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Question and Answer Page 28

Subjects

watering 6 times a day to much? how often change the nutrient solution build the 11 plant garden
hard, hard water problem with root rot. I have a problem with water height
what is hydroponics? botanical insecticide / pesticide against aphids ? value of a halogen light
seedlings in those "peat pellets" started my flowering cycle. Can a modest living be made with hydropnic farming?
mid day wilt on your lettuce ? increased to 1400 ppm strength solution ? be all right to use miracle grow
Date:
03 Feb 2000
Time:
16:16:37

Comments

Hi Ron, When you build a stand for your system, do you use thin wall PVC or standard PVC?

I use the standard size for added strength.

In the future it is possible that the soil of the Earth will not be able to support plant life. Hydroponics is the way of the future for food production. I thank you Ron for giving this information, it may just save our lives some day.

Date:
03 Feb 2000
Time:
19:02:10

Comments

hi i'm a student doing a science project on hydroponics can anyone give me some tips about growing the stuff?

Date:
04 Feb 2000
Time:
00:12:15

Comments

HOW TO INSTALL A NON-DETECTABLE SYSTEM (BEDROOM SIZE) ?? HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST TO BUILD A BEDROOM SIZE SYSTEM? BEST BOOKS TO ORDER EXPLAINING IN DETAIL MY QUESTIONS FROM ABOVE. HOW MUCH IS A MAGIC GROWING KIT (COMPLETE) AND ALSO INFORMATION DEGREE OF DIFFICAULTY IN SUCEEDING WITH SPORES GROWTH?

Got to go. my head hurts.

Date:
04 Feb 2000
Time:
11:43:29

Comments

im growing in rockwool in the 11 plant garden, and watering 6 times a day. every 4 hours. is that to much? or not enough? i know your growrocks, you use need more than that what'cha think? ron...you rock!!

The best way to tell if you need to shorten the time between waterings is watch your plants and if they show any signs of wilting at the very top of your plants then that is a clue that they have run out of water in the rockwool. You should water them before they get to that point. 
To see how long your medium holds water just water your plants and then turn your pump off and see how long it takes for your plants to start to wilt. Lets say they didn't show any signs of wilting for one hour after their last watering. Then that would tell you they should be watered every 45 minutes. That way they would get plenty of water and still have a semidry period that a lot of plants need for healthy growth.

and also, does rockwool change your pH level?

Yes it has a tendency to be on the high side

Date:
05 Feb 2000
Time:
18:21:00

Comments

have hard, hard water here in Montana, 7.8 8.2 ph what can i do to get down to 6.0 6.2>?????? Richard

Maybe a water softener, bottled water, or a real good filter to remove lime.

Date:
06 Feb 2000
Time:
09:35:17

Comments

I'm doing a project for school. 2 questions - what is hydroponics? Also, what are the benefits of hydroponics?


Hydroponics, from the Greek words (water-working).   Hydroponics is a system of gardening without soil. 
In hydroponics, you provide all the nutrients to your plants through a water/nutrient solution.
There are lots of ways to apply hydroponics but, basically, all of them supply nutrient solution directly to the plant's root system. In most cases you mix nutrients into water and feed this solution directly to your plants.
Soil doesn't make plants grow. It's just something for the plants to hold on to while they search with their roots for
the food and water that's mixed into the soil. 
Since the food and water are randomly scattered about, plants have to use up energy growing ever-larger root systems to reach out in a constant search for these elements. 
In a hydroponic garden, a soil-less, inert growing medium is used and food and water are delivered directly to your
plant's roots. 
Your plants grow quicker and harvest sooner because they can direct all their energy into the vegetation growing above the surface instead of the root system below it
.
Ron

Date:
06 Feb 2000
Time:
10:30:25

Comments

ron you have the coolest site for learning. recently built the 11 plant garden and would like to grow poppies. currently, they are seedlings in those "peat pellets" that expand in water. would like to know what would be the best way to proceed- should i transplant in the manner described on your site, or are there any special considerations for this type of plant that doesn't like to be transplanted. thanks in advance for your help- op

I would still remove as much or the peat pellet as you can without hurting the roots before putting it in your system. Letting them soak in water helps soften them up. You want to try and keep out as much foreign matter in your tank as possible.  

Date:
07 Feb 2000
Time:
06:33:54

Comments

ron,

need your help on this one ... do you experience mid day wilt on your lettuce ? mine wilt at around mid-day and spring back to life by late afternoon til mid morning.

aside from using shade cloth, any remedy for this ?

sixto ututin indonesia

Seems like a heat problem, common with lettuce when it gets to hot. You could try watering continuously during the hottest part of the day.

Date:
07 Feb 2000
Time:
13:24:20

Comments

how often do you change the nutrient solution, in your 11 plant garden? every week, every 2 weeks, once a month? probably as soon as the nutrients start getting low? then you need a tds meter huh?

When the water level gets so low the pump starts to suck air unless my plants show signs of a problem then I change it immediately.  

Date:
07 Feb 2000
Time:
17:30:07

Comments

Ron

I have a problem with root rot. I have tried using ridomyl but plants are dropping off one a day!!!I am using the table drip system and do run it 24 hours. Never had a problem before.. Please help Thanks D

Cut back on the 24 hour watering. Especially at night.

Date:
08 Feb 2000
Time:
07:07:51

Comments

ron,

what kind of botanical insecticide / pesticide will be the best against aphids ?

taulava leyte, phil.

Safer's Soap sprays are the most well know but you can make your own and apply two or three times at intervals of five to 10 days. Pyrethrum sprays or aerosol applied two to three times at intervals of two to ten days will go a long way in controlling them.

