In terms of the watering system, if you have comparatively few plants, more sophisticated watering systems become practical.

I have a fondness for aeroponics, where an airstone or bubble curtain and air pump are used to create the nutrient mist. Bubbles breaking the water surface send up a very fine spray. This is a much more reliable proposition than forcing nutrient through small sprayer apertures. Roots hang well above the water level. If they get long, one might work out a way to support them on some sort of plastic netting to keep them out of the water but still be exposed to the nute mist in a mist chamber of some sort (big rubbish bin? plastic storage container?). In case of power or pump failure, plants can be handwatered for as much as a day or two before the lack of air pumped in becomes a problem. The humidity will remain high enough in the chamber to support plants if lights are also off.