Quote:
Originally Posted by Stan
Can you post some pics of the reservoir setup?
Theirs 2 things I would do from reading your post.
1. You must check the PH of the water. You can buy a PH checker along with up/down liquid for less than $20.
2. You need to wrap the 5 gallon containers with something that will reflect the sun instead of absorbing it. I know you said you are using something to cool it down inside but when it gets very hot that sun will make it like an inferno inside those buckets. Most dollar stores sell those sun reflectors that unfold and go inside the car up to the windshield of a car. They usually cost a dollar or 2 buy them and wrap up the baskets.
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Thanks Stan for your input but I do not want to do the PH thing. I have grown in ground since before I was in kindergarten. Never had to check PH. I feel that most of the PH stuff is just another way to sell you more stuff. So far no problem with that. plants look good. Only difference as far as that goes is they grow faster and there are less impact from insects attacking roots. The other note is that the terracotta pots with the sand in them in the bottom. when there is water in the sand ( I use gray water from washing dishes) the evaporation seems to keep the temp in the buckets 10-15 degrees cooler than the air temp outside. I now think that the buckets being black speeds the evaporation in the sand and increases the cooling on the roots. As far as the pictures of my reservoir the pics above are what I have. I have no external water source. only the buckets.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GpsFrontier
Hello Remembering,
Yes, that's why growing large plants in a 5 gallon water culture system isn't the best choice of hydroponic systems to grow them in. Especially for plants like tomato's that need lots of water to support all the water filled fruit. Way to much maintenance. The bigger the plants get, the more water they will continue to use. Also, as your water level fluctuates, so does your nutrient concentration level.
P.S.
I'm guessing you live in a hot dry climate. Humidity levels greatly affect how much water a plant drinks. |
Thank you GpsFrontier. I am sure you are correct for it not being the best choice. It was the cheapest start though. Next year I might get a different setup that I can stack on the equipment that I already have. But for now it is OK, just a lot of water. You are very right about the nutrient fluctuations. I have been using the
nutrients on the low side to ensure that when the water goes down it does not get too concentrated. some times I even fill the buckets with just plain water with no nutrients. This has not seem to have changed the growth rate any. I know what you are saying about the tomato drinking a lot of water. But beans on the other hand drink a lot lot less and both buckets seem to dropping at about the same rate.
On the PS medium temp and humidity. I live about 30 miles from the west coast. a couple days over 100 so far this year but mostly in the 80. Humidity not high enough to even be checking so I do not know for sure.