Hydroponic Setup
Hydroponics is another of my “let’s learn” journeys. Kudos to the University publications (links at the end) and Master Gardeners which have provided tips and guidance over the years.
Documenting my learning
If you can read only one article, read University of Florida blog. Start small and iterate. Keep a journal to document you successes. There is a lot of figure out (lighting, nutrients, leaks, clogs, etc).
Oklahoma State has a great primer of the different types of hydroponic systems.
First setup - water culture
Building it
- 3” net cups - a 3.5” plant pot can be used if holes are drilled to allow for water flow
- “rough tote” bins
- aquarium bubbler
- Air line
- Air pump
- Light source : T5 fluorescent 6500k or “Full” spectrum
Results
Setup in the greenhouse during winter with lettuce and basil. Basil would sprout but cold air stressed the leaves. Lettuce faired well and produced… albeit slowly. I did not track length to maturity, but it was noticeably longer. Overall the system worked but required heat mats to overcome the cold. The increased greenhouse temp and lack of aphid predators provided a different challenge.
4H water culture prototype
Second setup. drip system
Building it
- 3” net cups
- PVC fence post sleeve. Can also use 4” PVC drain pipe.
- Alternate setup was with a concrete mix tub
- 1/2” bung adapter for drain
- 1/2” pvc and 1/2” drip line with 1/4” emitters
- Light source : the sun :)
Results
Setup outdoors with lettuce and basil. System produced well. Birds and other wildlife seemed to love the water supply and would introduce leaks as they interacted with the exposed water.
Third setup - Aeroponics
Building it
Similar to the drip system except 1/2” drip is run within the fence post sleeve with a mister underneath each plant.
Results
Setup outdoors with lettuce and basil. System produces well. No issues other than an occasional leak. Mitigated this by planting strawberries underneath. As heavy feeders, they do not mind.
Nutrients
Currently purchase commercial nutrient mixes. Ingredients between brands are inconsistent. To help understand nutrients needed, typing “hydroponic recipe edu” into your browser should bring up some peer reviewed publications. I have used these as a purchasing guide.
Complete change out of the water every two weeks. Old water is used in the “soil” garden.
References
Full credit to the university publications below as my learning guides.
- University of Florida blog.
- Oklahoma State hydroponic fact sheet
- https://extension.umn.edu/how/small-scale-hydroponics
- https://piedmontmastergardeners.org/article/a-hydroponics-primer/
- https://www.nal.usda.gov/farms-and-agricultural-production-systems/hydroponics
- https://www.nps.gov/articles/hydroponics.htm
- https://ceac.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/Ch5.pdf
- https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/hydroponic-vegetable-gardening.html
- https://extension.psu.edu/hydroponics-systems-nutrient-solution-programs-and-recipes
- https://extension.psu.edu/hydroponics-systems-using-the-two-basic-equations-to-calculate-a-nutrient-solution-recipe
- http://hort.cornell.edu/greenhouse/crops/factsheets/hydroponic-recipes.pdf