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Originally posted by shirlthegirl43
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Actually I am located in upstate New York, and we have a short growing season. The Folger's container is handy, as it holds slightly less than a gallon, and it has a convenient handle built right in. Any container would work equally as well though. It does not have to be large for hydroponics. I have grown strawberries and tomatoes in one of these containers. It works so well I am surprised someone is not marketing something like this. If you read the blog you might find the post on using LED grow lighting for propagation interesting. My next project will be to grow a full size Marconi roasting pepper using only LED lighting.No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, no culture comparable to that of the garden. But though an old man, I am but a young gardener. - Thomas Jeffereson
http://hydroponicworkshop.blogspot.com/ -
Very interesting indeed ! I have thought of hydroponics before, but have never had the space to do it indoors, and was inclined to think of it as a very non-sustainable method - needed lots of power for lights and pumps, lots of synthetic chemicals etc. Now it seems the pumps use little energy (I am particularly interested in the ebb and flow system you have) and the lights are not so bad either. And it doesn't have to be big tanks, small ones are possible too. I hope to be moving to a house with lots of greenhouses soon, but little usable soil - now all sorts of possibilities open up !
Can you tell me hydrogardener, do the nutrients have to be synthetic, or can you make your own from organic sources ?There's no point reading history if you don't use the lessons it teaches.
Head-hunted member of the Nutter's Club - can I get my cranium back please ?Comment
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Nutrients
Actually the ebb and flow system is my favorite. It turns on every four hours for only fifteen minutes. I drain the nutrients and change them every two or three weeks depending on the stage of growth of the plants. It is simple and inexpensive to operate, and build. You can make your own nutrients out of organics, but you should search online for that topic. I prefer the dry nutrients which are made from natural elements. I feel there is less chance of something nasty growing in your reservoir if you avoid organic material. I will be using a 90 watt LED grow light starting in the fall for indoor growing. It is equal to a 500 watt HPS light, and the LEDs will last ten years if you use them every day, which I will not. There are a number of books on the subject that might help if you get serious. And by the way, it is sustainable, I have been using the same medium over and over for a number of years. I just soak the pellets in mild bleach, rinse and reuse.
No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, no culture comparable to that of the garden. But though an old man, I am but a young gardener. - Thomas Jeffereson
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Thank you very much for that info. I get the feeling that LEDs are very much the coming thing, what with all the recent advances in technology and trend towards more ecofriendly lighting.
I am going to go away now and germinate on all these matters...
There's no point reading history if you don't use the lessons it teaches.
Head-hunted member of the Nutter's Club - can I get my cranium back please ?Comment
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