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Anyone into hydroponics or aeroponics?

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34 comments

  • 1911a1-fan
    what type of system you got?
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  • HandLoad
    I AM interested in those Aero Gardens that are presently marketed at around $149.00 - I like the spices and the salad lettuce ones, and the peppers, and the tomatoes - I just can't justify four units for veggies. Maybe when they are on ebay, used. Is your unit one of those?? If so, keep us/me posted.

    Good luck!
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  • 1911a1-fan
    quote:Originally posted by HandLoad
    I AM interested in those Aero Gardens that are presently marketed at around $149.00 - I like the spices and the salad lettuce ones, and the peppers, and the tomatoes - I just can't justify four units for veggies. Maybe when they are on ebay, used. Is your unit one of those?? If so, keep us/me posted.

    Good luck!


    make one, take a humidifier, find some small diameter plastic cups cut holes in the top of the humidifier to fit them in, you can get around six around the motor, drill holes in the cups, but make sure they stay above the water level
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  • David Nunn
    Talk to Txs. He has a setup for growing weeds as food for his butterflies. Not kidding.
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  • dolfan
    In these parts, hydro is used to grow this herb:

    myweed.gif
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  • ljwrench
    I had a Chia Pet one time. I liked it[:D][:D]
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  • Rack Ops
    quote:Originally posted by HandLoad
    I AM interested in those Aero Gardens that are presently marketed at around $149.00 - I like the spices and the salad lettuce ones, and the peppers, and the tomatoes - I just can't justify four units for veggies. Maybe when they are on ebay, used. Is your unit one of those?? If so, keep us/me posted.


    Yeah, thats the one.

    Its a bit pricey but I don't mind paying that much if it works as advertised.

    Once I get used to the system, I might try to build my own
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  • Rack Ops
    Well, everything is set up.....It puts out a LOT of light. Its like a small nuclear reactor in my spare bedroom...the whole hallway is lit up.

    It does have a significant "cool" factor, I'll give it that...

    HPIM0372.jpg
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  • pickenup
    So what are you growing?
    I used to have tomatoes year round.
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  • Rack Ops
    Just growning a few herbs (why can I hear snickering?) right now...Chives, Basil, Parsley, Dill, ect....

    I'm planning on strawberries in the spring
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  • Marc1301
    I think you can take that warning tag off of your window blind now!
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  • Rack Ops
    quote:Originally posted by Marc1301
    I think you can take that warning tag off of your window blind now!


    Safety first.....I don't want the g/f to get strangled while looking at the plants [8D]
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  • Marc1301
    Post some pics as the stuff grows,......if it works and your herbs taste right, I might be into that! I love fresh herbs.
    Does the light stay on at night?
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  • Rack Ops
    This one has a timer.....16 hours on, 8 hours off.

    Mine kicks off at 10:30pm , then back on at 6:30 am. Like I said, its VERY bright. It lights the room better than the overhead lights.

    The dog (who sleeps in that room) seems to be quite pissed over the whole situation
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  • yoshmyster
    I'd just get a couple of Power Compact Day Light Fluorescent with a reflector. Depending on what you'll be doing I'd go with a 96 Watt since bright enough to do it right. Metal Halides as well as High Pressure Sodiums (and it's spawns) get too hot and the electric bill will make you think twice just for bits of chives and basil.

    That Arero-Garden is nothing more than a small power compact unit with a bubble bottom. You can get the same result with 4" PVC pipes and a water pump for circulations. You can add an air stone hooked up to an air pump in to airate the roots. You can even go lower tech by using small buckets with Volcanic Clay pellets as the medium in your Hydro.

    For a cool factor I'd set up a tall aquarium and make that in to a green house of sorts. Since at most you'll use about 4 inches of the bottom for hydro and the rest will be for growth.

    For the cost ratio I'll go buy the herbs at the shops. Which is cheaper since there is no initial start up, no waiting and electricity bump.
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  • Rack Ops
    Well its been a month, so I thought I'd provide an update for those that were interested.

