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I am looking for information on the cultivation of Tomatoes or Roses in Hydroponics. Can you please help me with that? I am a second year Agricultural Management student, studying at the P.E.Technikon, George Campus in South Africa. My e-mail address is as follow:
s9927116@student.petech.ac.za
I am looking forward to hear from you.
Thanks
McGrandle Makier
Dear Ron, I would like to plant a fig tree inside my house using hydroponics. A tree that will bear fruit. Is this possible? If I can, can I limit it's growth to 5 feet tall and 2 feet in circumference by pruning or some other method..
I haven't had good results with hard wood plants like most trees, roses, and shrub type plants yet. But water loving plants like banana trees do better in hydroponics because of the water aspect of hydroponics. If any members out their have had any luck in this area we could use some help.
I'm looking for information on plant plane hydroponics if you can help please contact me at jsp40@gte.net thank you
dear ron,
what are the factors that will determine the fruit size of a tomato ?
Genetics. In other words type of tomatoes. Between the same strains the plants that get optimum growing conditions, at all stages of its growth, will naturally produce more and bigger fruit.
is it the number of flowers ? nutrient strength ?
sixto ututen leyte, Philippines
ron- what's a few good varieties of tomatoes that would be good to grow in the 11 plant set-up? also, how do you string em up? im thinking a trellis but am sort of ignorant to such things. thanks, bob.
I like the short patio type tomato plants also known as Bush type. I have used everything from sticking a stick in the plants solo cup to building a trellis out of PVC or I even tried those wire cone shaped tomato stands that I twisted around the garden pipe.
wher can i find any information on live aquarium plants?
hey Ron, i think my timer went on the fritz... if it watered for 12 hours straight, would my plant look like they were heavy and droopy? and a few of the upper fan leaves have curled upward, almost closeting in on themselves i just got a 400 watt HPS light, and all of this kind of happened all at once. would the light have adverse effects on the plants like that? and should i keep the HPS light on for 24 hours, or would 18 be better? I need to vent better now because of the light, it gets pretty warm in there any advise would help Thanks
If it got to hot in your room watering full time may have saved your plants. Yes cut back to 18 hr. and put a thermometer in your room and keep your room at 72 degrees no mater what you have to do. Fans, ventilation or even an air conditioner if you ever expect to grow anything worth anything.
Gudday there. Firstly, this site is fabulous. Wonderful what you have done here. A true center for knowledge. Well anyway...I am starting a hydroponics system. Finally got sick of dreaming, started building. However, I want to grow something different, something pretty. Does anyone know of a good flower, small, that loves water and would be good to grow from a seed? Would love some info. Thank you very much. I appreciate immensely how you approach this web page. Fabulous, fabulous!!! Russó
I have discovered that almost any ornamental plants like flowers grow very well in hydroponics and they transplant well to dirt pots for resale with minimal shock.
what are you talking about?
hydroponics
hey ron i asked the question with 400 hps, the tops of the leaves have been turning a gold color and dying, I went to change the nutrient solution (it was about 3 weeks old) and i know i had about 7 gallons in there, when i drained it i only had 3 because of evaporation but do the nutrients evaporate too? if not could i have an overdose of nitrogen problem? or do you think it's just the heat from the light? I have i thermometer in there, and it's been getting about 90 degrees alot more than the 72 you suggest dim. im thinking of taking the solution out, and running plain water for a couple of days? good idea? thanks ron
90 degrees is to hot and until you get that into the
70's range everything else you do is pointless.
Because it's so hot in your room your plants absorbed most of that solution to
stay alive so I don't think it was from evaporation.
I found out years ago that every grow room that I built for clients I had to add
an air-conditioner to control heat. Something most grow stores don't ever
mention when they sell you all that expensive hydro equipment.
As for your nutrient strength and evaporation question I will have to check my
books and get back to you.
It is always a good idea to flush your system periodically to remove fertilizing
salts.
Some of the big fan leaves on my plant are getting yellow edges. My plant seems to have recovered from be transplanted into soil otherwise. There is lots of lush green growth everywhere. What do you think is causing this minor problem?
thanks Ron for all the help
Fan leaves are strictly for the vegetative stage. The
larger leaves allow for more photosynthesis thus creating better growth. The
lower fan leaves naturally age sooner and should just be removed. If the
upper fan leaves are yellowing then you have a problem. Maybe to much fertilizer
in your dirt.
