My little grow op

[Mandy Onderwater]

Definitely! And I think it gets easier over time. You're already seeming more confident than before

 

[daveb]

as you get the hang of it it will become second nature, glance at plant and go oh thats has grown xx amount or fo x number of days ..... i better put some nutrient solution in ot just top up with some water.

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

How've the plants been? Bit too busy, or are they thriving @Nick Freeman ?

 

[Nick Freeman]

I haven't been doing much cooking or triming of the herbs and I don't think they liked that. I'm not sure why the Thyme or the top 2 basil died. They both had lots of neutriant.

On a positive note Jalepeno's!

 

[daveb]

could be the strength of the nutrient mix some herbs like a lighter mix, some herbs to find the right balance of the liquid level and the light can be a challenge but basil you can almost grow it straight up in a glass of water so that is a surprise i am going to fins some oh my STL files and toss them up on my drive for some net pots you can print, some could be the peat plugs constantly in the water nutrient mix shoot me address i will see tosses some rockwool pieces in post to you to try

 

[Nick Freeman]

Rockwool might be good but I had some questions about it I'd been unable to find awnsers to. Home Depot sells a Rockwool insulation and I wasn't sure if it was the same thing or not?

I had been considering buying a huge box of peat pods to just have on hand but they never seem to be in stock online so if rockwool is easier to find and cheaper I'm ALL for it.

Is it possible to skewer like I did the peat? I suppose when I get my printer running printing net pots won't be hard.

 

[daveb]

basically simple answer NO rockwool for insulation many times is made from recycled slag from steel and ore mills and may contain trace hazardous metals ; rockwool insulation is treated so it has less water retention - reduces mold mildew and fungus growth - deters pest and more so no stay away from insulation grade rockwool i buy the sheet in amazon and slice it with serrated bread knife,
36 x 12 x 3 in. - Classic Grow Slab - Stonewool - Grodan 713015 from amazon is $42 for slab but i made a jig i cut a strip 2 wide off sheet then cut the 3 inch thickness in half another jig to cut that into cubes 1 1/2 off the strip so i end up with 1 1/2 sq 2 inch tall plant cube. so i get 18 strip the get cut in half = 36; each 36 inch strip gives me 24 cubes for 864 total cubes so about 6 cents a planting cube . suggestion
and depends on net pot you can also cut the plugs different because each pot if different a couple of types from amazon
GROWNEER 50 Packs 2 Inches Garden Slotted Mesh Net Cups, Heavy Duty Net Pots

Tmtamye 100 Pack 2 inch Net Pots Hydroponics Supplies Cups, Round Wide Lip




here is one thing i do on the , tiny tim dwarf tomatoes, many of my herbs
#1 pills vials
#2 low stick painter tape ( I am working on a design to replace the painters tape with a two piece pop on lid for pots )
#3 pet medicine syringe ( 20 cc ) looking for a 30 or 40 cc style

some of the tiny tim on starter vials the tomatoes i think were about 4 weeks from time i put the seeds in the rock woolso for a plant at 3 1/2 tall the roots are close to 8 inches long

Went to pharmacy bought 3 dozen of the 40 dram pill vial the fit a 2 inch net pot perfect to us as a started for seedlings also. I do a mix bulk concentrate in two parts- part A is ( fertilizer / Epsom salt ) part B is ( calcium carbonate ) at a concentration 2 oz of each to a gallon gives full strength mix. So i know if i pull 30cc of mix A and 30 cc of mix B that gives me the amount for i gallon of starter solution at 1/2 strength. i start seeds in regular water after 2nd try leaf starts they go in a very dilute mix only at least 4 or 5 sets of leafs
i put rock wool cube in the net pot tape over the top with painters tape then trim tape to the round shape. cut and X in center and take a skew and poke a hole through X into the rock wool and rock it a little so its a slight cone fold edges of X back drops in seeds fluff edges of hole with skew to cover seed put tape back down. if you get the deeper [os you will need to slice a cubes different so the three inches if the height and trim a little off so they are just below the rim of pot.

notices behind pepper a number of vials ready to plant

 

[Nick Freeman]

It's been a while guys! Sorry for the absence lots been going on.

The Rosemary, Thyme and some basil died off. I harvested a large batch of basil which made amazing pasta sauce! And 10 jalapenos which the red were SUPER potent! And have 18 more ready to go. We made nachos with the first batch!

I took clipping from the dying basil and the ends of pieces I harvested and they've all rooted to make there own plants!

