Tue, 2009/02/24 - 8:38pm
Wed, 2009/02/25 - 11:45am
#2
That's great, a little more publicity for our site - we are pushing the AG beyond what anyone else has done.
I wonder if AG and GH are thinking of a partnership? We will sell your nutrients with our AeroGarden...
Wed, 2009/02/25 - 11:53am
#3
And your guide started it, Peat! 
That is a good idea - Aerogrow teaming up with General Hydroponics for continuing R&D on nutes. I have a fairly high opinion of Aerogrow's nute tablets - can't beat 'em for convenience, and they do a pretty good job! Wish they didn't have those hydrophilic slurry features... But with consumer spending low, a little R&D strategy could help with their margins.
Wed, 2009/02/25 - 12:07pm
#4
Yeah, that's sort of quite nice if I, in any way, sparked something off like this.
I completely agree with you on the AG tablets, they do a really good job. It would be great to see the AG packaged with some GH nutes, what a great start for anyone wanting to learn hydro, and do more with their garden. Not sure how they will get round the problem of checking the EC though, rely on the GH standard measures (probably), or package a cheap EC meter along with the garden?
Wed, 2009/02/25 - 12:16pm
#5
...Or find some way to keep the EC more stable / rendered harmless.
Given the price of a Bluelab Truncheon, do you think it is possible to integrate inexpensive electronics into a hydroponic/aeroponic unit to monitor the EC?
Wed, 2009/02/25 - 12:38pm
#6
There are units available that can monitor the EC continuously, they sit in immersed in the liquid. You can buy really cheap pocket EC meters, or meters with a probe on a cable now - it's the cheapest option for a company which has seen it's shares slide.
Would AG want to redevelop the AeroGarden with more electronics? I'm going to say no, package the AG with some GH nutes, a cheap EC meter and a GH liquid pH test kit.
Wed, 2009/02/25 - 1:19pm
#7
How cheap do you think these EC meters can be?
Wed, 2009/02/25 - 1:48pm
#8
You can pick this one up from Hanna (ppm meter though) for £16 ($22), add ten pounds more ($14) and would get you one that does EC.
Wed, 2009/02/25 - 1:57pm
#9
Well, assuming wholesale components cost of no more than $10, to support no more than + $25 to the price of a "deluxe" version AG unit, that's probably feasible.
I still think you'd want dry nutes (possibly pre-measured in capsules) rather than tripartite liquids, to support the foolproof-farmer core product concept.
Wed, 2009/02/25 - 2:07pm
#10
Maxigrow and Maxibloom, both dry and two part.
Provide a small tub of each product, package the AG with a measure, and you do it yourself - satisfying as you are in control. 
Wed, 2009/02/25 - 2:11pm
#11
Exactly what I was thinking.
And - ppm (or whatever the cheapest sensor you can make is) would probably be perfectly adequate to monitor a specific nutrient type.
Wed, 2009/02/25 - 2:50pm
#12
I'd love to have an AG or anything similar with EC and PH meters built-in but it ain't gonna happen for a couple of reasons, besides cleaning and calibrating....
- The economy - it would be foolish to spend R&D money they probably don't have to make a more expensive product.
- Simplicity - the whole AG concept is built on "put it together in two minutes, add water, pods and tabs and plug it in, then add tabs when the lights flash". Design to the lowest common denominator.
The vast majority of AG users have no clue about EC or PH and sadly don't care to learn. And from questions I've seen other places, they don't even bother to read the book past the introduction.
The idea of GH producing tabs for AG is the only compelling reason I can see for this happening and it makes good business sense... AG could shut down their tab production line and eliminate the grief and expense of melting tabs plus GH could make a few dollars doing what they do best.
Thu, 2009/02/26 - 9:59am
#13
Hi All,
I agree the majority of users don't want to fuss with mixing nutes. But I'd love to see specific formulation for different crops. The Cucs on the ag tabs were dismal. The liquid nutes at least can be modified.
Beth
Very cool. I'll be curious what they think of the AG tablets.