• My hydroponics project! What to grow?
    78 replies, posted
Hey guys, I have recently garnered an interest in hydroponics. I was always a little curious about it, and a friend of mine started doing it, so I figured I'd give it a shot too. Here is some background information![B] What is hydroponics?[/B] To be put very simply, hydroponics is growing plants without soil. People often grow hydroponically indoors with special lights and nutrients. This gives the person growing the plant complete control every factor regarding the growth of the plant, from the ph level of the water, to the amount of sunlight it absorbs. [IMG]http://www.onlinegardenertips.com/images/Build-Your-Own-Hydroponics-System.jpg[/IMG] [B]But wait! Isn't this for growing marijuana?[/B] You can grow just about any plant in a hydroponic system, some plants are just illegal. :v: [B]What are the advantages and disadvantages?[/B] One of the biggest advantages to me, is the fact that the food is completely safe. The only reason you have to wash your fruits and vegetables is because of harmful pesticides, and the fact that people defecate in the fields they are grown in. Growing hydroponically indoors eliminates both of these factors... unless if you wanna do your business in your plants. :v: [B]Other benefits...[/B] [HR][/HR]No soil is needed The water stays in the system and can be reused - thus, lower water costs It is possible to control the nutrition levels in their entirety - thus, lower nutrition costs No nutrition pollution is released into the environment because of the controlled system Stable and high yields Pests and diseases are easier to get rid of than in soil because of the container's mobility It is easier to harvest No pesticide damage [B]Disadvantages[/B] Without soil as a buffer, any failure to the hydroponic system leads to rapid plant death. Other disadvantages include pathogen attacks (though I have never heard anyone complain about this) and energy costs associated with the lights used to grow. As you can see, the benefits outweigh disadvantages. [HR][/HR] The type of hydroponic system I will be using is called a [B]deep water culture[/B]. Deep water cultures work by simply immersing the roots in nutrient rich water, that is pumped full of oxygen so the roots do not drown. This is the simplest hydroponic system and requires the least amount of maintenance. Here is a nifty diagram. [IMG]http://hydroponicgardeningfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/deep-water-culture-hydroponic-system.png[/IMG] I've decided I am going to make one. I am going to buy some materials tonight! My only issue is, what should I grow? Not weed. :v: I've been considering iceberg lettuce, tea, or jalapenos (or some other pepper). My main restriction is space, and I am trying to avoid anything that grows taller than 3 feet. Any opinions facepunch? I'll be sure to update the thread as progress is made. Pictures will be included!
Weed, duh. Probably some tomatoes or something.
[QUOTE=Transverse;35144416]Weed, duh. Probably some tomatoes or something.[/QUOTE] I would love to grow tomatoes, but those things get massive! I don't have the space for tomatoes or cucumbers. :(
Mint plants. Or something that mostly grows underground, to see what happens.
Butterlettuce
If you need lights, I suggest this place: [url]http://www.sunlightsupply.com/[/url]
Do aeroponics and be more badass than normal hydroponics peeps! ;D Or like that Asian video you showed me yesterday!
I'd grow mint, or some herb that's safe to eat/chew. Ginger perhaps?
[img]http://www.britannica.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/venus-flytrap2.jpg[/img] do it
watermelons
I'd start with a type of pepper. Jalapenos would be cool to do as you mentioned, so go for it. The average height that they grow to is around 2-3 feet, so just make sure you have the space and height for them.
If your working on tomato plants, [URL="http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-504"]Watch out for flying tomato slices.[/URL] [sp] Incase you didnt get the joke, its about the SCP-504 Tomato from the SCP Website. [/sp]
Definitely "tomato" plants. I wish I wish had some "tomatoes" right now with my final exam coming up in an hour and all. Some dank "tomatoes" smelling like citrus or perhaps blueberries, maybe even stinking. You should definitely grow some tomatoes.
Set up a massive hydroponics rig, use tonnes of expensive lighting, and grow daffodils. When the police raid your house all they will find is a perfectly legal daffodil crop!
My parents grow hydroponic cucumbers. I will post a few pictures later. Edit Approximately 1500 plants. [IMG]http://i40.tinypic.com/apbpqh.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i42.tinypic.com/no8z1e.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i44.tinypic.com/dbnxbb.jpg[/IMG] Same greenhouse can hold up to 3000 capsicum plants or 1500 tomato plants also. The stuff on the floor that looks like algae is just excess water/nutrients.
Grow carrots!
Cherry tomatoes. Home grown tomatoes are so much better than shop bought ones, and if you can't manage the size of tomatoes, cherry tomatoes is the only choice :P
thick juicy cucumbers
-snip-
Wow Dumstrick. That is impressive! Do your parents do this for a living?
Sure do.
[QUOTE=DrumStick;35146544]Sure do.[/QUOTE] So they're drug dealers? There must be more than cucumbers there
Grow some Tea?
Raspberries! [img]http://mikes-table.themulligans.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/raspberry_tartufi-1.jpg[/img] The best berries!
Strawberries. A strawberry plant don't take up much space.
grow up
[QUOTE=download;35146572]So they're drug dealers? There must be more than cucumbers there[/QUOTE] Hahaha nup. Apparently one crop of weed would bring in around one million dollars over three months.
[img]http://images.comiccollectorlive.com/covers/ce1/ce11a9df-6bd7-45b4-a304-39c2d8083cd3.jpg[/img]
coca plants
Grow those mushrooms that smell like dick
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