Colorful Clouds at Dawn. The clouds went from pink to orange in just a few minutes as the sun was about to rise. Composite of several images using the Panorama tool within Capture One Pro.
Birds of the day viewed at the birdfeeder and in the backyard: Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal.
Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
AeroGarden Hydroponic Updates. Classic 6 #1 Day 7: All 6/6 of the Basil have sprouted. Bounty #1 Day 7: All 9/9 of the Bok Choi have sprouted. Bounty #2 Day 6: 2/2 of the Rouge d’Hiver and 2/2 of the Black Seed Simpson have sprouted. The other lettuce varieties have not sprouted. Classic 6 #2 Day 6: In addition to the Celosia flower, a Dill plant has sprouted. Farm 9R Seed Starting Tray, Day 5: Many more of the poppy seeds have started to germinate.
When I checked the hydroponic gardens this morning, I noticed a Stink Bug nibbling on one of the Bok Choi seedlings.
Stink Bug nibbling on a Bok Choi seedling. Images taken with a Leica SL2s camera and Laowa 24 mm f/14 macro probe lens. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
Daily Electric Energy Used (100.3 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (34.5 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Cold outside. Whenever the external temperature drops below 10°F, the resistance heaters kick in to assist the Geothermal HVAC heating the house. Deficit of 65.8 kWh.
Weekly Electric Energy Used (712 kWh) from Sense. Weekly Solar Electric Energy Produced (174 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Deficit of 538 kWh.
Birds of the day viewed at the birdfeeder and in the backyard: Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal.
Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
AeroGarden Hydroponic Updates. Classic 6 #1 Day 6: All 6/6 of the Basil have sprouted. Bounty #1 Day 6: All 9/9 of the Bok Choi have sprouted. Bounty #2 Day 6: 2/2 of the Rouge d’Hiver and 2/2 of the Black Seed Simpson have sprouted. The other lettuce varieties have not sprouted. Classic 6 #2 Day 6: Only the Celosia flower has sprouted. Farm 9R Seed Starting Tray, Day 5: A few more of the poppy seeds have started to germinate. Some fungus is growing on the sponges.
Daily Electric Energy Used (120.2 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (38.7 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Very cold out, supplemental resistance heating required to keep the house warm. Also running six humidifers and five AeroGarden hydroponic gardens. Deficit of 81.5 kWh.
Birds of the day viewed at the birdfeeder and in the backyard: Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco.
Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
Time-lapse videos: Day 3 of the Bok Choi seeds sprouting. Both videos are of images taken every 1 minute for 5 hours 45 minutes then displayed at 12 frames/second. I cut some of the paper retaining ring to get better visibility of the seedlings growing. During the second video, an invasive Asian Ladybeetle (Harmonia axyridis) and an invasive Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys) were caught crawling by the Bok Choi seedling.
Daily Electric Energy Used (92.0 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (34.5 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. The sun returned after a day of rain then snow. Deficit of 57.5 kWh.
Weekly AeroGarden hydroponic farm update. Harvested a few more small Yellow Tomatoes, Bok Choi, Dill, and several Strawberries. All of the auxiliary water bottles needed to be refilled.
AeroGarden Farm 01-Left. Tomato plants at 144 days. Manually pollinating the tiny yellow flowers, several tiny green tomatoes forming. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 4.50 and the TDS was 673 ppm. Added 16 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL of buffer up.
AeroGarden Farm 01-Right. Various “edible” flowers (Dianthus, Snapdragon, Marigold, Calendula) at 144 days. Trimmed and pruned the dead flowers and leaves. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 4.68 and TDS was 435 ppm. Added 16 mL Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL buffer up pH adjustment.
AeroGarden Farm 02-Left. Pepper plants at 143 days. The pepper plants are getting bigger, and a few flowers. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.23 and the TDS was 222 ppm. Added 40 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 02-Right. Herb plants (Dill, Basil, Chives) at 143 days. The dill and parsley doing OK, others not as good. Harvested some dill. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 6.08 and the TDS was 739 ppm. No Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and no buffer up solution added.
AeroGarden Farm 03-Left. Pepper and Basil plants at 143 days. The plants are getting bigger with more flowers but no peppers yet. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.16 and the TDS was 984 ppm. No Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL buffer up solution added.
