David Mathre Photography - David's Images of the Day Photoblog

Thursday (21-November-2019) — New Jersey

Indoor Hydroponic AeroGarden Farms Update

AeroGarden Farm 08 Left (Day 33). L01 Plug; L02 Bok Choi; L03 Arugula; L04 Bok Choi; L05 Plug; L06 Arugula; L07 Bok Choi; L08 Bok Choi; L09 Arugula; L10 Plug; L11 Plug; L12 Arugula. This Farm was originally all Bok Choi. Those plants that didn’t spout or thrive were either plugged or replaced with Arugula from another Farm. At the last update (day 14): pH (5.44) and TDS (575 ppm). The tray has been consuming 1-2 L of deionized water every other day. On day 27: pH (6.25) TDS (370 ppm) so added 12 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden (4-3-6) plant food. The new pH (6.15) and TDS (669 ppm).

AeroGarden Farms 09 Left and Right (33 Days). L01-L06 Broccoli (Botanical Interests); L07-L12 Cauliflower (Botanical Interest); R01-R06 Swiss Chard (Botanical Interest); R07-R12 Arugula (Botanical Interests). At the last update (day 14) Farm 09 Left: pH (5.60) and TDS (650 ppm); Farm 09 Right: pH (5.20) and TDS (520 ppm). The trays have been consuming 1-2 L of deionized water every other day. On day 27 Farm 09 Left: pH (6.80) TDS (245 ppm) so added 16 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden (4-3-6) plant food. The new pH (6.59) and TDS (680 ppm). On day 27 Farm 09 Right: pH (4.90) TDS (309 ppm) so added 1 mL of Buffer and 14 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden (4-3-6) plant food. The new pH (5.85) and TDS (635 ppm).

AeroGarden Farm 10 Left (Day 33). L04-L06 New Mexico Hatch Pepper; L07-L09 Small Red Hot Peppers. The seeds planted in positions L01-L03, and L10-L12 didn’t make it (mold). It looks like after the first 14 days, the AeroGarden Farm pump cycle goes from 1 hour on and 23 hours off to either 1 hour on and 1 hour off or continuously on. As a result the seed substrate is always wet, not just moist. At the last update (day 14) Farm 10 Left: pH (5.33) and TDS (720 ppm). On day 27 Farm 10 Left: pH (5.85) TDS (697 ppm) so left as is (no buffer or plant food).

AeroGarden Farm 10 Left (Day 33). L04-L06 New Mexico Hatch Pepper; L07-L09 Small Red Hot Peppers. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 160, 35 mm, f/8, 1/80 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

AeroGarden Farm 10 Right (Day 33). Positions R01 Cinnamon Basil (Tiny Greens); R02 Dark Opal Basil (Tiny Greens); R03 Genovese Basil (Tiny Greens); R04 Holy (Tulsi) Basil (Tiny Greens); R05 Basil (Tiny Greens); R06 Lemon Basil (Tiny Greens); R07 Sweet Basil (Tiny Greens); R08 Thai Basil (Tiny Greens); R09-R12 Cilantro (Botanical Interest). Some of the Basil plants are starting to do well, but a few didn’t make it. Same problem as above where the pump cycle program changes. At the last update (day 14) Farm 10 Right: pH (5.74) and TDS (620 ppm). On day 27 Farm 10 Left: pH (3.79) TDS (695 ppm) so added 4 mL Buffer. The new pH (6.10) TDS (695 ppm). I think the brown/red leaves are due to the solution becoming too acidic. In the six days since the pH adjustment there has been a burst of new green growth.

Daily Electric Energy Used (69.4 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (31.9 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. More sun and warmer. Overall a net deficit of 37.5 kWh.

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Thursday (21-November-2019) — New Jersey

Indoor Hydroponic AeroGarden Farms Update

AeroGarden Farm 04, Right Tray, Day 39. The Basil at position R01 is doing very, very well. The other Basil, Chives, Dill, Parsley, and Thyme plants are much smaller. At the last update (Day 28) pH (4.11) TDS (467 ppm) so added 2 mL buffer and 8 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food. The new pH (6.26) and TDS (650 ppm). At day 39 pH (4.00) TDS (491 ppm) so added 2.5 mL buffer and 4 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food. The new pH (6.10) and TDS (615 ppm).

