Hydroponic growing unit

1. A hydroponic growing apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a compartmentalized bottom surface;

a housing support, the housing being removably coupled to the housing support;

a water reservoir positioned in the housing and comprising a bottom surface and an open top surface;

a support structure configured to fit into the open top surface of the housing and defining a plurality of support structure openings;

a cover plate configured to fit over the support structure in the open top surface of the housing, the cover plate comprising a plurality of cut-outs corresponding to the plurality of support structure openings;

a pump positioned on the bottom surface of the water reservoir, the pump comprising an inlet and an outlet;

a sprayer coupled to the outlet of the pump;

a lighting system having a plurality of columns coupling the lighting system to the housing;

a power source positioned in the compartmentalized bottom surface; and

a power cord extending from the power source through the housing support, through one of the plurality of columns, and to the lighting system.

2. The hydroponic growing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a fixed distance between a lower surface of the lighting system and an upper surface of the cover plate is in a range of 14 to 18 inches.

3. The hydroponic growing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lighting system includes a control board, a lens, and a lighting panel including lights.

4. The hydroponic growing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hydroponic growing apparatus is configured to turn the lighting system on for a period of time each day, the period of time being in a range of 12 to 16 hours.

5. The hydroponic growing apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a pump power cord extending from the pump in the water reservoir to the power source in the housing.

6. The hydroponic growing apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the bottom surface of the water reservoir comprises a channel including raised walls configured to receive the pump power cord.

7. The hydroponic growing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cut-outs of the cover plate define a cover opening, the cover opening overlapping one of the plurality of support structure openings.

8. The hydroponic growing apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a water level indicator including a magnetic float.

9. The hydroponic growing apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a basket of a size and shape to fit into any of the plurality of support structure openings.

10. The hydroponic growing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of support structure openings is four support structure openings arranged in a grid.

11. The hydroponic growing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sprayer comprises a nozzle below the support structure, the nozzle located centrally of the plurality of support structure openings.

12. The hydroponic growing apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a drain tube selectively connected to the outlet of the pump that is repositionable to convey water entering the inlet of the pump to a location external to the housing.

13. The hydroponic growing apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a cord extending from the pump, along the bottom surface of the water reservoir, to a point external to the housing, wherein the pump is electrically powered.

14. A kit comprising:

the hydroponic growing apparatus of claim 1 ;

one or more net cups of a first size;

one or more net cups of a second size, the second size being different from the first size;

one or more adapters; and

one or more cylindrical plugs sized to fit in the one or more net cups of the second size.

15. A kit comprising the hydroponic growing apparatus of claim 1 and a nutrient composition.