When you go to the 12/12 budding stage then all the fan leaves should be removed
because you don't need them anymore.
Hi Ron Great site I have a question with the 11 plant system Is a 250 watt Metal Halide good for that system I am trying to grow pot I heard to use 25 watts per sq ft. so 250 will more then enough right
Thanks DC
250 MH is the perfect size for the 11 or 16 plant garden.
400 W. is good for an approximately a 4ft. x 4ft. size garden.
1000 W. 6ft. x 6ft. garden.
Depending on how close you put the bottles to each other will determine how many
plants you can add to your garden.
Ron. I am an experienced (Canadian) grower of hydroponic tomatoes. I am interested in locating a supplier for panda film grow tubes (1000 ft /roll works great for me, as it does about one house at a time). Any suggestions for suppliers? (by the way it has been almost -30c for the last week or two. Any chance someone wants to swap heating bills?
Are these tube lights your are referring to fusion lights. I am very interested in finding a supplier for fusion lights.
Dear Hydro, I started my water out at 6.0 PH, then added nutrient, Miracle Grow. The solution went to 7.0 PH. Then I adjusted it down to 6.0 with vinegar. After several hours and several floods, the PH went back to 7.0. After 48 hrs. I adjusted once again with vinegar till PH went to 6.0. The PH is still fluctuates, always heading toward the alkaline side. What's wrong? Mom's fish water does that same thing. Got any suggestions, would appreciate your input greatly. Lee
Miracle Grow is naturally alkaline.
I would try a different pH down than vinegar. That fish store pH down works OK.
Do you know anything about cyclic lighting? The light only comes on for a few minutes at a time, over a certain period of time. Apparently the plants act as if the light has been constant. Also, there is an interesting article about growing plants in the dark using electrodes attached to a conductive element exposed to sunlight at www.borderlands.com/archives/arch/darkplant.htm. Could be useful and cheap for closet growing. I haven't tried either of these but plan to. I'll let you know if it works.
Very interesting.
I wonder....if you took a 55 gal drum, cut it in half, and inserted a sort of multi-layered latticework of concrete screening tack welded to the inside. Using, say, pea gravel for a medium, and an ebb and flow system (or maybe drip), you think it would be able to support a smallish tree or woody plant? The root system for trees is basically for water search and stability right? Maybe if the drum was anchored. Hmmmmmmmmmm. What do you think?
Sounds like Robo-hydroponics to me.
400 hps again, i was spraying the plants with water too, would the light burn them like grass does if the sun is out strong??maybe a combo of all???
yes it would.
What are the 11 1" pvc for? I thought the bottle tops would fit inside, but they don't.
That's what the 1" thin wall pieces of pipe are for so a bottle cap will fit.
How does the system drain in the 11 plant system, and where do you attach the hose and pump.
When the pump shuts off the water in the garden drains back through the pump. The hose from the pump connects to a tee with a 1/2 inch hose connector.
what is the hole for on the top? Does it drain out a tee?
To prevent a siphon effect.
Sorry, I'm a high school teach that knows nothing about this. Thanks for your help.
My eleven year old daughter would like to a hydroponics project for her science fair and we don't know how to get started. Can you give me some inexpensive ideas and areas to find information?
Their is quite a lot of that information here on this web site but finding it is another question. If you find any let us all know where it's at.
ron,heres a real head scratcher: what can you tell me about growing poppies? specifically- i was wondering what the light requirements are for vegetative growth then flowering later on. im hoping their gonna be in step with tomatoes. i have separate gardens for each plant type- but they share the same 400wt hps. thanks, op
I don't know if I have ever even seen a poppy plant except those plastic ones they sell you at street lights.
