I don't have a garden and need to utilize the most of my balcony space.
That's why I am thinking about building or buying a vertical hydroponic setup for the next season.
The thing is: pretty much all of the inspiration for setups I saw online were either aeroponic towers or NFT systems, both of which require a pump running 24/7.
I don't want something where one single pump failure, clogged nozzle or power outage kills everything.
Also, I absolutely can't stand the humming or splashing of any pump.
I want to grow mainly small annual crops, like herbs, leafy greens and stuff like that. For bigger crops, like chilis, hemp, and so on, I have my drip system with pots.
While I theoretically have access to the grid, I prefer something either completely passive, or something that at least keeps the roots hydrated enough to survive a few days, even in summer sun.
Something similar to my solar powered LECA drip setup I posted a while ago: it's beneficial when the small pump is on, but the passive wicking of the clay balls keeps everything moist enough for at least a few days.
It doesn't need to be 100% passive, but it also shouldn't depend on electronic devices for survival.
What could you suggest?