Day 5# of the hydroponic Garden

It is day #5 of the hydoponic garden experiment! I got a we bit antsy and pulled up a tomato plant from the outdoor garden and placed it root-ball and all in a cup of pea-gravel ,also a cutting from a wisteria and strawberry plant. Time will tell on those,but as far as the incybator goes-SO FAR_SO GOOD!!!! As you can tell from the pic-the seedlings are sprouting and growing like-well-WEEDS!!!!

We had a slight problem yesterday evening(one you can avoid should you try this at home). A peice of plastic from cutting the hole in the side of one bin(for a fitting) was left in the bottom of the bin before I filled it with water. The drain sucked it up and clogged the drain-hole.
We were alerted by the pump that we purchased at Lowes, as it has a kight that is attached and blinks frantically when the water gets to low.
Honestly, I didn't think I would need this little extra, but I admit it came in handy and now I recommend it! I know it saved us from a MASSIVE water clean-up!!!
It has also taught me a wee-lesson; If you put this garden in your living area,build the entire project inside a larger bin than you use for the water-recovery bin. in other words;if you use a 30gal bin for the garde water-recovery-set that bin in a 50 gal bin (or larger)-just in case!
HAPPY DRIPPY GARDENING!

Nothing new!

I am feeling like a new parent!! I keep checking the garden frame for leaks and making sure funtions are operative!!! Also checking the incubator! You would think something would happen already!!!!! (LOL) Those little babies have been there germinating since -let me think......SUNDAY!!!!
I know-impatient Mommy....I added a grown parsley plant (picked up at publics) shook off most of the soil and placed in a cup full of pea-pebbles!If you do the same-don't forget to poke a hole in the bottom and lower sides of the cup-water needs to get in and out!!! If the water stays in the cup-the roots will not have a chance to breathe and the plant will drown....I am going to use up some of the little black seed;ling cups you buy at the store(pre-planted) by replacing the soil with pebbles. We will see what happens!

HOMEMADE HYDROPONIC GARDEN

Good Monday morning!
On Sunday,Robert and I took a trip to Lowes equipped with a shopping list that I obtained from a website I came across by Matt Kinsey! I
I have been intrigued by the idea of Hydroponic Garden for quite awhile as the summers in Florida can be very hot and dry one day,then monsoon rains for the next 4 days and the varmints are quick and lay in wait for the first sign a vegetable is ripe! (frankly,I think the high-t

ech equipment in their nests that detect and set off an alarm). Watering(and you need alot) is expensive if you are in an area where you can't have a well and I LOVE fresh vegetables!
There is also the ever-present "Hurricane Factor" and hyroponic gardens can be placed anywhere in your home!
I am also pretty much a cheapskate and like to build things myself so-We took the plunge and we are giving it a go! I will try to post various stages of our progress as it occurs.
First the shopping list:

$18.97 Heavy-Duty PLASTIC OR METAL 4 TIER UTILITY SHELF(We used the Walmart storage shelf from Walmart)
(3) $28.44 TotaL-18" FLOURESCENT LIGHTS(plug-in and switched)\
(3) $27.00 Total-34QT PLASTIC BINS
(2) $ 6.82 total-.5cf PEA GRAVEL
(1) $ 6.97 total-greenhouse for seedlings
(1) $ 5.21 total-3# bag of Scott's veggie fertilizer
(1) $ 1.92 4 ft length vinyl tubing (should have gotten 6'ft length,but adapted)
(3) $12.69 total-brass fitting(lowes number barxm adp 5/8x3/4
(2) $ .88 total-(2 per bag) 3/4 steel lock-nut
(2) $20.84 indoor 2-outlet timer
(1) $3.74 tube 2.8 oz silicone (the stuff to seal showers)\
(1) $8.52 1 roll-1/2 tubing(water-garden section)
(1) $37.54 200-300 gph LARGE FOUNTAIN PUMP (pumps to 6 feet height)
______________
$179.54

I had on hand a 30 gal plastic bin and used it for the base water collection
and to be honest-have no clue what that cost,I am assuminf 12.00 or so! Regardless,it comes to alot less that a pre-fab commercial version! (or using compnents ordered at a hydroponics store......