Today we took a look at our system and it has been making great progress in it’s growth. We do not like the color that it is it seems to be a little too yellowish, and it also seems to wilt a bit. We have been keeping a close eye on the pH level, we think that the pH might be the factor of its color and growth. We added some additional Nutrient solution as the level seemed to drop a bit, we also added a bit pH down with the addition of the new nutrient solution it needed to be brought down.
As said earlier. Don’t worry too much about the color changing a bit yellow. Mesclin lettuce does that naturally at that stage in growth. Your plants do look pretty compact. It may be worth removing some of unheathy lettuce in order to give the healthy mesclun more room for the roots to spread out.
This comment does not relate to today’s update, but since this is the only update that I can comment on, I am posting this here. I like the system that you have designed. It’s small, compact, and simple. However, I noticed you have 4 plants in this system. What types of changes are you going to make to this system as the plants get larger? As each plant needs more room, what will you do to provide that room within the current container?
Good point made by Dickson. Also, I wouldn’t be too worried about the color, as long as it is not brown. I’m assuming you are growing radishes, which should be a purple-ish color, but the lighting can also have an affect on the color of the leaves. Keep a close eye on it, but don’t be paniced if the leaves aren’t the correct color right away. Also, make sure when you’re testing the pH levels that you are only using one method (either the paper or the droplets) because both have different colors of the levels of pH.
You may want to check that your air pump is working correctly since you are seeing such a dramatic change in your PH levels all the time. I don’t know if you have an air stone or not on the end of the air pump. If not put one on it because it will not clog and will create good oxygen bubbles for your plants and may also help neutralize your PH levels. -Dickson Borger