitable in lawless regions where hashish is legal!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I grow greenfruit in hydroponics?
No, greenfruit does not have a hydroponic option. You can only grow wheatstraw, riceweed, hemp, and cactus.
Do hydroponic crops grow faster than outdoor farms?
Yes! Hydroponic crops grow 25-50% faster than traditional farming.
Do I need workers to farm hydroponic crops?
Yes, but less than outdoor farming since no tilling is required—just harvesting and watering.
Is hydroponics worth it in Kenshi?
Absolutely! Hydroponics allows you to farm in dangerous or infertile areas, making it a must-have for desert and city bases.
Final Thoughts: Build Your Hydroponic Empire in Kenshi!
Hydroponics is the best farming method in Kenshi, allowing you to grow food anywhere while keeping your crops safe and efficient.
✔️ Unlock hydroponics at Tech Level 5
✔️ Build hydroponic stations indoors with power and water
✔️ Grow the best crops for food, trade, or crafting
Ready to start hydroponics? Set up your farm and thrive in Kenshi’s wasteland! 🌱🏗️💡