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Review: The Ponics Handheld Pump from Zero Mile Farms

 

The Ponics Handheld Pump from Zero Mile Farms is a great multi purpose tool. Use this handheld battery operated pump for watering application, siphoning and much more. Simply submerge the base of the shaft into water flip the one switch and water is pumped through the 1/2" tubing (which can be connected to any 1/2" barbed fittings).

The Ponics Handheld Pump runs off two AA batteries (not included).

http://www.urbansunshine.com/ponics-handheld-pump

Day 033: Keystone Bell Peppers, Genovese Sweet Basil, Lettuce

Adjusted pepper nutrient solutions to be above 90% desired concentration. Relative concentration dipped to between 79% and 94% of original concentration. If necessary, adjusted low pH to 5.5/5.6 with KOH. All solutions now register a pH of 5.5 or 5.6.

Lettuce and basil was adjusted from pH 5.3 to pH 5.6 by the addition of KOH. Nutrient solution was 93% original concentration. Did not adjust nutrients.

Day 032: Keystone Bell Peppers, Genovese Sweet Basil, Lettuce

Day 028: Keystone Bell Peppers, Genovese Sweet Basil, Lettuce

Basil has an extremely potent flavor.  I'm very pleased with the results thus far.  The plants were pruned (shoot apical meristem was removed) a couple days back to allow for a nice Y to begin developing.

Day 026: Keystone Bell Peppers, Genovese Sweet Basil, Lettuce

Day 025: Keystone Bell Peppers, Genovese Sweet Basil, Lettuce

Added the new light shields today.  Algae growth has gotten pretty bad on the hydroton.

Day 024: Keystone Bell Peppers, Genovese Sweet Basil, Lettuce

Day 023: Keystone Bell Peppers, Genovese Sweet Basil, Lettuce

Day 022: Keystone Bell Peppers, Genovese Sweet Basil, Lettuce

Day 021: Keystone Bell Peppers, Genovese Sweet Basil, Lettuce

Day 020: Keystone Bell Peppers, Genovese Sweet Basil, Lettuce

Hydroponic Nutrient Calculator

This hydroponic nutrient calculator will allow you to effortlessly develop custom nutrient solutions based upon the General Hydroponics or Botanicare nutrient systems.  It is an OpenOffice spreadsheet which can also be opened in Microsoft Excel or LibreOffice.  Simply tweak the input values until the desired nutrient concentrations are reached.

I developed this due to different plants having unique nutrient requirements not properly covered by the manufactures general recommendations.   The spreadsheet includes a formulation based on Howard Resh's nutrient solution for lettuce.

The following stock nutrient solutions are included in the calculator:

• General Hydroponics FloraGro
• General Hydroponics FloraMicro
• General Hydroponics FloraBloom
• Botanicare Cal-Mag Plus
• Botanicare Sweet
• Botanicare Hydroplex
• Botanicare CNS17 Grow
• Botanicare CNS17 Bloom
• Humboldt Nutrients Deuce Deuce

https://rapidshare.com/files/2718577251/HydroponicNutrientCalculator.ods

Nutrient Formulations: Genovese Sweet Basil, Lettuce

On Sept 25, 2012 I moved them from the standard 1/4 cube solution they had been in onto the full nutes.  Roots were emerging from the cubes at the time.

Genovese Sweet Basil, Lettuce:

1. 22.68L (6gal) reverse osmosis water.
2. 22.00mL General Hydroponics FloraGro
3. 58.08mL Genreal Hydroponics FloraMicro
4. 44.00mL General Hydroponics FloraBloom
5. 33.00mL Botanicare Cal-Mag Plus
6. 8.8mL Humboldt Nutrients Deuce Deuce
7. pH @ ~5.6

Formulation Composition:

• 181.13ppm Nitrogen
• 48.07ppm Phosphorus
• 211.15ppm Potassium
• 182.76ppm Calcium
• 53.00ppm Magnesium
• 20.68ppm Sulfur
• 4.14ppm Iron
• 0.0.26ppm Boron
• 1.32ppm Manganese
• 0.26ppm Copper
• 0.40ppm Zinc
• 0.02ppm Molybdenum
• 0.01ppm Cobalt
• TOTAL PPM:703.21

Forumlations Derived From:
http://www.howardresh.com/Hydroponic-Lettuce-Production1.html

Nutrient Formulations: Keystone Bell Peppers

On Sept 25, 2012 I moved them from the standard 1/4 cube solution they had been in onto the full nutes.  Roots were emerging from the cubes at the time, and as of yesterday, the roots are really blasting out the bottom of these cubes.

