A number of the colorful flowering plants in the hydroponic gardens bloomed while I was away. I also harvested some strawberries. Some of the strawberries looked a little odd since I was not here to manually pollinate the strawberry flowers.
AeroGarden Farm 03-Right. Dianthus Bloom. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/5, 1/60 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)AeroGarden Farm 02-Left. Dianthus Bloom. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/8, 1/60 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)AeroGarden Farm 01-Right. Calendula Bloom. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/11, 1/60 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)AeroGarden Farm 01-Right. Calendula Bloom. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/11, 1/60 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)AeroGarden Farm 01-Right. Snapdragon Bloom. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/8, 1/60 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)AeroGarden Farm 01-Right. Snapdragon Bloom. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/8, 1/60 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)AeroGarden Farm 03-Right. Zinnia Bloom. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/8, 1/60 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)AeroGarden Farm 03-Right. Zinnia Bloom. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/8, 1/60 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)Zinnia Blooms cut from last December. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/2.8, 1/60 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)AeroGarden Farm 05-Right. Zucchini Bloom. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/8, 1/60 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)AeroGarden Farm 05-Right. Zucchini Bloom. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/8, 1/60 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)Strawberry Harvest from AeroGarden Farms 07-Left, 07-Right, and Hydroponic Tubs 01-08. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 400, 80 mm, f/2.8, 1/60 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Daily Electric Energy Used (66.3 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (20.9 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. More sun. A deficit of 45.4 kWh. Some of the hydroponic gardens are still off.
Weekly Electric Energy Used (354 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (93 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. A deficit of 261 kWh.
Prior to my trip to Florida, I shut down several of the hydroponic gardens since I would not be able to add water or plant food. I harvested and froze the Bok Choi, Swiss Chard, Kale, and Basil. I was amazed to see how big the roots were in some of these systems. I let the AeroGarden Farms at floor level remain on while gone. These have the ability to add water via an auxiliary 1 gallon bottle with a gravity siphon. The AeroGarden Farms at floor level were programed for “Vacation Mode” which reduces the number of hours per day that the LED lights were on. The thermostat for the house was also reduced. This way, I hoped that some of the plants would survive. When I returned, the water levels in the hydroponic systems were pretty low but as you can see in the following images a good deal of the plants did survive.
AeroGarden Farm 01-Left. Tomato plants at 107 days. Harvested a few small yellow tomatoes. Reset the LED lights to 16.5 hours on per day, and the pump to 60 minutes on, 0 minutes off (Tomato, High Growth Setting). After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.01 and the TDS was 278 ppm. Added 16 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL of buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 01-Left. Tomato Plants (107 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 500, 35 mm, f/8, 1/50 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 01-Right. Various “edible” flowers (Dianthus, Snapdragon, Marigold, Calendula) at 109 days. Trimmed and pruned the dead flowers and leaves. Reset the LED lights to 17 hours on per day, and the pump to 5 minutes on, 55 minutes off (Lettuce, High Growth Setting). After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.55 and TDS was 102 ppm. Added 24 mL Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and no pH/buffer adjustment.
AeroGarden Farm 01-Right. Flowers: Dianthus, Snapdragon, Marigold, Calendula (109 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 500, 35 mm, f/8, 1/50 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 02-Left. Pepper plants at 106 days. The plants are still pretty small. Reset the LED lights to 16.5 hours on per day, and the pump to 60 minutes on, 0 minutes off (Peppers, High Growth Setting). After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.4 and the TDS was 150 ppm. Added 24 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL of buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 02, Right. Pepper Plants (106 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 400, 35 mm, f/8, 1/50 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 02-Right. Herb plants (Dill, Basil, Chives) at 106 days. The dill and parsley doing OK, others not as good. Reset the LED lights to 17 hours on per day, and the pump to 5 minutes on, 55 minutes off (Herbs, High Growth Setting). After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.24 and the TDS was 816 ppm. No additional plant food or buffer added.
