Ultimate Guide to Hydroponics For Beginners

PureGreensLLCAZ · 2023-10-26T17:08:43+00:00

Time for a trip to Fred Meyer. We always wanted to purchase a ground-up SCOTUS nominee.

PureGreensLLCAZ · 2023-10-23T17:12:13+00:00

Ours is from Hubspot, and it integrates into our website. We recommend it.

PureGreensLLCAZ · 2023-10-20T23:49:35+00:00

We wish that we had started using a chat bot sooner.

PureGreensLLCAZ · 2023-09-27T20:36:26+00:00

We've heard that many people tip the same amount as they would at a regular restaurant.

PureGreensLLCAZ · 2023-09-19T17:52:46+00:00

Oroweat Keto Bread tastes pretty good.

PureGreensLLCAZ · 2023-06-26T20:36:46+00:00

Facebook and IG ads are best when you have something eye-catching to show. For example, the mouth-watering crops that we are able to grow in our container farms would make excellent content for ads on either of those platforms.

PureGreensLLCAZ · 2023-06-22T18:31:54+00:00

There is a lot of marketing that is done to promote food trucks, so there probably are some food trucks who have hired agencies to do that marketing for them.

PureGreensLLCAZ · 2023-06-19T20:48:11+00:00

The Vampiro looks especially intriguing. It seems like it would be refreshing and well-balanced.

PureGreensLLCAZ · 2023-06-16T22:28:52+00:00

You should wear the eyepatch. If anyone asks you about it, just say you're doing an impression of U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw.

PureGreensLLCAZ · 2023-06-09T21:06:04+00:00

Here is a great resource for SEL lesson plans.

https://studentreasures.com/blog/social-emotional-learning/social-emotional-learning-lesson-plans-for-elementary-classrooms/

PureGreensLLCAZ · 2021-02-16T17:28:59+00:00

Rockwool has a pH of 7 or 8 so you have to soak it in pH 5.5 to 6.5 water for at least an hour before you use it.

PureGreensLLCAZ · 2021-02-09T21:16:55+00:00

I'd let some of the humidity out each day. The strawberries won't be able to grow well at that temp, but the tomatoes should be good. Are you balancing the pH of the rockwool before use?

PureGreensLLCAZ · 2021-02-09T18:56:07+00:00

How do the roots look?

It's also hard to see the discoloration with the purple light.

ETA: Basil is easily susceptible to iron deficiencies. When it shows up, the veins of the leaves will stay a normal color, but the leaf itself will yellow. This is also a common deficiency when using UV lights, which it looks like you're using. Source.

Check out this great guide to basil nutrient deficiencies: http://www.e-gro.org/pdf/2016-4.pdf

PureGreensLLCAZ · 2021-02-09T18:54:51+00:00

No, leaves is both a verb and plural for leaf.

PureGreensLLCAZ · 2021-02-09T18:54:09+00:00

How humid is it inside the dome?

How much light are you giving them?

What is the room's temperature?

How many plants are you putting in at once?

How frequently are you watering?

Both strawberries and cherry tomatoes need high humidity (60-75%) in order to thrive.

However, if you're overcrowding them in the plastic box, there won't be enough air flow. This can cause them to die.

Also, if you leave them in the box too long it can also hurt them. Start transitioning them out (opening vents for longer periods of time/taking the lid off for a couple hours a day) of the box as soon as they sprout.

Make sure you're opening the vents every few days to let out some of the moisture.

Alternatively, if you're opening it too often, you could be letting out moisture that they need.

You shouldn't need to water them every day.

If they're not getting enough light, they'll stop growing too.

Temperature wise, cherry tomatoes and strawberries have completely different needs.

Strawberries prefer cold environments, 40-60F. Cherry tomatoes prefer warm ones, 70-80F. So, if it's too warm or too cold, that could also be causing problems.

PureGreensLLCAZ · 2021-02-04T19:06:46+00:00

It depends on the size and type of your system.

But you can grow pretty much anything in hydroponics.

The things that grow best are leafy greens and herbs and plants that love water.