Keystone Bell Peppers:

1. 10L reverse osmosis water.
2. 14.6mL General Hydroponics FloraGro
3. 26.4mL Genreal Hydroponics FloraMicro
4. 22.3mL General Hydroponics FloraBloom
5. 20.0mL Botanicare Cal-Mag Plus
6. 5.0 mL Botanicare Sweet
7. 8.2mL Humboldt Nutrients Deuce Deuce
8. pH @ ~5.8

Formulation Composition:

• 200.03ppm Nitrogen
• 55.11ppm Phosphorus
• 318.39ppm Potassium
• 198.76ppm Calcium
• 72.25ppm Magnesium
• 32.98ppm Sulfur
• 4.64ppm Iron
• 0.26ppm Boron
• 1.32ppm Manganese
• 0.26ppm Copper
• 0.40ppm Zinc
• 0.02ppm Molybdenum
• 0.01ppm Cobalt
• TOTAL PPM: 884.43

Forumlations Derived From:
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/hydro/msg0714422817874.html?18

Day 019: Keystone Bell Peppers, Genovese Sweet Basil, Lettuce

Day 018: Keystone Bell Peppers, Genovese Sweet Basil, Lettuce

Day 016: Keystone Bell Peppers, Genovese Sweet Basil, Lettuce

Day 014: Keystone Bell Peppers, Genovese Sweet Basil, Lettuce

Day 012: Keystone Bell Peppers, Genovese Sweet Basil, Lettuce

Day 008: Keystone Bell Peppers, Genovese Sweet Basil, Lettuce

Day 006: Keystone Bell Peppers, Genovese Sweet Basil, Lettuce

Day 005: Keystone Bell Peppers, Genovese Sweet Basil, Lettuce

Day 004: Keystone Bell Peppers, Genovese Sweet Basil, Lettuce

Day 003: Keystone Bell Peppers, Genovese Sweet Basil, Lettuce

Most of the basil has germinated and the lettuce is beginning to germinate.

Temperature has been maintained between 82F and 86F with the 125W Felix CFL (6500K) mounted horizontally 11.5 inches above the dome lid.

Time-Lapse: Days 09-94 (Cherry Tomato, Cantaloupe, Bell Pepper)

Time-lapse video documenting days 09-94 of the cherry tomato, cantaloupe, and bell pepper grow.

Day 001: Ready. Set. Grow. [Keystone Bell Peppers, Genovese Sweet Basil, Lettuce]

Rockwool cubes pHed overnight and achieved final pH of ~5.8 in ~1/8 strength General Hydroponics solution.

Placed under 125W Feliz CFL (6500K)

Below are what is currently on the grow schedule.

Revamp in Prep for Next Grow

It's finally cooled down here.  No more +105F degree days.  I'll be starting a grow of bell peppers, basil, and lettuce shortly.

Latest additions worth mentioning:

1.  I added lids to control algae growth.  These were cut from a medium sized Rubbermaid container.  I found that early in plant development, prior to leaves shading of the hydroton, that the intense light was causing unsightly algae.

2.  Purchased an ebb and flow Botanicare microgarden system for leafy greens and herbs.  The unit is constructed of food grade ABS plastic and is fairly sturdy (though not as sturdy as the PowerGrowers).  It came with some type of cocoa coir substrate, but I'm going to use hydroton.  I've had success with hydroton and ebb and flows in the past, so I don't think it'll be an issue.