Looking for hydroponics info

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Hubby is interested in setting up a hydroponics system in our greenhouse and we are looking for information. I searched the archives for hydroponics but didn't have any matches. I am probably doing it wrong since I'm sure this topic must have come up before. We would like to hear about systems that you have made yourself instead of buying expensive ones already available. Also, it appears that the most difficult part is getting the nutrient formula right for whatever you grow so would like some advice on that as well. Please point me in the right direction for good web sites.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), March 20, 2002

Answers

Colleen-

I was trying to research hydroponics a few weeks ago and their was very little in the archives so it is likely that you have already found everything that is there. How large a system are you planning? I am in the process of building a small system for my home. I actually started the plants weeks ago but never got the system together, yet the plants are thriving just from sitting in pans with nutrient solution. I wound up buying a powdered mix for nutrient solution which I think is pretty expensive, but it is working really well. My own research indicated that it is usually best to start off with a commercial mix since the solution needs to be very well balanced both in terms of nutrients and salts/minerals. Apparently one of the trickiest parts is keeping the ph balanced, but I don't even check the ph level of mine and it hasn't seemed to matter yet.

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), March 20, 2002.


I meant to add that there are a few really good websites for home hydroponics systems. Try doing a search on google, or whatever search engine you prefer for the internet, and you should find them pretty easily.

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), March 20, 2002.

Colleen, I read up on this some years back when a coworker was setting up a hydroponic operation. He was cuppling it with an aquatic fish (Tilapia) raising operation. I remember searching under rockwool to find a source of info. And just last week while going through and old edition of The Organic Gardening Encyclopedia, I came across the formula for the nutrient solution. I have it at home so I'll send it you you later.

-- Dwight (summit1762@aol.com), March 20, 2002.

Colleen try s and s aqua farms there in west plains mo and when i looked into it were very helpful. Bob se,ks.

-- Bobco (bobco@kans.com), March 20, 2002.

My husband has a little hobby set-up. Basically it is pvc with fittings fitted with the top end of 2 liter soda bottles (painted white to discourage mold). The soda bottle ends are then fitted with 16oz plastic trowaway cups. The whole thing leads is fed by a small pump that is in a 3-5 gallan tub. Instead of rock wool, the plants are supported by lava rock. No fussy mixing and ph bothers just a bit of water soluable fertilizer similar to Miracle Grow. Granted the system isn't for growing anything of size since there is not enough room for root growth. Pepper plants are about as big as you can go on this system. Herbs do well, certainally not big enough for any illeagle herbs! Other than the size constraints he doesn't have any problems and he doesn't baby the thing either.

-- Diana in FL (dvance4@juno.com), March 20, 2002.


I tried hydroponics using 2-litter pop bottles also with fair results. I didn't have mine in a greenhouse, but was doing it on the lawn behind my house. I was growing tomatos with real good results until there was a accident. My tomato vines were doing real good and was putting on green tomatos, but one day I happened to lean a 5' step ladder up close to the hydro. system and the wind blew it over onto a couple of the bottles. It broke one of the bottles off and the next time the pump kicked on to water the plants, all the formula/water drained out of the solution tank onto the ground. It apparently happened in the late afternoon and it wasn't until the next day before I discovered it. The tomato plants went into shock and never recovered from it. I lost everything, my fault tho.

However, tomorrow I will see if I can get you the address to try the pop bottle method. This company that I got my plans from sold them to me for something like $3.00. It consist of using pop bottles, white pvc water pipe, a pump which you can buy at wally world for about $30., and a timer which you can purchase from the company. If you have a engineering mind you can use this one timer to operate several pumps. Each pump can be used for every twenty-four pop bottles.

They also have plans that make a 4'X 8' gravel bed so you can plant stuff such as lettuce, spinach, etc. stuff that you usually plant in beds instead of individually.

I'll have to dig around for the address. It has been a while since I have messed with the hydro. system so I'm not sure just where I have placed them.

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), March 21, 2002.


Try this one from my bookmark archives. The hydroponics links are about 1/3 way down the page. Lots more good stuff there as well.

http://www.schundler.com/hort .htm

-- Jake (ringelman5@yahoo.com), March 21, 2002.


I dinked around with it several years ago, but with little success. I suspect that had to do with too little light.

But since we're talking hydroponics has anyone tried organic hydroponics? Thats using compost teas to feed the plants.

-- john (natlivent@pcpros.net), March 21, 2002.


No but I'd be interested in hearing more about it. How do you supply the salts and minerals needed (which are normally obtained from the soil)?

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), March 21, 2002.

Colleen, sorry I haven't got back to you sooner. I still haven't found the address that I said I was going to send you. I still haven't found my set of directions. I guess they must be buried deep in storage, but I will keep looking when I get a chance.

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), April 02, 2002.


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