We returned from spring break to find our plants growing tall!
We were eager to check our pH and make the necessary adjustments. Our pH was very low at first, quite acidic. Because of this, we added a basic substance to bring our pH back up to a neutral 6/7.
As mentioned, we germinated three different sets of seed to insure we planted the first to germinate. Two of our options were peppers, bell or wax. The third seeds were cucumbers. Though the cucumbers were the fastest to germinate, we weren’t sure how our system would support their weight. As cucumbers grow, they sprawl horizontally. When compared to the horizontal height gained by a pepper plant, our system could not support a cucumber plant. Not to mention, the weight of a cucumber vs. the weight of a pepper.
Be as it may, whether the seeds planted are wax or bell peppers, we will have to wait until harvest for their variety to be known. It will be a fun surprise.
Our recycled laundry detergent caps will hold the rockwool holding our plants. Rockwool is a medium we will be using to support the root system of our plants. In doing so, soil becomes obsolete. With our delicate seeds germinated, we wanted to be sure we didn’t interupt their growth by carelessly adding them to our system. With the use of a pencil, we dug shallowly into the rockwool, making a safe “place holder” for our small plants. By doing so, we created an environment where the seed will not be carried away by the flow of water.
Before leaving for Spring Break, we decided to leave our system on campus to insure no damage would be caused by a change in environment. Because our system holds a substantial amount of water, we thought it would be fine to leave behind. We checked and balanced our pH, wished our plants well and called it a day.
Our system is just about ready for planting. Should everything go as planned, we will be planted before spring break.
We placed our system under a metal halide lamp. This type of light provides the following benefits to our system: they are energy efficient, and provide long-lasting natural light.
We turned on our system and loaded it up with water, and approximately 3 gallons can be maintained. After mixing up our nutrient solution of ____, we poured it into our system to allow it to begin circulating through the tubing and the water pump. This mixture of nutrients provides many benefits to our drip system, such as: ______.
Through the selection of three different types of seeds, we have begun our germinating process. We decided on growing wax peppers, however are germinating wax peppers, bell peppers, and cucumbers. The variation allows us to take advantage and plant the fastest to germinate seed. Germination will take place enclosed in a plastic bag with a moist paper towel and placed in the sun.
The building process of our system has continued to move on steadily. We have all of our pieces in tact and have since done trial runs for leaks.
After repairing any leaks, we loaded up the system with water to test the rate at which water will flow through the tubing to the plants. The tubing is equipped with an adjustable rate of water flow valve.
We have modified our design to include a water pump, for a hydroponic “drip” system. After conducting some research we discovered that the vegetables we intend to grow, peppers, will not fair the best in a deep water hydroponic system. Therefore, we’ve upgraded our system with both a water and an air pump. Because our design is quite simple and versatile, little will be done to alter it during the construction process. With the addition of a fifth smaller hole in the center of the piece responsible for holding the plants in place, we are able to run both the tubing and the electric cord up and out through the center.
Because we have changed the design from a deep water system to a drip system, some other small changes have occured. Instead of having a ‘float’ (a piece of buoyant material) to rise and fall with the change in water depth, we now have a stationary piece of acyrilic that sits an inch below the top edge. In doing so, any overflow of water will then return to the reservoir.