Alternative Nutrient Solution for Tower Garden
happy_fl_gardener; 9a, near DeLand
10 years ago
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10 years agolast modified: 9 years agohappy_fl_gardener; 9a, near DeLand
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
Excessive Rain & Container Nutrients
Comments (30)In container media, pH increase results from neutralization of H+ in solution by the supply of usually either HCO3- or OH-, depending on the source of liming material (In the case of most container gardeners this will be fertilizer, though some that make their own soils are now using dolomite or other sources). Changes in pH subsequently affect a soil's cation exchange capacity (CEC). Changes in CEC affect a substrateÂs capacity for binding nutrient cations, with an increase in CEC allowing more cations to adsorb to the substrate particles (not a good thing). As a result, an increase in pH associated with lime additions often results in decreased macro-nutrient and micro-nutrient availability in both bark and peat-based media. A study by Haynes and Swift (1985), and by Peterson (1982) listed pH 4.0 to 5.2 as the optimal pH range for nutrient availability in soilless substrates. A recent reading of a paper on pH's effect on container grown nursery and ornamental material submitted for a master's degree in horticulture supports the finding that container-grown plants gain most biomass when grown in media with a pH like that listed above - much lower than you might think. From this, it's pretty simple to extrapolate the conclusion that rain water in the pH range of 4.0 or even a little lower is not likely to present much (or any) difficulty to plants unless they are lime-loving plants. If a hobby grower tells you he manages the pH of his container media, you can be very suspect of his veracity. Container substrate pH fluctuates wildly and is affected by a number of variables, so even checking daily with a reliable pH meter will leave the uninitiated scratching their heads over what is causing so wide a variance. How can we possibly make corrections when readings are so likely to be "all over the place"? As an illustration, my "management strategy" consists of using an acid forming fertilizer for those plants that appreciate a low pH, and a base forming fertilizer for the very few plants I own that prefer a high pH. I own neither a pH meter nor a moisture measuring tool. Figtree - If you're still hanging here: Yes, nutrients will be washed from containers at varying rates, and substrate pH does have an effect on which will be lost first because nutrients become most soluble at (in) a particular pH (range). A review of the chart I provide in the link will give an idea of what nutrients are most soluble at different pH levels. Al Here is a link that might be useful: Let's go see the chart...See MoreBest commercial Organic Nutrient for Gardening
Comments (24)Thanks for the suggestions, hooked. And thanks for sticking up for me hydroponica. Oh, and thanks to the people who said they got a laugh out of my post. I try. Let me extend my deepest and most ground-scrapingly prostrate apologies to the Dieties of Organic Gardening for not having been born with the knowledge of their peculiar rules of what is and is not organic. Silly me, I thought that "Organic" was defined by what it excluded. That would be things that don't have an organic origin, right? FFS, why can't people just be happy someone isn't spraying fossil fuel products on their lawn rather than whipping out the "oh you're not organic ENOUGH to play in my sandbox" yardstick. Geez, what a nice welcome. I'm trying to keep the backyard garden simple, okay? I don't want to get all mad scientist out there with soil testing and crazy mixtures of god knows what. Plants grow just fine in the soil already. I'm just looking for something to make sure they're as happy as I can make them without going to a lot of effort, okay? Does it really make me so evil if I just want to use an organic shotgun style fertilizer on my garden? You make it sound like I'm killing puppies or something because I'm not treating my soil like it's my kids or something....See MoreDIY alternative to AeroGarden..?
Comments (20)Aother alernative: Non-circulating hydroponic system. Dr. Bernard A. Kratky University of Hawaii (461W. Lanikaula, Hilo, HI 96720, USA): passive/non-circulating hydroponic systems under specific conditions for specifc crops, modified for each species e.g. one metho or potato, another for cucumber, third for lettuce, for watercress, for tomato, etc., each differening in container shape, size, liquid volume, placement strategy according to the requirement of the plant in question... but all depending on the basic principles of non-circulating hydroponics or aeration + nutrition. Have corresponded with Dr. Kratky.. Extremely gracious gentleman. This general idea has utility in some situations for SOME PEOPLE! NOT everyone!! a video demonstrating three non-circulating hydroponic methods (US$29 in USA; $35 overseas postpaid) and a book (39 pages, 10 illustrations; $8.95 plus postage) both titled Non-Circulating Hydroponic Methods. Order the video from UHH College of Agriculture, 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720, USA. The book is sold by DPL Hawaii, 39 W. Lanikaula, Hilo, HI 96720; phone 808/935-8785. Growing Lettuce by a Float-Support Non-Circulating Hydroponic Method in Hawaii and Pennsylvania Co-authors: M.D. Orzolek and W. L. Lamont - Pennsylvania State University http://www.plasticulture.org/08BestPaper.htm You may see the pdf files illustrating the methods in color slides of growing potao in newspaper & pot-in-pot kratky@hawaii.edu My question to you all re: Aerogarden: Given that the Aerogarden is very expensive, is it a good functional product to give as a present to a person who oves to grow basil, pasley & kitchen herbs? I am a plant physiologist with more than 28 years of research backround in Controlled Environment Life Support Systems [CELSS] and fundamental membrane biochemistry that is basic to developing & advancing the very aeroponics [& combined hydro/aeroponics that now are called aeroponics inaccurately. I have been present all along some of the earliest evolution of what now are called aeroponics, that grew out of various twists & turns of the NASA-CELSS project.] At a professional level,I can construct all manner of devices that are hopelessly ugly, if very functional. (Thus, useless as a sentimental present.) The Aerogarden seems to fill a niche: a very cute + nifty appliance that promises grow basil, parsley & dill well. My worry is: DOES it hold up to its promise or is it full of glitches, poor workmanship, poor light design, and produces poor quality plants with insipid, disease ridden leaves? Is it troublesome to maintain & operate? Is it ultimately disappointing? If you got one, and used it to grow only herbs, how satisfied would you be/remain in a couple of years? Thanks very much. gautam....See MoreHow often do I change the nutrient?
Comments (1)For a Tower Garden, you have to monitor your nutrient solution with a PPM/EC/TDS meter and make sure you are within normal limits for the crops that you are growing. If I was you I would pick up some General Hydroponics Flora series nutrients and use those instead. Then, follow the instructions on the back as far as nutrient concentration, and pick up a cheap PPM meter off of Amazon in order to check the levels. This is a pretty good review and overview of the Tower Garden system....See MorePupillaCharites
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agohappy_fl_gardener; 9a, near DeLand
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agohappy_fl_gardener; 9a, near DeLand
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoPupillaCharites
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoPupillaCharites
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agohappy_fl_gardener; 9a, near DeLand
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoPupillaCharites
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoPupillaCharites
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agohappy_fl_gardener; 9a, near DeLand
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoPupillaCharites
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoPupillaCharites
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agohappy_fl_gardener; 9a, near DeLand
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agohappy_fl_gardener; 9a, near DeLand
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoPupillaCharites
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agohappy_fl_gardener; 9a, near DeLand
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agohappy_fl_gardener; 9a, near DeLand
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoPupillaCharites
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agohappy_fl_gardener; 9a, near DeLand
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoPupillaCharites
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agohappy_fl_gardener; 9a, near DeLand
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoPupillaCharites
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agohappy_fl_gardener; 9a, near DeLand
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoPupillaCharites
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10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoPupillaCharites
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoScottBerry
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoPupillaCharites
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoScottBerry
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoScottBerry
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoPupillaCharites
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoScottBerry
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoScottBerry
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