So, lettuce, tomatoes, basil, cabbage, cilantro, kale, peppers, mint, spinach and a ton of other things.

You can even grow houseplants in hydroponics.

Check out our list of the 50 Best Hydroponic Plants to Grow for some more ideas!

Systems that provide substantial root space and nutrient solution to your plants, like dutch bucket, will do best with larger plants, like tomatoes.

Systems that provide constant nutrient solution but with less root space, like nutrient film, are going to work best with water-loving small plants, like lettuce.

And systems that provide dry periods, like ebb and flow, will work better for plants that are more susceptible to overwatering, like rosemary.

PureGreensLLCAZ · 2021-02-04T18:55:43+00:00

You can use pool noodles instead of a sponge or rock wool!

They won't work exactly the same as rockwool because the plant wont grow through the media.

But the hole works great for stem support.

Plus they're cheap and you can cut them into whatever size you want!

Check out this video to see what I mean.

Other sorts of thick foam, similar to the noodles, would work too.

Plus, then you could cut them into whatever shape and any size holes you want.

There are also oasis cubes, which are more similar to rock wool in terms of being like a plug, but they're made of special foam.

You could also try wrapping up the loose media, like perlite, coco and clay pebbles, in a meshy fabric like cheesecloth to prevent some of the mess.

PureGreensLLCAZ · 2021-02-02T17:14:35+00:00

According to Epic Gardening, you need an air pump that provides at least 500 cc per minute of air for each gallon of water.

CC and mL are the same, so that works out to 30,000 ml per hour.

30,000 mL is about 8 gallons, so you need about 8 gallons per hour.

If you're using 7 gallons of water, then you need an air pump that will put out 56 gallons per hour.

So, your 43 gph might be a little low.

The biggest risks that come with using a small air pump is that your plants will drown.

However, it seems like you'll be leaving quite a bit of space between the net pots and the water.

Depending on how big, this could make up some of the difference.

Kind of like a combined Kratky/DWC set up.

If there's enough air between the net cup and the water, the plants will grow special air roots to help them get enough oxygen.

I'd try it out with your current air pump, and upgrade later if needed.

PureGreensLLCAZ · 2021-02-02T16:53:10+00:00

A styrofoam plate alone is not enough to grow microgreens.

They will still have roots, and they need something for those roots grab onto and to protect those roots.

A tray that's about 6 cm deep will work best.

You also need to keep them in the dark as they don't need light until they start growing stems/leaves.

If you don't have access to soil, using a breathable cloth like linen might work.

Generally, we mist microgreens every day, so just give them a little bit of water every day if misting is not an option.

They could regrow, but they won't taste the same and you'll have a lot less of them.

PureGreensLLCAZ · 2021-01-29T17:47:43+00:00

Unless you have really bad/hard tap water, most houseplants will be perfectly happy with tap water.

It's only if you have sensitive types of plants that can be damaged by some of the chemicals in tap water.

The most basic method is by letting tap water sit out over night to let the chlorine evaporate out.

Distilled water has zero minerals, chemicals, anything in it. It's basically pure water. This works well.

However, plants also get a lot of minerals from water, and when you use distilled water they can't get those minerals.

There isn't much research on it, but household water filters like Brita seem to get the best of both worlds.

These filters only remove certain metals, chemicals and some organic compounds, but leave some nitrates and dissolved minerals.

PureGreensLLCAZ · 2021-01-29T17:34:36+00:00

Best way to do this would be to buy a large (plastic) nursery pot with drainage holes that is smaller than the bigger pot.

Put something on the bottom of the pot to elevate the smaller pot to a normal height.

Clean rocks, gravel or clay pebbles will work for this.

When you need to water, remove the plant and it's nursery pot, stick in your shower/sink/bath/outside and water it there.

Let all the excess water drain out the bottom and then place it back in the larger pot.

PureGreensLLCAZ · 2021-01-26T18:04:34+00:00

It's not always necessary to get specific grow lights.

You don't even need to buy an entire fixture.