Date:
08 Feb 2000
Time:
11:04:43

Comments

Hi Ron, Is it necessary to sterilize the system and medium with 10% bleach sollution before you use it the first time? Thanks Ron

No but sometimes it is a good idea to rinse new grow rocks to remove dust residue. 

Date:
08 Feb 2000
Time:
17:22:31

Comments

ron,

hi there. i have used your advice several times for my first hydro system, and have a few questions now that ive started my flowering cycle. i have a continues flow pvc pipe system. the plants have grown up to this point with continuous light 24 hrs a day. i have switched to 12on/12off. is this ok for flowering?

It's not only ok but the only way to trigger flowering.  

 ive changed to a high phosphors. nutrient solution. im keeping the same lights basic no frills but have worked so far). what's the easiest way to tell which plants are male/female these first couple of weeks.

You watch for one or two white hairs to spout from a club shaped sprout behind each branch for females but if they start to droop like your balls with no white hairs then you know you got a male.

 can i keep my continuous water flow i have plenty of o2. what's the time frame from flowering to picking the buds?

Depends on the strain but the average is from 6 to 12 weeks.

 any other tips on this stage would be great. like i said this is my first time, its more of a little science project than anything. ive only used miracle grow, miracle grow bloomers, and some cheap but effective lighting. so far its gone pretty well considering what ive used. i'd be happy just to see a few buds grow. the plants are about 3 to 3 1/2 feet tall, well ventilated, and surrounded by foil. didn't mean to leave a book. as always YOU THE MAN. TOMMY TWO TOKE

Date:
09 Feb 2000
Time:
07:30:11

Comments

dear ron,

i have a question which has been in my find for some time now. you see, i received a recommended micro nutrient and macro nutrient combination which if you add them individually is at 700 ppm.

now, how can a formula with 700ppm to increased to 1400 ppm strength solution ?

does it mean i have to increase N by one fold and the rest of the macro and micro nutrient elements by same margin ?

asi taulava, leyte

You add each one the same amount in percentages to increase ppm. 
If your mix calls for 1 teaspoon of macro and 1/2 teaspoon micro and you need to double your ppm then you would add 2 teaspoons of micro and 1 teaspoon of micro.  

Date:
09 Feb 2000
Time:
09:50:34

Comments

I'm trying to build the 11 plant garden for students at a high school. Can you give me any more instruction on how to?

Click here.

 How is the piping attached to the bin,

It just sits on top.

 what kind of pump is in it,

60 to 120 GPH submersible pump can be used.

 and how do you attach the pump?

With a 1/2 inch rubber hose that connects to a 1" PVC tee with a 1/2" connector on the garden.

Another question: what is a very simple nutrient solution we can use for our first system at a high school.

No such thing as a simple hydroponic nutrient mix but check here for members ideas.

 This is all new for me and the students. Please help us.

Date:
09 Feb 2000
Time:
12:38:49

Comments

I have built your 11 plant system, expanding it to 16 plant holders as per your instructions. Although we did have some initial leaks, these were repaired and the system has been running several months now with mixed results that probably have more to do with me than the system itself. The plants have really taken off but were slow to start. My problem is this. One of the plastic soda containers overflows. The overflow to the holding tank works. None of the other holders are overflowing. The overflow goes over the end of the bottle. Water seems to get into the bottle from the holding tank ok it just doesn't \ stop at the overflow level like all the others. I have to catch the water in a container and put it back into the holding tank when the pump shuts down. The water drains out of the bottle when the pump shuts down. Is the drain plugged up with something? It drains but real slow? I have made sure the plastic pipes are supported. The plant holders on either side on the same line do\ not spill over. We have thought of expanding the height of the plastic container to see if that might stop the overflow. Any ideas on why this container is overflowing? My e-mail is pstrawser@netscape.net. I love this system. Paul strawser.

Is the intake from your pump right next to that bottle. Sometimes the pump is so strong that it makes the bottle close to the intake rise higher because of the water pressure. Slowing the flow will solve that. It will just take longer to fill your garden.
I also have to ask you. You did remember to drill a hole at the top of the over flow pipe. If you don't the water level will do weird things.

Date:
09 Feb 2000
Time:
20:44:21

Comments

Hey HydroRon You have a killer site. I am new to hydrogardening, and I have not seen anyone ask about the value of a halogen light for a single "other" plant. Will a Halogen bulb provide enough light to grow a one or two plants?

Not a good value at all. They are very expensive to operate. Their lumen-per-watt output is very low as with incandescents. Their color spectrum is in the far red end. Only 10 to 15 percent is in the visible spectrum.

Date:
10 Feb 2000
Time:
12:56:53

Comments

Can a modest living be made with hydropnic farming? Doesn't seem to be many farms around. Is it impractical? Tired of the rat race. My pipe dream would be a small home with greenhouses in my back yard, room for a horse and a dog and be able to make a living with hydroponics. What do you think?

If your can lean to grow good hydroponic vegetables, you will have people lined up to buy them at any price if the quality is there.   

Date:
11 Feb 2000
Time:
07:05:30

Comments

hi,Ron Great site !! My question: Is important for seedlin the lunar phase ?

Stefano (Italy)

no

Date:
11 Feb 2000
Time:
07:23:49

Comments

Hi ron, My name is Curt and i am doing a project for my science class. It is hydroponics. And i was wondering if it would be all right to use miracle grow as the hydroponic solution and if it is how much should i use?

Miracle Gro is ok for a short period of time before you have problems. Use at a low mix like 1/4 teaspoon per gallon of water and throw in a dash of Epson salt if you have it.

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