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First Hydroponic Try
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Posted by frednumber3 9 (My Page) on Thu, Jan 1, 09 at 10:33
Hello, Would appreciate just a few answers to a couple of questions. This will be a first time try at Hydro growing. Very difficult here in Florida with the terrible soil, insects and fungus. Had over 50 years of regular gardening up north and it was simple, 10/20/20, black plastic and water, that was all that was needed. Down here, nematodes, white flies which bring Tomato yellow leaf curl virus, it is killing Me.
So, I am going to build a raft system, it will be a small set up, a blue plastic tote from K Mart, Styrofoam float, 50/50 vermiculite/ perlite, aquarium air pump and air stone and it will be mobile. Will be on a dolley, mornings on back patio (East), carport from noon on. Got lettuce (a bib blend) and what I read it is a good first time crop. Just too technical for Me to jump in to a trough system like Norm34 has, which I will be getting into if this works. A lot of chemicals to get into and I must get My supplys at best price, I have to do My homework on that.
OK. Anyone ever hear of a product called "Watch Us Grow" This is the only Hydroponic Nutrient I can find here in Sarasota. It's a nursery here, it's 8-8-8 with minors, I think it's $18.00 a quart. Can I use this? Got the PH strips and when the solution starts to get out of wack I will use it on My soil garden and make up a New batch. Will this work?
Thanks so much for reading through this, I don't have anyone down here who does this and I am new at this type of gardening. Again Thank You, Fred |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: First Hydroponic Try
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I haven't bought liquid nutes in a while, but $18 per quart sounds high to me. I bought a dry blend from southernag.com for I believe about #60 with shipping and it'll last me for probably another 40 seasons at my current size. (I bought it through a greenhouse supply store from southernag)
Raft systems don't work very well with tomato plants, but lettuce should work well.
Welcome to the world of bugs. I hope you stick with the hydro.
Cheers! |
RE: First Hydroponic Try
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| Thank You Grizzman, New at this and ALL the help is appreciated, Fred |
RE: First Hydroponic Try
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| I would be more concerned with the NPK @ 8-8-8 than the price of the stuff. I brew my own nutrient and keep it at around 1-2-1 +/-. Most hydroponic applications use a far-less potent combination of the big three nutrients. Then again, if you'd like your lettuce destroyed by tip burn way before any bugs show an interest, it might be just the ticket! Grizzman is right about tomatoes and raft systems, although "I" have successfully done it. The trick is 24/7 aeration -- large pump & air stone. Don't try the lettuce and tomatoes at the same time in the same pond though. Tomatoes are heavy feeders and lettuce is not. |
RE: First Hydroponic Try
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Thank You Freemangreens, like I said, this forum is just great. I appreciate the expert information. Thanks to all.
Now to find a 1-2-1 source. Thanks to all who make this forum the greatest. Fred |
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