AeroGarden Farm 02-Right. Herb Plants – Basil, Dill, Parsley (106 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 400, 35 mm, f/8, 1/50 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 03-Left. Pepper and Basil plants at 106 days. The plants are still pretty small. Reset the LED lights to 17 hours on per day, and the pump to 60 minutes on, 0 minutes off (Peppers, High Growth Setting). After topping off with DI water, the pH was 6.11 and the TDS was 607 ppm. No additional plant food or buffer added.
AeroGarden Farm 02, Right. Pepper Plants (106 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 400, 35 mm, f/8, 1/50 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 03-Right. Various flowers (Dianthus, Zinnia, unknown, poppy) at 58 days. Dianthus and Zinnia blooming. Unknown one growing, but no flowers. Red and California poppies not blooming yet. Reset the LED lights to 17 hours on per day, and the pump to 60 minutes on, 0 minutes off (Flowers, High Growth Setting). After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.74 and TDS was 750 ppm. No additional plant food or buffer added.
AeroGarden Farm 03-Right. Flowers – Dianthus, Zinnia, Red Poppy, California Poppy (107 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 500, 35 mm, f/8, 1/50 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 05-Left. Various flowers (Snapdragon, Celosia, Coreopsis, Dianthus, Gazania, Poppy) at 58 days. None blooming, pruned some of the large zucchini leaves from the next tray blocking the plants. Unknown one growing, but no flowers. Red and California poppies not blooming yet. Reset the LED lights to 17 hours on per day, and the pump to 60 minutes on, 0 minutes off (Flowers, High Growth Setting). After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.4 and TDS was 518 ppm. No additional plant food or buffer added.
AeroGarden Farm 05-Left. Flowers – Snapdragon, Celosia, Coreopsis, Dianthus, Gazania, Poppy (58 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 400, 35 mm, f/8, 1/50 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 05-Right. Zucchini and other vegetables at 58 days. The zucchini plants growing vigorously, others not as good. Reset the LED lights to 16.5 hours on per day, and the pump to 60 minutes on, 0 minutes off (Vegetables, High Growth Setting). After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.1 and the TDS was 180 ppm. Added 16 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL of buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 05-Right. Zucchini Plants (58 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 500, 35 mm, f/8, 1/50 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 07-Left. Strawberry plants at 85 days. Most plants growing well, harvested several strawberries. Noted fruit flies. Reset the LED lights to 17 hours on per day, and the pump to 60 minutes on, 0 minutes off (Flowers, High Growth Setting). After topping off with DI water, the pH was 4.27 and TDS was 128 ppm. Added 20 mL of Root Farm Base solution, 20 mL of Root Farm Flower and Fruit solution, and 2 mL of buffer up.
AeroGarden Farm 07-Left. Strawberry Plants (85 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 640, 35 mm, f/8, 1/50 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 07-Right. Strawberry plants at 85 days. Most plants growing well, harvested several strawberries. Noted fruit flies. Reset the LED lights to 17 hours on per day, and the pump to 60 minutes on, 0 minutes off (Flowers, High Growth Setting). After topping off with DI water, the pH was 4.3 and TDS was 753 ppm. Added 2 mL of buffer up.
AeroGarden Farm 07-Right. Strawberry Plants (85 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 640, 35 mm, f/8, 1/50 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Hydroponic Tubs 01 and 02. Strawberry plants at 85 days. Plants in tub 01 not doing well, Plants in tub 02 growing with some strawberries and runners.
Hydroponic Tub 01-02. Strawberry Plants (85 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 250, 35 mm, f/8, 1/50 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Hydroponic Tubs 03 and 04. Strawberry plants at 85 days. Plants in both tubs growing well with strawberries and runners.
Hydroponic Tub 03-04. Strawberry Plants (85 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 1000, 35 mm, f/8, 1/50 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Hydroponic Tubs 05 and 06. Strawberry plants at 85 days. Plants in tub 01 not doing well, Plants in tub 06 growing with some strawberries and runners.
