Hydroponics Online This site has info on how to build a hydroponic ebb and flow garden (its the system I based my garden on), most importantly they arnt chaging for the plans or any information that they have. They also sell pre-made gardens based on the same design if you arent techinically inclined to do build one yourself.

Another Site This site is curently down (too many hits, so it cant be bad), so I can't get the title, but it has lots of nice pictures and ideas on how to build many of the common systesm used for hobby hydroponics, and commercial hydroponics I would imagaine. Its free to so good.

Here is a picture of my non hydroponic garden. I have a few trees in there growing from seeds. There is thyme in the hanging shelf and basil on the top shelf.

7-4-03

Here is a picture of the garden from above with the solo cups with holes melted in them as baskets. The growing medium is, obviously, perlite. I have spinach, onions, strawberries and pppers in it currently. I have no idea if they will grow well using the same nutrients, but I am sure i will learn soon. The plastic bags are for germination and are removed when the greens show significantly.

My nutirent solution is Miricle Grow (1 tsp/gallon) and Epson salt (1/4 tsp/gallon). I have heard that half miricle grow for house plants and half miricle grow for tomatoes works better, so I will see if I need to switch to that. So far every thing is going well, but most of the plants are still on in seed food so it will take a few days to tell.

The overflow riser also doubls as a stand for lights that i will add.

7-5-03

Here is a picture of the garden with the light fixture and shade in place, the chains are for lowering and raising to keep it close to the plants. Also visible are the two timers i use for the system. One is a digital timer (purchaced for $20 at home depot) that runs the pump and the other is a simple lamp timer ($5 at home depot) to turn the lights on and off.

Here is a picture of the onions, they have begun to come out of the seeds, germinate. The sheet visible in the background acted as a tent to keep the light out of my little room. The fol is to keep light out of the nutrient solution as it ebbs. The seeds were simply placed in the perlite and the ebb flow cycle was started, at half frequency. In seed form they only need water, and the bags prevent evaporation so twice a day is adequate.

I bought a flourescent light fixture from home depot for 20 bucks, and got rid of the diffuser and extra metal parts. I made a shade out of the box it came in, in a weak attempt to direct more light onto the plants instead of on me. I plan to cover the inside surface of the shade with mylar for added refelction.

7-7-03

Here is a picture after just 6 days growth. If your a pro you can probably spot a few things I am doing wrong, but luckily, I can't :) The onions are coming in well, as is the spinach. The strawberries, not pictured, have germinated and have a tine green leaf forming. The peppers are in the kitch where its about 80 F, and have sprouted a nice little root. The peppers will be placed back in the garden in the next few days.

More pictures to come.