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#1
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Polymer crystals
Are polymer crystals a feasable hydorponics medium? I did a search and came up with no info on polymer crystals.
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#2
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Do you have a link to some?
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#3
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I generally purchase from ebay. Handy to have around the house.
Back to my question - will they work as a medium for growing hydroponic lettuice. |
#4
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If I had a link to see what they are, and to know if what you are referring to is the same thing I found when I looked up the term, then I could give a reply. But I don't really want to reply without knowing exactly what I would be replying on. If it's what I found when I did a search, I would say yes they can be used as a growing medium. But I would want to make sure there was no unwanted chemicals in them (another reason I wanted a link). Though I don't know if it would be economical even so. That's about the best I can say without being able to see what it is were talking about.
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#5
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#6
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chattiesmom
I would certainly give them a try. They say they are potassium-based rather than sodium-based, and were specific for agriculture. So I don't think there is anything in them that's harmful to plants. Although without having some in my hands to see how solid they are when saturated with water, it's hard to say that small pieces wont eventually break off and clog a pump or filter. But I'm sure you could design the system to take that into account. Like creating a catch screen using furnaces filter screening/swamp cooler screening etc., in the overflow/return back to the reservoir, making it easy to clean out regularly. Or even just using a water culture type system, or even a wick system rather than a system that needs a water pump. You may also want to use a light strength nutrient solution (something in the range of 50%-80% strength) at least at first, until you can judge how the plants are doing. If I'm not mistaken they may even be reusable, I think they are supposed to shrink back up to their original hard form when dried out. If so, that may make it fairly easy to separate the roots from the crystals after the plants are harvested. However, sanitizing them for reuse may be a problem because they absorb any liquid they come in contact with. I would probably try using H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) for that, but because they absorb so much liquid that may take a lot of H2O2 even diluted with water. Boiling water would do the trick, but may damage or disintegrate the crystals, same with bleach water. But considering the price, they sound economical even if you don't reuse them. They seem about the same price as coco coir. P.S. I would make sure they were not exposed to light, because I'm sure they would grow algae fairly quickly. Mainly because they are clear, making it easy for light to pass right through them. The nutrients are the food source, and food+water+light= algae. |
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