Homemade Hydroponic Garden
So Scott has been wanting to do a hydroponic garden for awhile now and the time has come to dabble in it!
I got two shallow heavy duty totes from Target. He bought a net pot that the plants grow in and traced them out on the lid and cut them to fit the pot size he was going to use. Then filled the tote with water and little bit hydroponic nutrient liquid. We started off using the black sponge like disk that sits inside the growing net pot and hold the seedling while they grow. But then decided to pick up clay pebbles to replace the sponge disk, they absorb the water and keep the seedling at the perfect moisture.
First we plant the seeds in the dirt growing trays till they have sprouted and are big enough to transfer. We gently wipe off the dirt and place it inside the center of the growing net pot and secure it between the pebbles.
He has a fish tank bubblier inside the tote with the water to create oxygen. He also test the PH level each week to adjust the nutrients he is putting in. Otherwise it's sitting back and watching them grow.
We have romaine, butter crunch lettuce, one watermelon- which will probably be pulled because it's not a ideal choice for hydroponics. and bell peppers, and peas growing in the homemade hydroponic totes.
We also have one basil seedling being tested in a old glass jar with water in it and net pot under my grow light. It started off doing really well and it's kicking my basil that is being grown in dirt under the same lights butt. My dirt one just had a growth spurt and is getting bigger but the one grown in water grown so fast. The one grown in water is not a green as the dirt one. I think he will need to tweak this process.
I got two shallow heavy duty totes from Target. He bought a net pot that the plants grow in and traced them out on the lid and cut them to fit the pot size he was going to use. Then filled the tote with water and little bit hydroponic nutrient liquid. We started off using the black sponge like disk that sits inside the growing net pot and hold the seedling while they grow. But then decided to pick up clay pebbles to replace the sponge disk, they absorb the water and keep the seedling at the perfect moisture.
First we plant the seeds in the dirt growing trays till they have sprouted and are big enough to transfer. We gently wipe off the dirt and place it inside the center of the growing net pot and secure it between the pebbles.
He has a fish tank bubblier inside the tote with the water to create oxygen. He also test the PH level each week to adjust the nutrients he is putting in. Otherwise it's sitting back and watching them grow.
he used a dice for his splinter!
our set up for now, it will be changing to accommodate another seed starter tray!
This table has the grow light on it for 15-16 hours a day plus the light coming in from the window
We have romaine, butter crunch lettuce, one watermelon- which will probably be pulled because it's not a ideal choice for hydroponics. and bell peppers, and peas growing in the homemade hydroponic totes.
Pea
watermelon that will soon be getting plucked and put somewhere else. It was our Ginny pig and the only seed we had on hand :)
pea
We also have one basil seedling being tested in a old glass jar with water in it and net pot under my grow light. It started off doing really well and it's kicking my basil that is being grown in dirt under the same lights butt. My dirt one just had a growth spurt and is getting bigger but the one grown in water grown so fast. The one grown in water is not a green as the dirt one. I think he will need to tweak this process.
basil on left dirt grown and right water grown
water grown basil seedling
It's fun trying new things and watching plants grow that will be used for our meals. Who ever thought in a million years that i would be growing my own plants ~in water and in dirt? That i would have 1,000 worms eating my left over food scraps, so i can use there poop to give my plants nutrients? That i would have yearly garden journals of what i did and how it worked out? That I would try to turn as much yard space into plant and flowers? That I would inspire neighbors to grow there own food? Life is so crazy and ironic...... This brings me joy and it's my happy place being able to learn new things and educate others on the stuff that is working for me. It doesn't always work out but you have to try. In one year from now i will be looking back on the growing season that i am currently preparing for and I will be reevaluating and making changes. Of course i am hoping it was a successful year and not many changes have to be made.
Comments
Post a Comment