Learning Journal: February 19th 2019 - Hydroponics Continues
I don't remember exactly when this started. I have 2 plants, I think both of which are green peppers, which survived my novice transplant skills. They still have chances to die under my care :) their roots aren't even touching the nutrient solution yet. So, they require daily watering.
These two have 2 things in common compared to the dead ones. Well three things if you include the fact that I think both are peppers. The seeds were transplanted low into the cups and there was tons of clay pebbles in those cups. Of course, my sample set is also quite small. So, those factors could have nothing to do with it.
I'm struggling a bit with this. I really WANT to grow my own plants. But, I don't want to spend money on a more expensive system unless/until I've proven I can stick with it. But, at the same time I'm proving that I'm not exactly a pro at sustaining this budget system. All of a sudden, a pre-fab system is starting to sound pretty great.
Part of the nuisance though is that some of this could be solved by revisiting my original solution. I ruined the plastic lid which came with the container. The container is clear (not the end of the world). I decided on clay pebbles as a medium. And I chose to germinate in a plastic bag.
If I spent the time to source a better container, or a better cover for it. Invested in properly cutting out the holes for the baskets, learned how to transplant into the clay pebbles better and maybe splurged on one of those little seed germinating greenhouse thingies my success level should, in theory go up. But, then again, maybe it wouldn't. And it would cost me a bit more.
Honestly though, I think the problems I'm seeing are all addressable. I can simply germinate in rock wool cubes or some or similar inexpensive medium which the plant can also grow in. That will cost only a few dollars. I may need to adjust the level of the solution in my container. Right now none of the plants can reach it weeks in and they should be in it by now I'm thinking. I may also need to come up with some better containers. My current container is using a cardboard lid with holes in it, and it is not holding up well over time.
OK! I think I have some answers. Or at least some first steps. These won't cost tons. I'll transplant my current successes to small cups at least until they grow a bit bigger. This will allow me to more carefully control the water level and see if getting those roots into the solution speeds up the growth at all. In the meantime I can scope out new longer term containers. I think a 3 stage system is where it is at. Germination, early growth and long term.
These two have 2 things in common compared to the dead ones. Well three things if you include the fact that I think both are peppers. The seeds were transplanted low into the cups and there was tons of clay pebbles in those cups. Of course, my sample set is also quite small. So, those factors could have nothing to do with it.
I'm struggling a bit with this. I really WANT to grow my own plants. But, I don't want to spend money on a more expensive system unless/until I've proven I can stick with it. But, at the same time I'm proving that I'm not exactly a pro at sustaining this budget system. All of a sudden, a pre-fab system is starting to sound pretty great.
Part of the nuisance though is that some of this could be solved by revisiting my original solution. I ruined the plastic lid which came with the container. The container is clear (not the end of the world). I decided on clay pebbles as a medium. And I chose to germinate in a plastic bag.
If I spent the time to source a better container, or a better cover for it. Invested in properly cutting out the holes for the baskets, learned how to transplant into the clay pebbles better and maybe splurged on one of those little seed germinating greenhouse thingies my success level should, in theory go up. But, then again, maybe it wouldn't. And it would cost me a bit more.
Honestly though, I think the problems I'm seeing are all addressable. I can simply germinate in rock wool cubes or some or similar inexpensive medium which the plant can also grow in. That will cost only a few dollars. I may need to adjust the level of the solution in my container. Right now none of the plants can reach it weeks in and they should be in it by now I'm thinking. I may also need to come up with some better containers. My current container is using a cardboard lid with holes in it, and it is not holding up well over time.
OK! I think I have some answers. Or at least some first steps. These won't cost tons. I'll transplant my current successes to small cups at least until they grow a bit bigger. This will allow me to more carefully control the water level and see if getting those roots into the solution speeds up the growth at all. In the meantime I can scope out new longer term containers. I think a 3 stage system is where it is at. Germination, early growth and long term.
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