Mon, 2011/02/07 - 8:31pm
Hi All,
Setting up the small hydro (hydrofarm emily's garden) I noticed there is a big distance between where I'll be planting the seedling and the nutrient solution (about 5" between where I'll put the rockwool cube and nute soulution). Can I reasonably expect the clay pellets to draw up nutrient solution that far? It seems like a long distance. Help please???
Thanks,
Beth
Tue, 2011/02/08 - 12:16pm
#2
Hi Beth, I think you may have to try this first just to make doubly sure.
If you are doing DWC the air pump is a major factor in getting the nutrient up to the plant/seedling, I usually start with the water 1" below the net pots, the air pump splashes and splatters the hydroton wetting it at different heights.
Tue, 2011/02/08 - 3:43pm
#3
Hi Beth I don't think capillary action will be significant with clay pellets. The pellets are too big and the space between them is too large. I tried measuring how far water would creep up perlite and was surprised that it was between 1 and 2 inches.
Tue, 2011/02/08 - 9:36pm
#4
Hi All,
I heard back from Hydrofarm on th Emily's Garden. The first response was to make sure the seedling roots were immersed in nutes. I emailed back that it would be very difficult to have a seedling with 5 inch roots. The second response offered to send me the capillary mats that should have been included in the kit! Weird because they aren't on the kit contents list but are included in an old version (via web search) of the content list. So, not sure what is going on but really can't plant seedlings in this hydro as is. I have no idea when they'll get around to sending them so I guess I'll have to jury rig something in the meantime. I was thinking of using microfiber cloth strips. Thoughts?? No pressure - I just need to have a fully functional unit with a growing plant or two by 22 Feb 
Beth
Tue, 2011/02/08 - 9:58pm
#5
Microfiber cloth strips oughta work, I think. Again, you can try it in a cup and see...
So how will this work? You put the sponge into like an AG cup, and microfiber strips held to sponge via the plastic cup, and hanging down, then fill in with hydroton?
Wed, 2011/02/09 - 4:55pm
#6
There is another way, immerse the whole pot completely in the water if possible...
Not as drastic as it sounds, remember the 'lettuce raft' experiment, everything was completely soaked, the seeds never drowned because there was enough aeration from my air stones.
Only downside here is that the seeds you are growing could take exception to being saturated all the time, lettuce positively thrives in this environment.
Wed, 2011/02/09 - 8:17pm
#7
Hi Peat and Gisette,
The instructions are very vague - one sentence about capillary mat and I can't find anything helpful on the web. There is a fill line on the side - I'll try adding water above the line to bring up the level (kinda afraid of the unit bulging!). I don't think it will come all the way up to the roots. Take a look at how high the pots are above the side. I'll need to experiment this weekend.
Here are the instructions:
http://www.hydrofarm.com/downloads/fc/emsgardenINSTRUC.10_14860.pdf
Thanks,
Beth
Wed, 2011/02/09 - 8:23pm
#8
OK, I just realized the fill line is the minimum level - duh. I'm supposed to start out with 6 gallons of water. That makes more sense. I'll see how that works. I still think I'll need to use some capillary action with little seedlings...
Beth
Wed, 2011/02/09 - 9:18pm
#9
Huh. Yeah, they just sort of tossed nutrient mats into the discussion halfway through, without ever describing how the silly things got installed, even if they did exist. 
I found this other instructions pdf for Em's Garden on the web, though - this one includes the mats:
http://www.hydrofarm.com/downloads/fc/emsgardenINSTRUC_21506.pdf
I suspect even yarn loosely tied around the starter cubes, would work.
Looks like a very cool system. 
How big are the pots?
Thu, 2011/02/10 - 10:15pm
#10
Hi Gisette,
Thanks for the link - confirms that a capillary mat or something needs to be included to bridge the gap between either rockwool cube or ag sponge. The pots are 6.25" square by 9" deep (huge to my eyes!). I filled it with 5 gallons of water and it looks good to me - no bowing of the sides and what I'd expect from a DWC setup. I am now really behind on starting seeds of something to show at the demonstration! Why did I volunteer to do this? The main challenge is transport. Can't easily lift 40 bs of water! Will need to be emptied to take in the car.
I'm really looking forward to testing out this hydro unit. Looks like the capacity is just right for a starter unit! Full size peepers next fall!
Beth
You can try it in a dixie cup, but... I doubt it.
When I've used hydroton, I've done the ebb&flood thing (and usually left it flooded).