Hello,
My question is does anyone have any basic info that I could base my hypothesis of why plants grow better this way rather than in normal soil? A website would be very helpful. Thanks
Hi Ron. No I was not referring to "fusion lights". I am referring to co-extruded polyethylene tubes which are black on the inside and white on the outside, i.e. "panda film"
Robo-hydroponics? Is that a real thing or are you just messing with me? :-) I think I'll give it a try, the wife's been saying i need to do something with those drums anyhow.
hey ron...400 hps here,ive turned the light to a 18 day, im venting, and im not going to spray them while the light is on, and i increased watering, i think that will help a lot. i really appreciate the help, and I'll let you know what happens. you've been a great help and thanks again
My name is dave hiltz and I live in maine and I am new at hydroponics and would like to build the 11 plant garden and I wanted to know what the total parts list was less the seeds. Also how I go about starting the seeds, And the continued maintenance of the system? thank you dave. E-Mail; schraderhiltz@hotmail.com
I was wondering if it was alright to use miracle gro with marijuana. I have heard that it makes it too harsh because of all the nitrogen. If it is alright too use how often, and how much should i use?
If you grow in dirt it's OK
I am growing weed plants this summer in maine outdoors and i heard to make more room for buds to grow on the plants that you have to clip the branches and leaves off in certain places and at certain growth stages. Is this true? If it is and you know: how often, when, and where on the plant do you trim. Also if you have any other grow tips i would really appreciate it if you could write them in the reply. Also, this is most definitely the best, most informative web site about hydroponics i have seen. That is why i am now one of your members.
Pruning tips plagiarized from High Yield Indoor Gardening by Simon Wright
I am growing weed this summer and i was wondering what the best way to do it is. I am a beginner and i was wondering because i want to grow really bad. I want to grow good weed that is gonna make people say "DAMN THAT IS SOME GOOD SHIT!"
Dear Ron, How big of a growing room would you need to build for the 11 plant system and how big of a light would you need for optimum growth. Also I am planning on building this room in a pole barn in a northern state what would be the best way to keep it heated and ventilated with fresh air in winter time. Thanks Bud Green
The 11 plant is for people with very small growing
areas. If I had a barn I would use the 16 plant size because you would use the
same size light for both. A 250 W. or better yet a 400 W.
As for your room. I would build it out of 2' x 4's at the corners and use that
Celotex 4' x 8' shiny insulation board to build the walls. I would build it
about 6' x 6' x 7' high.
The light will supply heat when it is on and any small heater will be enough
when the light is out. If you use a propane or kerosene heater you will also be
adding co2 to your room as well but don't burn your barn down.
Very simply-
can I save money, grow better tasting veggies and not be tied to the weather with hydroponics?
Yes if you have a climate controlled greenhouse.
Do you have any rough statistics comparing this method with conventional dirt farming?
From years of experience I would say most plants mature in as much as half the time as with soil.
Say for a family of 3, is it economical on this small a scale?
I built a 100 plant 10' x 10' greenhouse for a high school that would be perfect for a family of three. Got a picture somewhere.
I know NOTHING about the details, but the idea is fascinating. I saw it demonstrated in Florida at EPCOT one year.
Me too.
Thanks for responding!
Ches Smith
Hi ron, I am a beginner and I am looking for the cheapest way to control humidity. Have some tips for me??
Fans, blowing in and out of your room will dissipate a lot of it .
Ron, Would it be a good idea to cool a garden room that has good ventilation using a swamp cooler, or would that raise the humidity too much? (the area I live in has a dry climate)
In order for a swamp cooler to work the dew point has to be around 60. and then will only lower your temperature 10 degrees. Check your local dew point before you waste your time. You might not have one where you live.
Hi Ron I just built your 11 plant system I have 3 question 1. How do you set up the seeds in the 2 liter bottles which 2 books that I have bought on hydroponics have not answered the seeds I want to grow is pot
Start your seeds in vermiculite or dirt first and when they get a good root system then carefully wash off the roots and place them in your garden.
2. And for the pump do you need a timer or do you leave it on all the time
Yes you need a timer to water every hour or so.
3. What is a good ready made nutrient to use I don't want to mix it for pot
As long as it is formulated for hydroponics any of the popular brands are ok if you fallow the mixing instructions.
Sorry for all the stupid questions but I am having a hard time finding the answers from the 2 books that I own on the subject
Thanks DC
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