    HPIM0377.jpg

    Overall, I'm very pleased with the results. One plant didn't sprout, so I called the company. Customer service was great and they offered me either a replacement or 25% credit on my next seed order.

    Upkeep has been minimal. The system uses very little electricity and very little water. I've only had to prune the Basil and Chives thus far. I should be able to start harvesting next week.

    Overall, a pretty cool little product.

    Once I get a little more free time I might try yoshmyster's idea..
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  • turtles11756
    your growing the wrong herb ! get some pure afgani indica seeds. nice setup though cheap and efficient
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  • chollagardens
    [}:)][}:)][}:)]With one of these any one any where could pick citrus and avocados with out even being inconvienced by having to out side to pick their fruit.[}:)][:D][}:)]
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  • Marc1301
    Looks good Rack,........I guess it will come down to economics, as to whether it is worth it or not.
    Doesn't seem like that is going to put out much![;)]
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  • tobefree
    quote:Originally posted by Marc1301
    Looks good Rack,........I guess it will come down to economics, as to whether it is worth it or not.
    Doesn't seem like that is going to put out much![;)]


    Hey now, not all hobbies are profitable.... I find this one fasinating!!!
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  • Marc1301
    quote:Originally posted by tobefree
    quote:Originally posted by Marc1301
    Looks good Rack,........I guess it will come down to economics, as to whether it is worth it or not.
    Doesn't seem like that is going to put out much![;)]


    Hey now, not all hobbies are profitable.... I find this one fasinating!!!

    I just want to see how fast they regenerate after being cut for use.
    I used to grow stuff like that in 5 gallon buckets, and got all I needed, but it obviously took a bit more time than this.
    I await the results![8D]
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  • Txs
    I'm an ebb & flow type. Simple to set up your own and easy to maintain.

    Scrounge up some PVC pipe, a little plastic tubing, a 5 gl. bucket, an aquarium pump, a timer and a Metal-Halide security light. You're off and running much cheaper than a store bought system. Hydroponics isn't rocket science.

    Aeroponics works well, but watch out for clogs-especially if you get any funk growing in your reservoir. Keeping it as dark as possible and pouring in hydrogen peroxide periodically will help. The H2O2 will also prevent growth of bad things on your roots.
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  • Oklahoma223
    Several years ago I got into some hydroponics and ate about 10 pounds of Taco Bell and saw a couple of black panthers out in the woods.[:)]
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  • Rack Ops
    Txs: What about growing things like potatos or carrots? I'm obviously not going to be able to grow that with my current setup, but is it practical to grow those indoors?

    I'd love to be able to get fresh potatoes whenever I want them
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  • Txs
    I don't know if you'd be able to hydroponically raise anything that normally grows underground, but can tell you that tomatoes grow very well this way.

    What type of nutes you using?
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  • Rack Ops
    quote:Originally posted by Txs

    What type of nutes you using?


    I really haven't gotten the lingo down just yet, but I'm assuming you're asking what I'm feeding them.

    The kit came with enough food tablets for several (5, I think) months. Every two weeks I drop a tablet into the resevoir and top it off. I don't even have to remember, because it starts blinking when it needs food or water.

    It is as idiot-proof a setup as I've seen.
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  • Rack Ops
    Update for those that are interested

    Got my first major "harvest" last night. I got enough to fill a medium-sized ziplock bag. Mixed the Basil and Chives with Garlic mashed potatoes......Delicious.

    For whatever reason, the plant that handn't sprouted now has.

    I've gotten best results from the two basil plants and the chives.......I've got more of that than I know what to do with.

    Me and Brandy are already arguing over what gets planted next. I want Strawberries, she wants flowers.

    Guess I'll be growing flowers in the spring [B)]
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  • Colt Super
    The power of the pu...never mind.

    Doug
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  • Rack Ops
    quote:Originally posted by Doug Wilson
    The power of the pu...never mind.


    Its better than Strawberries [:)]
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  • Marc1301
    quote:Originally posted by Rack Ops
    quote:Originally posted by Doug Wilson
    The power of the pu...never mind.


    Its better than Strawberries [:)]

    Strawberries are a heck of a lot cheaper though![;)]
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