 

[daveb]

dont feel to bad about the rosemary , in itself it is a difficult plant for many to grow event regularly we refer to it as the hermit herb it doesn't like to be around other plants. As for hot peppers i have found hot peppers tend to become an all new animal all in themselves in hydroponics and at times taker on a whole new meaning of HOT, warning if you ever grow scotch bonnets or habaneros handle them from the hydroponics with rubber gloves. As for jalapeno even in normal garden what can be considered a tam mild jalapeno can very so much you will think you planted the wrong variety the affect of hydroponics i notice tends to increase the characteristics of some plants like the basil takes on a marked increase in the volatile oils enhancing the aroma and flavors, other plants take on a sweeter richer tone.
Welcome to your first season of hydroponics Nick
I grow year round indoors because i can control those subtle freak things mother nature decides to throw at use and what it cost me for electricity is small compared to my returns. even a neighbor they made a tiny enclosure in a cool cellar, 10 x 8 feet floor to ceiling and used a 2 inch foam board and grow in multiple tier levels with grow lights and a small electrical space heater and grow there years round all they say is best herbs - lettuces - tomatoes they ever grown. and with three kids far cheaper even with small heater then they can buy in stores.

 

[Nick Freeman]

This is true I do think it's far cheaper and I'm looking into better setups but the basement is a construction zone so there's no real free space. I'm thinking next year I'll set up the den in the basement to grow. I think the herbs, peppers, tomatoes and Lettuce/ greens will give a good quantity of cheap greens to save money. I'm also going to try and set up outdoor gardens in raised beds but that seems a lot more work then hydroponics.

As for the peppers... YES! Learnt the hard way. They were WAY more potent I rubbed my cheek while cutting them and it burnt me.. acid burn not fun.. and I have habenaros for next time x.x the jalapenos are almost too hot.

 

[daveb]

This is true I do think it's far cheaper and I'm looking into better setups but the basement is a construction zone so there's no real free space. I'm thinking next year I'll set up the den in the basement to grow. I think the herbs, peppers, tomatoes and Lettuce/ greens will give a good quantity of cheap greens to save money. I'm also going to try and set up outdoor gardens in raised beds but that seems a lot more work then hydroponics.

As for the peppers... YES! Learnt the hard way. They were WAY more potent I rubbed my cheek while cutting them and it burnt me.. acid burn not fun.. and I have habenaros for next time x.x the jalapenos are almost too hot.

well think on this the main bed you see in photos i use to test various plants and have fresh produce in the kitchen is on 30 x 54 inches it's tucked under a stairwell and to left is a 2 x 4 feet bench with 4 7 gallon deep water krakty style systems, friends little rom in cellar 8 x 10 feet has 3 bed down the 10 ft length and a short 8 ft down center for 28 feet of beds double high for 56 linear feet so with two channels and can add a third on each bed the can safely do 72 to 108 plants that is a decent grow bed for them, and they are talking of another small enclosure next year

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

Aah, how I wish that all the members lived near me - I love to share my cuttings and plants!
It does look like you're getting a really good understanding of how to grow them, because even if things don't go as planned, you manage to figure something out (like taking cuttings to regrow). That in itself is a huge skill to get

 

[daveb]

Aah, how I wish that all the members lived near me - I love to share my cuttings and plants!
It does look like you're getting a really good understanding of how to grow them, because even if things don't go as planned, you manage to figure something out (like taking cuttings to regrow). That in itself is a huge skill to get

look for great white rooting powder on amazon to help with rooting cuttings

 

[Nick Freeman]

I've been a ghost far longer then I thought.... Sorry guys! But planting seasons back and I realized I'd disappeared!

Seeds started. Sun out and apple trees in bloom!

Two months behind last years planing...

*Dave! Do you recommend rooting powder or gel?

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

That's all good, I'm just glad to see you're back and are doing well!

I love the apple blossoms

 

[Nick Freeman]

When I bought the house it was late October and I looked at that tree and couldn't help but ask why the little old lady who had owned the house ever kept such a hideous tree.. all gnarled and bent. The next spring one day I came home from work and saw it and went "Oh! Wow, now I get it!" I love that tree even if it's only beautiful 1 week a year.

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

@daveb see question 2 comments above

Yeah, they can look a little ugly
But the blossoms (and produce) make it all worth it.

 

[daveb]

I've been a ghost far longer then I thought.... Sorry guys! But planting seasons back and I realized I'd disappeared!

Seeds started. Sun out and apple trees in bloom!

Two months behind last years planing...

*Dave! Do you recommend rooting powder or gel?

I and welcome back Nick was begining to wonder if aliens had abducted you. As for the rooting I prefer the powder and use great white Mycorrhizae powder its on amazon for a 4 oz jar at $29 and change for a 4 oz jar that's a huge amount or small jar 1 oz at around $14 usd on sale right now

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

 

[Nick Freeman]

Abducted by the aliens of the frozen north! I've been so sad it's been too cold to grow. Barely kept the heat above freezing in the house this winter.

But I should be better this winter to keep things growing in the basement.

@daveb Is that the bag of single hormone? Most the options are seem very pricy