WATER FARM

WILL HYDROPONICS WORK ON THE LOWER DESERT? THAT'S WHERE I LEFT YOU HANG'IN YESTERDAY. ONE WAY TO FIND OUT, IS TO TRY IT!

THIS IS THE STARTER KIT FOR HYDROPONICS 101, IT'S CALLED THE "WATER FARM".

I LEFT THIS PICTURE LARGE, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO FOLLOW ALONG ON THIS EXPLANATION, SIMPLY CLICK ON THE PICTURE FOR A LARGER VIEW.

"A" IS THE WATER RESERVOIR, WHERE YOU STORE THE WATER AND CHEMICAL MIX OF MICRO-NUTRIENTS.

"B" IS THE GROWING CHAMBER, WHERE YOU PLANT YOUR PLANTS.

"C" IS A PUMP, ACTUALLY IT'S AN AIR PUMP LIKE YOU USE IN A FISH AQUARIUM, IT FORCES THE WATER (MIXED WITH NUTRIENTS) UP AN INTERNAL TUBE TO THE DRIP RING.

"D" THESE RED ROUND ROCKS ARE CLAY. THEY ARE INERT, AND ARE USED ONLY TO SUPPORT THE PLANT BY IT'S ROOTS MUCH LIKE SOIL. THERE ARE MANY MATERIALS YOU CAN USE FOR THIS, GRAVEL, PERLIX, SAND, ETC. WE MADE THIS DECISION BASED ON WHAT WAS SUPPLIED WITH THE KIT.

"E" THIS IS THE DRIP RING. IT DRIPS WATER AND NUTRIENTS DOWN ON THE CLAY ROCKS THROUGH A SERIES OF HOLES ON THE UNDER SIDE OF THE RING.

"F" THIS IS MARY'S BARE KNEE, SEE I TOLD YOU WE WEAR SHORTS AND T-SHIRTS ALMOST ALL THE TIME. (INSERT "SUNNY & 80" LINE HERE)

HERE IS PICTURE OF THE "WATER FARM" WERE IT SITS OUTSIDE, NEAR THE 110 PLUG FOR THE PUMP.

THIS IS THE TOP WHERE THE PLANTS WILL GROW. IN THE BOTTOM OF THIS GROWING AREA IS A SERIES OF HOLES THAT LETS THE SOLUTION DRAIN BACK INTO THE BOTTOM TO BE RECIRCULATED.

HERE YOU CAN SEE BETWEEN THE TWO CONTAINERS WHERE THE GROWING SOLUTION IS STORED AND DRIPS BACK INTO THE WATER RESERVOIR.

BEFORE I GET TO THE NEXT CHAPTER IN THE SERIES ON HYDROPONICS, I MIGHT POINT OUT THAT I GOT A "D" IN CHEMISTRY AT LUTHER COLLEGE IN 1968.