I have a more-or-less heated sun-porch and space under the windows. I’d like to grow something pleasant I might like to eat… two to three months from now. I was thinking cabbage, lettuce, and watercress. However, rather than go with dirt in a pot (as I have with the orange tree), I’d like to try something more novel. I want to grow them hydroponically. Having never done this before, I don’t know quite where to begin.
I’ve read that there are two main types of hydroponics: media-based and non-media-based. I’d prefer the latter; I want to be able to see the roots. I’ve also read many references to a somewhat mystical substance called simply “nutrient”. I gather it to be fertilizer, but I’m uncertain how to properly fertilize water. I’ll need more information than the word “nutrient”.
I can grow it from seed, I’ve learned, but until the plant has structure enough to be supported, I don’t know how to prevent a seed from simply sinking into the water never to be seen again. Can I grow from an already started plant? What about the dirt, do I just shake it off? They sell cabbage seeds at Wal-Mart, but the attendant was less than helpful when questioned about growing them out of the ground.
Some say the water will need aeration and recommend a small aquarium filter, others say that, for a tiny window-box setup, this is nonsense and it will do fine without aeration. Well, which is it? And this “nutrient”–is it always in the water, or do I feed the vegetables periodically as though they were goldfish? Am I to change the water at any point?
Any advise, or tips, or, I don’t know, a complete and total walkthrough on hydroponics?
From what I understand, every type of plant needs a different mix of things to “eat”. Nitrogen is the only one I can remember, but a quick Google search should give you plenty of information on what each plant needs. But yes, it’s basically just water and fertilizer. Also make sure to check the PH level of the mix.
The best method I found, and probably the simplest as far as automation goes, is running a pump with a sprayer nozzle under the roots of the plant. hook the pump to a 24 hour timer, and feed the pump from a bucket of water and “nutrients” (sorry, I had too). Let the run-off from the nozzle re-collect in the bucket. Planters can be made from PVC pipe with holes drilled for the plants and nozzles, or you can grow the plants in that green stuff they use for artificial flowers. I never built one of these, but on paper it looks easy enough, and pretty cheap.
I also understand that hydroponics is only really useful for automation or when you want to re-claim as much water as possible.
Do some google searches on home hydroponics kits, here’s a couple I found under “hydroponics kits home”
I too am interested in the possibility of raising veggies hydroponically.I’ve done some research which generally did not contain enough information to grow anything without making a large,veggies don’t cost much,investment.
There are several places that sell the nutrient and you’ll soon be running across them in your searches.
I read somewhere of a guy feeding his hydroponic plants with the same water he raised his tilapia(sp). Tilapia are a tropical fish raised in tanks and are supposed to be good to eat.
I was hopeing for an analysis of fish feces so I could maybe substitute cattle manure.
This is an interesting topic. I hope you have lots of input from the scientific types here.
Using fish water for the nutrient mix is on a large scale is called aquaponics. There has been about 20 years of research done on this in the Virgin Islands… so their weather will almost certainly be different from yours. I just googled this page, many more can be found. I am working with the researchers in Lethbridge on this project; unfortunately the site is waaaay out of date; the greenhouse looks totally different now than in this picture.
Both the projects discussed in those pages use big systems (relative to your window box); we’re talking thousands of fish and several kilograms of fish food per day here. In my own little greenhouse (<300 sq ft) I have a home made mini system. It holds about 900L of water (<250 gal) with 150 goldfish. I am growing 7 tomato plants in that system, although I really should only have 3-4 plants.
From seed planting about 4-5 months ago my plants are about 8-12 feet tall (I prune them into vines), and just now starting to produce fruit. I started the seeds in and transplanted them into more rockwool. Taking plants started in soil isn’t recommended. I don’t know the exact details, but they just don’t work well at all. And unfortunately you don’t make any money on small or even medium-sized systems. You’d need a BIG (read: sell your house to raise the money, quit your day job and recruit the wife & kids to run the thing) fish/vegetable system just to break even - it’s purely a hobby on any kind of home-made backyard scale.
At any rate if you want to use fish water you’d need quite a bit to get any worthwhile amount of plant production… like I said it’s usually either in the kg’s of weight for bigger fish or in the hundreds for numbers of small fish. I’d definately go with straight hydroponics for such a small space. There is lots of info on the web for this, and plenty of hydroponics stores out there. You’d think judging by the numbers of stores and the value of regular old of lettuce/cucmbers that they have a lot of clients out there growing “special plants” … but they do know how to grow plants and will be able to help out.
I don’t know if you’d have enough time left this summer to get anything going; especially if it’s outside… might be a better spring project to start.
Dusty, did you end up trying to grow some veggies hydroponically? I’ve been thinking I’d like to try something small indoors in a window and I’m wondering you (or anyone else) has any advice for getting started. Was there anything you tried that worked well or didn’t work at all? Any hints or tips? Thanks!
… but they do know how to grow plants and will be able to help out.