Mart Hale

C. Letellier wrote:

Mart Hale wrote:Another factor I have seen is to have a set of panels set for morning sun, and another for evening sun.        This helps to have the distribution of power very steady for the day.

Engineer 775   on youtube does this, and I see  a good deal of wisdom in doing this.

One of the new patterns is to use vertical bifacial oriented north-south.  Add reflectors on both side at the base so they run on reflected light too.  They can actually have 2x or 3x the light on the panel much of the time.  

There was lots of hype about that.      I do like the testing done on this video...

Another factor I have seen is to have a set of panels set for morning sun, and another for evening sun.        This helps to have the distribution of power very steady for the day.

Engineer 775   on youtube does this, and I see  a good deal of wisdom in doing this.

Wicking solo cups are a winner for me.      This onion grew from seed in this cup and I am starting to think I could grow the onions to the point of harvest right in the solo cups....     I harvested this one today was the largest of the ones I have planted, I have many more right behind this one.       I believe I should put more holes in the bottom of the cup as the roots maxxed out the single hole they had going down.  

Depends on how low you want to go...   I thought of using a seed heating mat used to start plants to make yogurt in a cooler....       It was an idea I had..

The most fancy Insta pots I do believe have this option.

Christopher Weeks wrote:I've been wondering about building a no-plastic Kratky (or other hydroponic) system fueled by home-brew nutrient solutions like worm or compost tea instead of using products of far-away industry and aimed at incorporating microbes. I need to do some research.

That is the direction I want to go...   I have noted some Korean Natural farming does hydroponics,    I think they may have already completed the testing that we want to do.

thomas mullen wrote:Yes Mart;
  I see many people use the Masterblend nutrients, and will probably go with them for nutrients in the future.  Is this your general "go to"for most veggies?

You grow far more than I do,  I have slowly started trying hydroponics with much failure due to root rot, aphids, fruit flies.    

I only have the masterblend and vertigro  fertilizers I have used so far.

Thanks,

This is my main nutrient I use, I have also been testing vertigrow nutrient in my systems..

Also,   I also do aquaponics, often use the water from my aquaponic systems in my hydroponic systems.

I have grown in Kratky for some time, and I follow the creator of the system on Youtube.

I highly recommend this channel on youtube, as he is very creative with Kratky combining hybrid systems with dirt / without to grow plants.




I have moved more toward the hybrid systems as I have from my own experience found that there are elements in the soil that the nutrients I have tried just don't provide for the plant.

Love Kratky, and love the results it provides.

What fertilizers do you use in your systems if I may ask?

I tried soil blocking, but my homemade soil mix did not work very well with it,   because of that I moved on to another method.

Instead I have switched over to this method with solo cups and wicking rope.

I have had good success with the method so I have expanded.        My plan is to get the plants going in solo cups then move to grow bags for air prunning.      I like this method as I don't have to worry about keeping the right  moisture level for the plants.