Hydroponic Tub 05-06. Strawberry Plants (85 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 250, 35 mm, f/8, 1/50 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Hydroponic Tubs 07 and 08. Strawberry plants at 85 days. Plants in tub 07 alive, and the ones in tub 08 growing well with strawberries and runners.
Hydroponic Tub 07-08. Strawberry Plants (85 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 35 mm, f/8, 1/50 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Daily Electric Energy Used (61.5 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (4.17 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Cloudy most of the day, not much sun. A deficit of 57.3 kWh. Some of the hydroponic gardens are still off, but the GeoThermal HVAC system and hot water heater are back up to normal temperatures.
Second day of the trip back home. A Garmin VIRB-360 camera was set up to record the trip as a time-lapse video — presented as a Little Planet drive. A little over 9 hours travel time, 576 miles, and 32 mpg (diesel). For whatever reason, the Garmin didn’t record location info for the entire trip, I used the information recorded by my White Rhino.
Daily Electric Energy Used (58.7 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (28.3 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. A deficit of 30.4 kWh. Most of the hydroponic gardens were off or only on for fewer hours. The geothermal HVAC and hybrid heat-pump hot water heater used more energy to bring the house out of vacation mode.
I started the road trip back home figuring the traffic wouldn’t be too bad. A Garmin VIRB-360 camera was set up to record the trip as a time-lapse video. A little over 13 hours travel time, 947 miles, and 31 mpg (diesel).
Daily Electric Energy Used (36.4 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (19.4 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. A deficit of 22.9 kWh. Most of the hydroponic gardens were off or only on for fewer hours. Also, the thermostat for the Geothermal heater and hybrid heat pump hot water heater were set for vacation mode.
Boxer Day — Dawn and Sunrise at Fort De Soto Park. Every year while visiting Florida I like to go to Fort De Soto Park to view the Sunshine Skyway Bridge at dawn and sunrise. My brother and I got there early, just as the and sky and clouds were starting to show some colors. I set up two cameras on tripods, and one handheld. When we arrived the Skyway bridge piers were still lit up with red overnight lights for the holidays.
Fuji X-T3 camera set up to record the sun rising under the Sunshine Skyway bridge from Fort De Soto park in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 1250, 23 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)Fuji X-H1 camera set up to record the sun rising under the Sunshine Skyway bridge from Fort De Soto park in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 1000, 23 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)Sunshine Skyway Bridge at Dawn from Fort De Soto Park. Composite of 13 images taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 200 mm f/2 OIS lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/4, 1/8 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga Pro. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Sunshine Skyway Bridge at Dawn from Fort De Soto Park. Composite of 13 images taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 200 mm f/2 OIS lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/4, 1/8 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga Pro. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Sunshine Skyway Bridge at Dawn from Fort De Soto Park. Composite of 9 images taken with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 1600, 23 mm, f/16, 1/250 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga Pro. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Sunshine Skyway Bridge at Dawn from Fort De Soto Park. composite of 11 images taken with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens (ISO 1600, 23 mm, f/16, 1/60 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga Pro. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Sunshine Skyway Bridge at Dawn from Fort De Soto Park. Composite of 4 images taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 200 mm f/2 OIS lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/11, 1/20 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga Pro. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Sun rising under the Sunshine Skyway bridge from Fort De Soto Park. Composite of 9 images taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 200 mm f/2 OIS lens with a 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 400, 280 mm, f/16, 1/80 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga Pro. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Sun rising under the Sunshine Skyway bridge from Fort De Soto Park. Composite of 4 images taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 200 mm f/2 OIS lens with a 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 400, 280 mm, f/16, 1/80 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga Pro. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Daily Electric Energy Used (52.2 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (31.8 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Overall a net deficit of 20.4 kWh. Most of the hydroponic gardens were off or only on for fewer hours. Also, the thermostat for the Geothermal heater and hybrid heat pump hot water heater were set for vacation mode.
