PASSIVE HYDROPONICS
Tips 'N Techniques

Passive hydroponics

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HOW TO BUILD A SMALL AUTOPOT WICK SYSTEM
Part 4- Operating Tips 'N Techniques

Passive hydroponics

LIGHTING:

You can use just the light from a sunny window if all you are growing are houseplants. Anything else requires some supplemental lighting. A T5 compact fluorescent “grow light” will do fine for houseplants, herbs, and leafy green veggies like lettuce. This one is available for under $75, including the 125 watt compact T5 bulb:

                   

You can order this lamp and bulb here:http://www.hydroponics-simplified.com/cheap-hydroponics-supplies.html#lighting. You can get off much cheaper by getting a fluorescent “grow stick” at Walmart for about $25, but you will not get the lush growth a better light setup will produce. For best results, upgrade to the 200 watt bulb listed on our supplies page.

If you are interested in fruiting veggies like tomatoes, or serious herbs, you will have to upgrade to an HID lamp. Learn more about HID lighting and see our special combo lamp deal here:http://www.hydroponics-simplified.com/hydroponic-lights.html.One final note: the grow room must be kept cool. Use a fan on low in there to cool it down. HID lamps will really add some heat.

 

NUTRIENTS:

We highly recommend the Flora Series nutrient solutions put out by GH (General Hydroponics). This stuff is superior, easy to use, and reasonably priced. It consists of 3 parts (Flora Grow; Flora Micro; and Flora Bloom). If you have hard water, get the Hardwater Flora Micro instead. For this small garden, order a quart of each of the three solutions:http://www.hydroponics-simplified.com/cheap-hydroponics-supplies.html#nutrients. Stick with Flora Series, follow the label directions, and you can't go wrong!

The growing area (and therefore nutrient bucket) should be kept cool (55-70°). This is especially important for the cool-season crops like lettuce and broccoli. Learn more about hydroponics nutrient solutions here:http://www.hydroponics-simplified.com/hydroponic-solution.html. We also provide a nifty little mixing chart there for the Flora nutrients that you can print out and save.

For each 2-gallon batch of nutrient solution, add 2 tsp. of each of the 3 parts, separately. Never mix the nutrient solutions together, only add to the water. As the plants mature, change the ratio of the nutrient solution as directed on the bottles, or in Stella's mixing chart.

pH- It is a very good idea for any serious hydroponics project to keep the pH of the water in the proper range, which is 5.5 to 6.5 (6.0 is ideal). If the pH is out of range, some of the nutrients get “locked out” and the plants suffer. GH puts out a simple test kit with pH up & down solutions cheap. It will last you through many gardens:http://www.hydroponics-simplified.com/cheap-hydroponics-supplies.html#nutrients.

GROWING MEDIA:

We recommend a 50/50 Coco Coir and perlite mixture for the AutoPots. Line the bottom of the pots first with the provided root mats. You cannot use LECA (Hydroton or clay balls) in this system.

This is a brick of Coco-Coir, you can order one here:http://www.hydroponics-simplified.com/cheap-hydroponics-supplies.html#media
 

                   


Perlite can be bought at any garden center. Coco Tek must be ordered from a hydroponics supplier. Learn more about hydroponic growing media here:http://www.hydroponics-simplified.com/hydroponic-growing-medium.html.

Passive hydroponics
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