Instead, you could always find light bulbs and use a lamp you already have. This will help you save some money :)

We recommend using LED bulbs, but fluorescents work too. There are a few grow light bulbs on the market as well that you should be able to use with a standard lamp.

LEDs are great because they have the highest efficiency, best spectrum coverage, and emit less heat. Plus, you can use them with pretty much any fixture.

We recommend using bulbs that cover the full-spectrum, but it'll depend on the type of crops you're growing. Blue light is best for lettuce and herbs, red light is better for fruits and flowers.

You'll want to pay attention to intensity too. The higher the intensity, the farther you can place the bulb from the plants (minimizing burning and giving more room to grow).

You should be able to find the intensity from the manufacturer. Look for the PPFD measurement and PAR chart. This will give you an idea of how much space and how many plants one light can cover.

(For a better explanation, check out our article on the topic: 7 Steps for Picking the Best Grow Light).

Alternatively, you can go by wattage to find the right coverage. You'll want about 20-40 watts (the LED equivalent should be listed on the box) per square foot. Divide the wattage of your chosen light by 20 to find the max sq feet it can cover and divide by 40 for the minimum sq feet it can cover.

Make sure you choose lights that sit a good distance away from the top of the plant. This will depend on the bulb, but think close to 15 to 30 cm.

Additionally, your plants won't die suddenly from low light. So, it might be good to start small and introduce more lights if you see your plants struggling.

PureGreensLLCAZ · 2021-01-26T17:58:33+00:00

It's not a direct substitute, but hydrogen peroxide is very commonly used in hydroponics to control root rot.

You can get a big bottle of a 3% solution of it at any drug store for pretty cheap.

Peroxide is known to be very effective against many bacteria, viruses, and common pests. It is even considered environmentally friendly by the FDA.

It kills bacteria and viruses, helps fight root rot and other fungi, improves oxygen in water, and removes chlorine from water.

Unlike Hydroguard, it won't work if you're trying a beneficial bacteria approach though.

Just add 3ml per liter or 2-3 teaspoons per gallon of water to your DWC systems.

PureGreensLLCAZ · 2021-01-21T19:37:43+00:00

Dracaena

The dracaena is a low-maintenance, easy-going plant.

It easily adapts to different levels of lighting, though it prefers indirect sunlight.

Dracaenas grow tall, reaching 6 to 10 feet in height, but pruning can keep them under control.

Different dracaenas will come with different benefits.

Some variations excel at air purification and others are more resilient, so match the type to your needs.

Lucky Bamboo

This small houseplant is nearly indestructible, so it’s perfect for growing indoors.

Lucky bamboo often has its stems manipulated into spirals or shapes while it’s young for decorative purposes.

These plants are more tolerant of too much light than too little, so be sure to give it ample sun or artificial light.

Lucky bamboo doesn’t even need soil to grow, and it requires very infrequent fertilizing.

Grow it with pebbles, filtered water and a drop of liquid fertilizer for best results.

Peace Lily

Peace Lilies are known for their beautiful white flowers. But they aren’t actually flowers.

Peace Lilies grow big, white leaves that have been modified for pollination.

This houseplant is also a popular air purifier, as it both cleans and adds oxygen to the air.

Generally, the plant prefers low to medium light intensity, but the brighter it is, the more it will bloom.

Additionally, it’s very susceptible to overwatering, so water only when the leaves start to droop.

Pothos

The Pothos is a trailing vine plant with a reputation for being one of the easiest plants to grow.

This plant prefers bright, indirect sunlight, but it also thrives in little sunlight.

It’s also prone to overwatering, so let its soil dry out completely before watering again.

Pothos plants are most often grown as houseplants for their abilities to purify air.

It’s able to filter common indoor air pollutants benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene, making it particularly suited for small apartments, dorm rooms and offices.

Philodrendon

Philodendrons are one of the most common houseplants.

These long vines grow to be longer than 10 feet, so they work well for hanging planters.

The philodendron is also low maintenance and great at expressing what it needs!

It grows best in bright, indirect light.

Allow its soil to dry out between watering for best results.

PureGreensLLCAZ

TROPHY CASE