Welcome to a thread for small grows! A single plant - grown in a small closet once per year - can yield several daily doses of concentrate all year long.
Why a closet? Devised this basic set-up in the 1990s, when privacy was still a concern. Returning to growing a few years ago, it's still an ideal space.
Ventilation is the key. This closet happens to have an attic entry in which a 6-inch fan is mounted. It's covered by a filter to prevent any dust from the attic finding its way back down.
The closet shelf is at a good height for gravity irrigation. A black bucket blocks light that could feed algae. The tube up the center indicates the level of water/nutrients.
For irrigation, it's Tropf-Blumat.
Found after making the classic mistake of over-watering. It's simple and effective. Basically, as water is drawn out of the "carrot" by the roots, pressure tugs open the thin flexible hose dripping water/nutrients from above the medium. All of the irrigation gear is available from their resellers.
The red irrigation tubing is connected in a loop from the reservoir through strainers that keep particulates from blocking the line. To the left is a grey air pump connected by clear tubing to an air stone. This keeps the reservoir fully oxygenated. The Amare 300W COB LED hangs from the clothes rack.
(Roots love oxygen. So does a white film that grew in the reservoir until Hydroguard cleared it up.)
The dripper is actually connected to a distribution dripper and then to a buried dripper hose. The distribution dripper drips close to the stem, while the dripper hose irrigates the pot evenly.
Switched last year, but the simple dripper without strainers was fine before that. Like to try new add-ons and upgrades.
The moisture sensor has become indispensible. It works on the same principle as the the blumats. It allows you to set the optimal moisture level for each stage of growth. 117mbar is pretty moist, but that's best for germination and seedlings. The number will be higher and dryer in flowering.
(The white pebbles are Growstone's Gnat Nix. The sharp silica injures the adults as they first emerge from the medium.)
Using Canna nutrients and peat-based soilless medium. Yes, you can get great results more cheaply. Tried DIY super soil, got poor results. There are plenty of other things to worry about. (One of the disadvantages of this method is a steep learning curve , even growing plants every four months.) Right now, it's Canna Start.
Seedlings also like relatively high humidity. The Honeywell isn't ideal, purchase in desperattion during a humidity crisis, but it does the job. The gold rod in the corner is a closet heater. Like to germinate in the final five gallon airpot, and seedlings like it warm. (Closet heaters are sold for clothing care, but provide the right, gentle warmth.)
Don't overlook the hygrometer/thermometer on the wall to the right.
That's about all for this set-up. Please post yours or ask questions about this one. Plan to update through harvest as the closet garden adapts to the needs of the maturing plant.
But for now... a baby!
Why a closet? Devised this basic set-up in the 1990s, when privacy was still a concern. Returning to growing a few years ago, it's still an ideal space.
Ventilation is the key. This closet happens to have an attic entry in which a 6-inch fan is mounted. It's covered by a filter to prevent any dust from the attic finding its way back down.
The closet shelf is at a good height for gravity irrigation. A black bucket blocks light that could feed algae. The tube up the center indicates the level of water/nutrients.
For irrigation, it's Tropf-Blumat.
Found after making the classic mistake of over-watering. It's simple and effective. Basically, as water is drawn out of the "carrot" by the roots, pressure tugs open the thin flexible hose dripping water/nutrients from above the medium. All of the irrigation gear is available from their resellers.
The red irrigation tubing is connected in a loop from the reservoir through strainers that keep particulates from blocking the line. To the left is a grey air pump connected by clear tubing to an air stone. This keeps the reservoir fully oxygenated. The Amare 300W COB LED hangs from the clothes rack.
(Roots love oxygen. So does a white film that grew in the reservoir until Hydroguard cleared it up.)
The dripper is actually connected to a distribution dripper and then to a buried dripper hose. The distribution dripper drips close to the stem, while the dripper hose irrigates the pot evenly.
Switched last year, but the simple dripper without strainers was fine before that. Like to try new add-ons and upgrades.
The moisture sensor has become indispensible. It works on the same principle as the the blumats. It allows you to set the optimal moisture level for each stage of growth. 117mbar is pretty moist, but that's best for germination and seedlings. The number will be higher and dryer in flowering.
(The white pebbles are Growstone's Gnat Nix. The sharp silica injures the adults as they first emerge from the medium.)
Using Canna nutrients and peat-based soilless medium. Yes, you can get great results more cheaply. Tried DIY super soil, got poor results. There are plenty of other things to worry about. (One of the disadvantages of this method is a steep learning curve , even growing plants every four months.) Right now, it's Canna Start.
Seedlings also like relatively high humidity. The Honeywell isn't ideal, purchase in desperattion during a humidity crisis, but it does the job. The gold rod in the corner is a closet heater. Like to germinate in the final five gallon airpot, and seedlings like it warm. (Closet heaters are sold for clothing care, but provide the right, gentle warmth.)
Don't overlook the hygrometer/thermometer on the wall to the right.
That's about all for this set-up. Please post yours or ask questions about this one. Plan to update through harvest as the closet garden adapts to the needs of the maturing plant.
But for now... a baby!
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Just opening the door to her world brings peace of mind.