AeroGarden Farm 04 Right Tray at 38 days. R01-R03 Basil; R04 Genovese Basil; R05 Chives; R06 Dill; R07 Dill; R08-R09 Parsley; R10 Oregano; R11 Rosemary; R12 Thyme. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 400, 35 mm, f/8, 1/80 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE) — AeroGarden Farm 04 Right Tray at 39 days. R01-R03 Basil; R04 Genovese Basil; R05 Chives; R06 Dill; R07 Dill; R08-R09 Parsley; R10 Oregano; R11 Rosemary; R12 Thyme. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 400, 35 mm, f/8, 1/80 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

AeroGarden Farm 05 Left Tray Day 14. L01-L03 Cucumber (Burpee); L04-L06 Kale (Burpee); L07-09 Broccoli Raab (Burpee); L10-L12 (Bunching Onions (Botanical Interest). Initial bath: 8.0 L rainwater + 16 mL Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food with a pH (6.45) and TDS (424 ppm). At 14 days pH (5.90) TDS (360 ppm) so added 10 mL Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food. New pH (5.90) TDS (621 ppm).

AeroGarden Farm 05 Right Tray Day 14. R01-R03 Zucchini (Botanical Interest); R04-R06 Swiss Chard (Botanical Interest); R07-R09 Broccoli Raab (Burpee); R10-R12 (Bunching Onions (Burpee). Initial bath: 8.0 L rainwater + 16 mL Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food with a pH (6.45) and TDS (432 ppm). At 14 days pH (5.40) TDS (240 ppm) so added 1 mL buffer and 15 mL Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food. New pH (6.10) TDS (670 ppm).

AeroGarden Farm 06 Left Tray Day 16. L01-L09 Bok Choi (AeroGarden); L10-12 Broccoli Raab (Burpee). Initial bath: 8.0 L rainwater + 16 mL Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food with a pH (6.39) and TDS (404 ppm). At 16 days pH (4.84) TDS (45 ppm) so added 1 mL buffer and 20 mL Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food. New pH (6.30) TDS (630 ppm).

AeroGarden Farm 06 Left Tray Day 16. L01-L09 Bok Choi (AeroGarden); L10-12 Broccoli Raab (Burpee). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 640, 35 mm, f/8, 1/80 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

AeroGarden Farm 06 Right Tray Day 16. R01-R02 Zucchini (Burpee); R03-R04 Summer Squash (Botanical Interest); R05-R06 Cucumber (Burpee); R07-R09 Pea Shelling (Burpee); R10-R12 Pea Sugar Snap (Botanical Interest). Initial bath: 8.0 L rainwater + 16 mL Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food with a pH (6.52) and TDS (415 ppm). At 16 days pH (5.01) TDS (160 ppm) so added 1 mL buffer and 15 mL Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food. New pH (6.48) TDS (590 ppm).

Daily Electric Energy Used (69.4 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (31.9 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. More sun and warmer. Overall a net deficit of 37.5 kWh.

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Wednesday (20-November-2019) — New Jersey

Outdoor Nighttime Autumn Nature in New Jersey

Daytime deer outside the electric fence.

Daily Electric Energy Used (68.7 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (19.5 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Sun and clouds. Overall a net deficit of 49.2 kWh.

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Tuesday (19-November-2019) — New Jersey

Outdoor Nighttime Autumn Nature in New Jersey

Nocturnal Opossum — two nights in a row. If it was still summer and I had vegetables growing on the patio the trap would be going out.

Daily Electric Energy Used (64.3 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (25.0 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Sunny and a bit warmer. Overall a net deficit of 39.3 kWh.

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Monday (18-November-2019) — New Jersey

Outdoor Nighttime Autumn Nature in New Jersey

Nocturnal Opossum. If it was still summer and I had vegetables growing on the patio the trap would be going out.

Daily Electric Energy Used (68.7 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (9.8 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Rainy and a bit warmer. Overall a net deficit of 58.9 kWh. I’ve run out of credits for the excess electric energy produced this summer, so will be paying an electric bill this month.