Hydroponic Growing

[cojmh]

Thanks SH for the info ..... few more questions if you don't mind me asking.

1. Is there any specific vermiculite to use or avoid? Do you have a preference?
2. Do you only use the hydroponics system indoors? - I guess rain diluting the nutrient mix would be the issue outside?
3. How do you start your plants off? If from seed I am guessing as normal in a propagator then when a certain size move over to the vermiculite.

I do indeed have a 3D printer .... absolutely brilliant piece of kit - I might give the Kratky system ago and print the baskets

Thanks again for all the info

[shirehorse99]

1/. just used ordinary stuff from eBay -https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/116461882670 ... 6748650483

2/ I only use it indoors but I have a 16x16 greenhouse , but people do it outside yes - but as you say - stopping the rain getting in to dilute is the problem - but as you have a 3d printer - https://www.printables.com/model/720081 ... onic-tower or https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=htt ... AdAAAAABAE for example
3/ yes start off as normal and prick out into vermiculite or rock wool into the little cups

[shirehorse99]

https://www.doctorblooms.co.uk/images/p ... m60.jpg?75

something like this using square drainpipe for outdoors - covered except for holes for plants - sure you can 3d print a little washer to cover the hole to stop rain running in

[shirehorse99]

look at these watermelons after 11 days from pollination in kratky system

https://preview.redd.it/update-on-my-2n ... 29d509df44

[cojmh]

look at these watermelons after 11 days from pollination in kratky system

https://preview.redd.it/update-on-my-2n ... 29d509df44

Wow .... 11 days from pollination!

I have already started printing the pots .... I will have to find a crate!

I have seen the vertical systems but the house is too much of a building site for the foreseeable future. We do have a green house though but it is currently populated with other things at the moment

Thanks for your help.

[shirehorse99]

happy to help if I can - those under bed storage boxes work well - make sure its not clear though or the water will go green

[cojmh]

I am back with a few more questions!

I have been reading up a lot more on Kratky. The link you provided had a link to one of his papers (here) and it looks like a very well thought out system with minimal intervention needed.

The Lettuce boxes are pretty straight forward and the suggested method is probably the most straight forward way to do it.

I have ordered all the bits to do the lettuce boxes.

But thinking about the bigger plants (tomatoes, cucumbers and chillies) the limiting factor is the size of water reservoir needed per plant (63 litres per tomato plant, 120 litres per cucumber plant and chillies is unknown at the moment). This becomes a bit prohibitive on space.

Within the paper it says that if the nutrient level is maintained at the same level throughout the growth then the plants are ok (adding too much water to a system that has been depleting over time will effectively drown the plants).

So if all of this is true then what (if any) would be the draw back to using a header tank filled with the nutrient solution that then feeds smaller enclosed tubs (approx 20 litres in size) for other plants like tomatoes, cucumbers and chillies? The water level would be regulated by some form of float valve (I am thinking of modifying something simple like this)

The only intervention would be the need to periodically add more nutrient solution to the header tank (thinking once a week or fortnight depending on the header tank).

This approach would do away with all pumps/aerators etc. be totally gravity fed and still work .... I think?

I am aware that different plants might require different solution mixes (if so more header tanks are needed)

Have I missed something or misunderstood something?

[shirehorse99]

your thinking is spot on -



with regards to kratky and lettuce boxes - all you need to do is fill nutrient to just touch the roots leaving an air gap between the cup and water. the growing cycle of lettuce is about 4 weeks. the nutrient in the box would not need to be touched during the entire cycle. the roots will take the nutrient and create a bigger air gap during the cycle. an airstone could produce an oxygen rich air gap.

[shirehorse99]

I grew this banana last year in kratky system with aeration - only topped up the water 3 or 4 times all year. it got to 8ft before the main stem rotted in the 8 inch cup


my toms are done in a DWC buckets - these are filled with a gravity fed tank








cucumber has grown again since yesterday

[shirehorse99]

after yesterdays watermelon post I decided to nip up the local nursery today and bought a watermelon 'sweet baby' and cantaloupe 'ogen' to go in pots 9 and 10, also an aubergine to go in pot 8.

see how they go. straight out of pots with the compost into the coco coir .