Look at the roots go!

The hydroponic “cozy” covers the reservoir, and retards algae growth.

Day 01 Day 08 The roots have grown down to the nutrient solution, and all is going well.Plants have needs, but as long as those needs are being met, they are astoundingly flexible on exactly how those needs are met.

In this example, the plant is supplied with crocheted netting for the rooting media and support, and with air from the exposed roots and the aerated nutrient solution. The plant receives water and nutrition from the solution, and normal lighting from above. The exact same requirements a soil plant needs: those needs just get met in different ways depending on how you choose to garden. Day 09
Day 11
Peace, love, and puka shells,

Grubbycup ]]> http://urbangardenmagazine.com/2010/02/crochet-hydroponics-part-3/feed/ 0 http://urbangardenmagazine.com/2010/02/crochet-hydroponics-part-2/ http://urbangardenmagazine.com/2010/02/crochet-hydroponics-part-2/#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:24:59 +0000 Grubbycup http://urbangardenmagazine.com/?p=2683 The crocheted net is working well. Day 03 Day 06 So far, the radish Mrs. Grubbycup named “Ray” seems to be completely ignoring the teasing I’ve been getting from friends for coming up with such a silly idea. Apparently he doesn’t know any better, so he’s doing just fine.

There is a mild discoloration on the top of the perlite, the green is algae, and the orange is dye leeched from the yarn. Neither of which seems to be doing any harm, but isn’t very attractive.

I have been replacing the fluid once a week.

The nutrient solution has a light fertilizer, and is dosed with a mycorrhizal cocktail every second fluid change. Day 10 As the roots extended to the nutrient solution, I lowered the solution level to reduce the saturation of the netting.The netting seems to be holding together well, but this is the same yarn that proved to be the weak link in the Mini DWC, so I don’t want too much of the yarn submerged in the liquid for too long.

Radishes harvested for eating are collected prior to flowering, but I will likely be letting these go to seed assuming I can keep them healthy.

Day 18 Day 26 Day 32 Above is just before a nutrient change, and above right is after.

The roots are white, firm, healthy, and prolific. There isn’t any magic to it, and the more you learn about hydroponics, the easier it is.

“Kevin” is currently residing in the second version of the crocheted net.

More about that in Crocheted Hydroponics: Part 3, but here’s a sneak peek.

Peace, love, and puka shells,

Grubbycup

Mrs. Grubbycup wanted to do something to show support for you, my gentle readers. So here, kits and cats, is a glimpse of our garden: g

Not only can it come in handy as a probe for things too small for your fingers to handle well, it can be used to seat sprouts into cubes.

Here we have a poor homeless sprout, with nowhere to go, and a sproutless rockwool home. Insert the hook into the bottom of the cube, and out through the top. Very carefully catch the end of the root with the hook. And carefully pull through.

While simple in theory, you may want to practice with a bit of string or yarn a couple of times before risking sprouts.

It takes a soft hand, but it is a knack worth having. Gentle reader, you may be saying to yourself:” What is so half-cooked about that? That is just a helpful tip.

Fear not, for as I have been known to say: “The only way to make 100% sure you’ve gone far enough, is to go too far.”

I found myself with a sprout in a cube, and no pot to put it in, but I was holding a crochet hook…

Introducing the crochetted hydroponic system: Although hydroponic systems can be massive in terms of size and cost, they don’t have to be.

This is a simple passive hydroponic system. The bottom of the netted cup is kept in contact with the perlite to wick the nutrients to the roots.

Just to hedge my bets, I’ll stick a nearby air-line into the nutrient solution on a daily basis. That will technically make it an active system, but that’s fine with me. If I had a spare air pump, I’d just use that.

Once the roots start reaching into the solution, I’ll lower the solution level, which will make it a deep water culture. Well, assuming it lives that long.

I’ll let you know how it turns out.

Peace, love, and puka shells,
Grubbycup ]]> http://urbangardenmagazine.com/2010/01/half-cooked-thoughts-crochetted-hydroponics/feed/ 2