My first Hydroponic attempts

[GpsFrontier]

Plants look good. I always like to see home made systems because if you understand the functions of what makes them work they are so easy to build yourself, for much less money. I just finished a 4 plant drip system for some large plants that cost $40 plus the growing media $10 (pump I already had). I will post pics later this week in this forum.

Also on one day I had to turn on the pump without a break because the plants were dying in the 15 min interval.

Sounds like you live in Arizona where I live, if so just wait tell summer (June-September) .

[Harlequin]

Originally Posted by GpsFrontier

Sounds like you live in Arizona where I live, if so just wait tell summer (June-September) .

Other side of the world . Brisbane Australia. Its currently 19c - 32c today and we are coming into Summer. Summer is 26 - 34c but high humidity and lots of storms so not as hard on the plants.

Yesterday was the first bit of rain we have had in 8-10 weeks. Everything is brown and dead . We also have hardcore water restrictions (140l per person per day including showers, cooking, washing and no watering your garden, washing your car etc.) that make it impossible to irrigate. It was a big reason for me to start the hydro. The soil here is really very very good but I'm not allowed to use the water.

[Harlequin]

Updated pics... I'm really happy with how everything has done - tomato has its first fruit and the chilli has like 100 buds on it. Lettuces are coming up nicely as well.

[GpsFrontier]

OK, when you mentioned that they were on your deck I thought it sounded familiar. How are the plants doing? Do you have any new pictures?

[Harlequin]

I'll bring some new pics in tomorrow. Lettuce plants have grown heaps - they produce more than we can eat. Tomato plant is now about 4ft tall and I have expanded the green kits and have added another tomato and then grown from seed pumpkin, chilli, capsicum, zuchinni and eggplant. Waiting to sprout are peas and runner beans.

[GGM]

hey what are those "troughs" you are using? Are they maxi trunkings for electrical wiring? I havent been able to find any pvc fence posts or pvc down pipes in my country so am wondering what you are using?

[Harlequin]

Originally Posted by GGM

hey what are those "troughs" you are using? Are they maxi trunkings for electrical wiring? I havent been able to find any pvc fence posts or pvc down pipes in my country so am wondering what you are using?

They are actually specific hydroponic troughs that my local hydro store carries. $2 per meter. Also came with end caps, one set that are solid and 1 set that have a 1.5" drain hole at the end. If you were to look at them in profile they have a slight vee in them that moves the nutrient to the center of the channel.