Slow start in my grow room

Seedlings up and stretching for the light.
At first I was concerned about the LED light being too bright for seedlings. Most folks use florescent tubes for starting seedlings. I ordered a thick book on hydroponics, but seems it was written in the early 1980s... LEDs aren't even mentioned.

Two weeks ago

Today shows some progress

The light was about 24" above the seed cubes...but once they started quickly sprouting and getting "leggy",  I realized my light needed to be much closer. More like 10 inches. Luckily, they appear to be okay now. Stalks are beefing up a tad. Placing a low speed fan blowing across them is supposed to help. So did that as well.

And I'm running lights on timer...15 hours on - 9 hours off.

Today I transferred the lettuce and kale to the "perma-tubby". Mixed up the proper nutrients, placed a bubbler stone inside, and adjusted the light. Once everything gets bigger I'll change to a 14/10 timing for lights.

Seems slow going... but what else am I gonna do? Nap?

Hydroponic gardening.....second attempt

I know, it's been a looong dang time since I posted a blog. But if your lifestyle is basically as exciting as watching mud dry...there's just not much worthwhile to report.

Just re-commenced my indoor gardening efforts.  LED grow lights have come down in price, with a decent medium sized light costing around $50-70 on Amazon. This size should provide adequate light for an approximate 3' x 3' grow surface platform. The air pumps aren't actually necessary, but I've got two, so I'm using them to keep the nutrients churning in the water in each tubby tank.

I get my seeds from an outfit in Missouri. It's also where I get the 3 ingredients for my grow nutrient mix. Rainwater is what I try to use, because the PH is typically perfect.

Starting with grow cubes and a warming mat beneath a cheap plastic seedling sprouter tray (with lid)...and proper mix diluted to half strength...after 4-5 days you'll have some infant seedlings rearing their pretty little heads. Dont forget the light.!! But a simple florescent tube light is enough to grow most any lettuce or kale. Veggy producers need proper grow lights to make blooms then fruits, after the seedling stage.

I noticed a few seed packets had been nibbled on....so I prepared a delicacy of peanut butter attached to a simple mouse neck brace. 

I added about 20 more seedlings yesterday, so I need to get busy setting up my tubbies. And I'm using a couple of extension cords to power some of the grow lights to avoid popping breakers in my grow room. The grow room is located in a bedroom in my man cave, which happens to be an old 1983 double wide mobile home located at the rear of my 2 acre tract.

Had to type up an Excel chart to keep my seedlings straight until transplanting into the tubbies.

And I have a few large net pots that fit over a 5 gallon black bucket (black to keep light out... algae will flourish in there otherwise)

The small grow cubes are held in place inside each net cup with clay pellets. I bought a HUGE amount of these clay pellets about 10 years ago from a guy in Dallas on craigslist. Waaaay more than I'll EVER need.        (3 each 55 gallon steel drums full!)

I've gotta go lay down awhile now...all this blogging has me worn out.

Adios