my verticle raft system
8 years ago
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- 8 years ago
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Minimum depth - raft system
Comments (16)The broccoli plants I grew were about 4 feet wide, as well as tall. I have no doubt they would have gotten bigger if I wasn't getting low on the Flora series nutrients, and just used miracle gro until they were to far gone. I can't see a plant that size being easy to lift off the top of the bucket to do nutrient changes, and/or other maintenance. Yes can could have a drain plug, but you would still need to take the plant out to clean the inside of the bucket. I had 4 broccoli plants in 5 gallon buckets, but as a drip system with a 18 gallon reservoir. Between all 4 plants I would need to add 6-8 gallons of water each day back to the reservoir just to get the water level back to where it was. The system had no leaks, and it wasn't even hot yet because broccoli is a cold weather plant, so I grew them over winter. If I forgot to add water one day, the pump would be running dry the next day. So each plant would be drinking 1 1/2 to 2 gallons of water each day. Assuming you had 5 gallons of water in the 5 gallon bucket, that would be at least a third of the water per day. You can add water through the top each day, but the water level fluctuating that much will cause the nutrient strength (EC) to fluctuate quite a bit constantly. I wasn't expecting them to drink that much either, or I would have gotten a larger reservoir. Your analysis of oxygen saturation point in water ignores the gradient effects of the depth of the water and the distance from the roots. I don't think so. First I'm only talking about water less than 2 feet deep, probably only 1 foot at most, so the gradient effects of the depth of the water should be minimal at best. Also I'm not talking about non moving water. Even if you don't recirculate it, using a high volume air pump (you can get for about $100) and evenly placed air stones will supply both circulating water, as well as replace oxygen used by the plants. That will also provide actual air to the roots. That's how a typical water culture system works, and what I'm talking about. I don't think providing an even supply of sufficient air bubbles to the roots of a 12 foot long, by 2 foot wide container is a problem. But regardless of the water depth, if you don't have a way to sufficiently replace the oxygen used by the plants, your going to have a problem. Even if you do recirculate the water, I would still want a good air supply to the roots. Recirculating the water just adds the added benefits of being able to help oxygenate the water even more with falling water, as well as much easier nutrient maintenance....See MoreLettuce Raft - lighting advice?
Comments (4)They don't need that much light, especially if you don't mind waiting two months. Use fluorescent, it is safer indoors, you can put the lights on top of the leaves without worry and the HID supposedly looses power over time. It is cheapest only if you get fluorescents from the hardware store. Dont get compacy fluorescent. Get a residential t8 if you can, a two lamp 4 foot system should cost 17-20$ without the bulbs. 8$ if you go T12 which is just an efficiency loss of about 20%. Start simple, buy one or two lights, try it for two months. Good luck....See MoreLettuce Raft System
Comments (4)ethno, I don't have enough plants in it to post a good picture of the system, plus it is just an experimental ghetto box now. But is a picture of some of the lettuce and a general look at the raft. I don't know how long the plants have been in the system, but two weeks ago the plants in the corner were about the size of the one on the right. Not sure if it is good or bad, but the same type plants in my backyard garden has their leaves all pointing up. Plus, even though the latter plants are a bit taller, their bottom leaves are not quite as large. Mike...See MoreNoobie Lettuce Raft Problems
Comments (16)I have tested my solution right after mixing and it's only slightly acidic. Within a week the ph drops significantly. A bit of a mystery. The water I use is very pure, the Pine River is pristine and originates in the Weminuche Wilderness in pre-Cambrian formations. The town of Bayfield sent me an analysis of the water (I haul water 8 miles from town) and it's very clean. If anything, it should be slightly basic, since the last few miles of river are in Leadville limestone fm. The intense mineralization found at the head of the Animas River (next river to the east) and within the Silverton Caldera is absent on the Pine. ( A natural spring near my cabin at 10,700 feet elevation and above Silverton runs a ph of 4!) I use Dyna-Grow, maybe that contributes, but I suspect the minerals in the water play an important role. Maybe some kind of reaction. But as I said, it isn't immediate. If you drove a truck over Red Mountain Pass in winter, I'm sure you won't forget it. You might have come over Wolf Creek Pass though, quite easy by San Juan standards. My daughter's father in law rode a semi loaded with farm implements off Red Mountain Pass in January of 2009 over a four hundred foot cliff. Backwards, which is what saved him. He ended up in the stream below and the trailer acted as a shock absorber. The next time you travel Red Mountain, look over the edge at mile marker 89. No one believes he lived through the fall. Mark...See More- 8 years ago
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