DAY 12
Monday, December 7, 2009
Growth progress photographed today (day 12) As you can see plants are thriving with the Nutrient mix. I am getting quite a buzz with the progress! Whilst I know hydroponics is not new, it is new to me, I am finding it quite fun as the plants develop. The whole family is excited and has shown a much higher level of interest that I would have predicted. The kids really get a kick out of the growth of the roots as the root system of the plants peek out from the small little pots. I am finding the system is a great way to show my kids how an alternative technology works in a real world application. ‘There’s more than one way to do anything…’ I say (now that I am an family expert!)
On Day 10 – I found the Hydro-engine was reading HIGH for around 2 hours. I was assured this was not a cause for concern. Basically it can mean the EC levels could be up to 0.3 away from the desired 1.8 EC setting (so quite minor in real dosing terms). The other possible issue could be the water level. This was found to be the cause. As the plants used the fertiliser and liquid solution, they use the water and transpire, causing the water levels in the reservoir to drop. This effectively makes the fertiliser solution in the reservoir stronger than the desired target (set by the fine adjustment EC controller). The plants were also using more water than at any time prior to this. I was told this was due to the development of the plant’s root system. As they grow into the pipes they will ultimately take over the pipe, helping to anchor them, providing support for the plant.
When we harvest some produce which should be in a few days, I am aiming to give as much detail as possible in terms of exactly how much produce/food we get from the system (in weight).
