the plants exploded??!????

Yes, I don't think I've ever seen seedlings shoot up like that in 2 days. I'm using this crazy fish/seaweed extrusion fertilizer.

*arches an eyebrow* did not know such fertilizer works on plants

Is it soil or are you doing aeroponics in there?

I used peat pods cause I haven't gotten the flex baskets to put the hydroton in yet. It's also way easier to start in peat pods which more direct moisture contact and being able to rehydrate them with nutrient broth. I'd use mineral wool if I could find a place that sells it in smaller quantities.

Is that a thin film setup?

I used a simple ebb and flow setup. Didn't like it as a hydroponic system, but in and of itself, it was awesome compared to growing in soil. I grew S. divinorum, and accidentally got it to flower (finally figured out how today - PH) after getting it to grow at a phenomenal rate.

I highly recommend 8ft fluorescent bulbs if you're going to use those, otherwise Sodium or similar HID. Cold cathode fluorescents are much more efficient than hot cathode (no heat generation needed to initiate plasma.) And HID are actually a lot more efficient than fluorescent. I've found HIDs at surplus sales and Habitat for Humanity stores for dirt cheap.

I'm using a 1-2-3 aquatic solution that is fed down a slush. I use Sylvania ECO Design 50 4" T12 bulbs which have a similar CIR and K values to medium mid-day summer sunlight. I also have an aquastone system in the reservoir to try and keep O2 ppm around the ideal of 7-9ppm. The reservoir is also monitored for temperature and pH now and then to ensure the nutrient solution (which is heat sensitive) hasn't gone awry.

Sounds pretty good. The 4' (I presume you meant four foot bulbs, not four inch bulbs...heh) bulbs aren't near as energy efficient as 8' bulbs or HIDs, so something to consider for the future.

How do you monitor O2 out of curiosity? I used an airpump with several aquastones but didn't worry about the actual 02 levels.

One of these days, when I get a more stable place with room, and the money of course, I plan to create an automated system. I'd have to get my programming skills back up sufficiently to even attempt to write the software, but I'm pretty sure I could do it. Anyway, I have experience with automation of much more complicated equipment ($750,000 excimer lasers) so I might as well put it to practical use. I even want to create an automated greenhouse that opens windows to swap out air, supplies increased CO2 (not that "global warming" isn't already), and fun things like that.


Anyway, its a lot of fun. Enjoy it!

I've spent on my whole garden what one HID array would cost :/ I don't really care about pennies on the dollar difference in electricty. If I did, I'd use T8 bulbs.

As far as automation I have $5 timers from target turning stuff on and off and it works fine.

I've paid $25 for a 400Watt sodium, and $0.50 for a 150Watt sodium. I paid $180 for my ebb and flow hydroponic system (with 5 plants.)