If you are thinking about using a new hydroponic style, you might want to think small.

After reading an article by Keith Roberto on lettuce rafts I thought I’d give the concept a try.

Alas, the poor piggy bank for such things is still malnourished, so it’s to be a “stuff from around the house” project.

On the up side, if I decide I don’t like it, the education will be cheap.

One of the core components is the raft itself, which is usually made from thick foam. I thought I had some. I was wrong.

Undeterred from such trivialities as not having materials, I took some thin foam that I did find, tied them to rockwool cubes (think life preservers), and lashed the group together to form a “raft.”

As I wanted to observe the roots, I used a clear container, which may give me an algae headache later.

Add an airline and some water, and it’s started. I would have used a bubble stone, but apparently it’s with the thick foam, at a location undisclosed to me.

As the water level drops or rises, the raft will also drop or rise. The airline will keep the nutrient solution oxygenated.

It isn’t fancy, and it won’t grow much, but it will demonstrate the concept well enough to give you some idea of what to expect from a larger system.

Peace, love and puka shells,

Grubbycup