The first of the wildflower seeds that I planted in a AeroGarden hydroponic Farm that started to bloom. It is a “Lilliput Zinnia” from American Meadows. I started this set of seeds 39 days ago. The flower is still only partially open and is taking more than one day to open. It looks like there will be at least two more layer of petals. This is a focus-stacked composite of 66 images taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens. When the next flower starts to bloom, I want to try to do a time-lapse video.
Daily Electric Energy Used (80.1 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (33.3 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. The sun was out, but much colder outside. Overall a net deficit of 46.8 kWh. Geothermal HVAC was on to heat the house (9.9 kWh). Monthly server backups also adding to the always on usage.
At four weeks it was time to add additional plant food, and top off the water for the two “Classic 6” gardens. Since week 2 in Garden 01 the Dianthus has sprouted – but the Yellow Coreopsis appears to have died (mold?). In Garden 02, everything had sprouted by week 2 and now growing slowly. I checked the pH and TDS for the two gardens. Garden 01 pH (5.92) TDS (>1000); Garden 02 pH (5.78) TDS (>1000). The pH is in the OK range (5.5 – 6.5), but the TDS was high (desired 500 – 800 ppm). I decided to clean the bowls and replace the solution with rain water and 8 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food. Afterwards, Garden 01 pH (6.11) TDS (783); Garden 02 pH (6.08) TDS (790). The dead Yellow Coreopsis was replaced with a new seed plug.
Daily Electric Energy Used (47.1 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (17.5 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. The power was off for 12 hours, and the temperatures dropped 30 degrees. Overall a net deficit of 29.6 kWh. Geothermal HVAC was on to heat the house.
Dumb Deer. If you back your butt up against an electric fence, you are going to get a shock…
Daily Electric Energy Used (47.1 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (17.5 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. The power was off for 12 hours, and the temperatures dropped 30 degrees. Overall a net deficit of 29.6 kWh. Geothermal HVAC was on to heat the house.
Indoor Hydroponic AeroGarden Farms 01-03 Week Six (42 days) Update.
AeroGarden Farm 01, Left Tray, Day 42. Red Heirloom Tomatoes and Golden Harvest Tomatoes (seed pods from AeroGarden). All plants sprouted, but growth is still slow. Reflectors didn’t seem to help much. I checked the pH (5.56) and TDS (>1000 ppm). I decided to clean the bath and replace the water (8.0 L rain water) charged with 16 mL of the Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food. New pH (6.24) and TDS (418 ppm). Three of the Golden Harvest tomato plants that seemed to be dead were replace with new pods.
AeroGarden Farm 01, Right Tray, Day 42. A variety of lettuce plants have not grown much in the last two weeks. Red Romain, Deer Tongue, Paris Island, Black-seeded Simpson, and Red Sails (seed pods from AeroGarden). Some leaves were harvested during the last two weeks. I checked the pH (3.60) and TDS (804 ppm). The pH was too acidic. I put my chemist hat on and did a titration to figure how much buffer I needed to add to bring the pH between 5.5 and 6.5. Based on the titration I added 5 mL of buffer And 8 mL of the Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food. This brought the pH up to 5.99.
AeroGarden Farm 02, Left Tray, Day 42. Mini-Jalapeno Peppers, Purple Super Hot Peppers, Red Fire Peppers (seed pods from AeroGarden). Growth is still slow, even after adding reflectors. I checked the pH (5.24) and TDS (>1000 ppm). I decided to clean the bath and replace the water (8.0 L rain water) charged with 16 mL of the Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food. New pH (6.34) and TDS (400 ppm). Removed F02L08 (didn’t germinate/moldy). Replaced with F10L10 Sprouted New Mexico Hatch pepper. Filled positions F02L10, F02L11, F02L12 with sprouted Szechuan peppers from F10L10, F10L11, F10L12.
AeroGarden Farm 02, Right Tray, Day 42. Romaine Lettuce (seed pods from AeroGarden). All plants sprouted, and most are growing but some developed brown tips. Several leaves harvested during the last two weeks. I checked the pH (4.27) and TDS (459 ppm). The pH was too acidic. I did a titration to figure how much buffer I needed to add to bring the pH between 5.5 and 6.5. Based on the titration I added 4 mL of buffer And 16 mL of the Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food. This brought the pH up to 6.2 and TDS to 760 ppm. I’m thinking of completely removing the middle plants to allow the outer ones more room to grow.
AeroGarden Farm 03, Left Tray, Day 42. Broccoli, Swiss Chard, and Arugula (seeds from Botanical Interests). All Broccoli plants sprouted, but one is growing much faster than the others. The remaining Swiss Chard plant that was moved to position 10 is also growing robustly. The Arugula in position 11 an 12 came from a different Farm tray and are fighting to find some light. I checked the pH (6.45) and TDS (215 ppm). The pH is OK, but the robustly growing plants need more fertilizer. Added 15 mL of Root Farm Base (4-0-1) and 10 mL of Root Farm Veggie (1-5-7). The new pH (6.25) and TDS (788 ppm). Harvested some Broccoli leaves, and Swiss Chard leaves (that were both used to make soup for lunch) to make room for the other plants.
AeroGarden Farm 03, Right Tray, Day 42. Cauliflower, Kale, Arugula (seeds from Botanical Interests). Two Cauliflower plants are growing robustly (F03R01, F03R03). Two of the Kale plants are growing robustly and had been moved to positions F03R07 and F03R11. The Arugula plant in F03R09 came from a different Farm. The unused positions were all plugged. I checked the pH (6.86) and TDS (327 ppm). The pH is a bit high, and the robustly growing plants need more fertilizer. Added 15 mL of Root Farm Base (4-0-1) and 10 mL of Root Farm Veggie (1-5-7). The new pH (6.64) and TDS (824 ppm).
Daily Electric Energy Used (52.9 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (3.1 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Clouds and rain all day, some heavy. Overall a net deficit of 49.8 kWh.
Monthly Electric Energy Used (1759 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (792 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Overall a net deficit of 967 kWh. The first month since March where I will be paying a power bill (although significantly reduced based on the surplus remaining from the summer). The hydroponic systems will be adding ~ 700 kWh/month to my power use.
Now that hunting season has started, the deer spend more time close to the house. They know that they can’t be shot within 400 feet of an occupied house.
Daily Electric Energy Used (56.9 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (8.6 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Mostly cloudy. Overall a net deficit of 48.3 kWh.