AeroGarden Farm 03-Right. Various flowers (Dianthus, Zinnia, unknown, Red Poppy) at 86 days. Dianthus, Zinnia, and Red Poppy blooming. More Poppy plants have buds. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.08 and TDS was 1016 ppm. No Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL of buffer up solution added.
AeroGarden Farm 04-Left. Chives plus Cherry Tomato, Hot Pepper, Cilantro, Lavender transplanted from other Hydroponic Gardens. No additional water needed. The pH was 5.72 and TDS was 408 ppm. Added 16 mL Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and no buffer up pH adjustment.
AeroGarden Farm 04-Right. Bunching Onions/Scallions (all 12 positions) at 28 days. 12/12 sprouts. No additional water needed. The pH was 6.38 and TDS was 408 ppm. Added 16 mL Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and no buffer up pH adjustment.
AeroGarden Farm 05-Left. Flowers – Snapdragon, Celosia, Coreopsis, Dianthus, Gazania, and Poppy at 95 days. Dianthus and Coreopsis flowers opened. Pruned some of the large zucchini leaves from the next tray blocking the plants. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 4.87 and TDS was 714 ppm. Added no Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 2 mL of buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 05-Right. Zucchini and other vegetables at 95 days. The zucchini plants continue to flower (although only male flowers) so no new Zucchini have set. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.10 and the TDS was 305 ppm. Added 24 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL of buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 06-Left: Ground Cherries (all 12 positions). At 28 days 9/12 sprouted some growing faster than others. Moved some of the plants to other Hydroponic Gardens so the four remaining ones have room to expand. No additional water needed. The pH was 5.53 and TDS was 337 ppm. Added 16 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and no buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 06-Right: Burpee Sugar Snap Peas (positions 01-03); Snow Peas (positions 04-12). At 28 days, 11/12 sprouted. Some of the plants are growing very fast (up to 24″ high). The pH was 5.25 and TDS was 613 ppm. Added 16 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL of buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 07-Left. Strawberry plants at 122 days. Some leaves turning brown/black, harvested several strawberries. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 4.82 and TDS was 636 ppm. Added 16 mL of Root Farm Base solution, 16 mL of Root Farm Flower and Fruit solution, and 4 mL of buffer up.
AeroGarden Farm 07-Right. Strawberry plants at 122 days. Some leaves turning brown/black, harvested several strawberries. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 4.59 and TDS was 439 ppm. Added 32 mL of Root Farm Base solution, 32 mL of Root Farm Flower and Fruit solution, and 4 mL of buffer up.
AeroGarden Farm 08-Left: Mustard (positions 01-06). At day 28 five of six plants growing robustly . The pH was 6.04 and the TDS 376 ppm. Added 24 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and no buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 08-Right: Broccoli Raab (positions 01-06). At 28 days all positions growing robustly, some leaves harvested for lunch. The pH was 6.50 and the TDS was 250 ppm. Added 32 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and no buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 09-Left: Swiss Chard (positions 02-07). At 28 days all growing robustly. The larger plant at position 01 was transplanted from a different farm. The pH was 6.50 and the TDS was 541 ppm. Added 16 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and no buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 09-Right: Bok Choi. At Day 28 plants growing very robustly, harvested largest plant for gift to neighbor. The pH was 7.25 and the TDS was 348 ppm. Added 24 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL buffer down solution.
AeroGarden Farm 10-Left: Romaine Lettuce (positions 01-06). At day 28 plants growing robustly. The pH was 5.10 and the TDS was 671 ppm. Added no Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL buffer up solution.
Farm 10-Right: Arugula (positions 01-06) and Mulukhiyah (positions 07-12). At day 16 all plants growing. The pH was 6.32 and the TDS was 470 ppm. Added 8 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and no buffer down solution.
Great Room AeroGarden Classic-6 01-South: Cilantro (positions 01-06) at day 28. Two sprouts looking good, three other sprouted, one looking poor. The pH was 5.55 and the TDS was 736. No additional plant food or buffer added. Topped off with DI water.
Great Room AeroGarden Classic-6 02-East: Various Parsley (positions 01-06) at day 28. All sprouted. The pH was 5.81 and the TDS was 892. No additional plant food or buffer added. Topped off with DI water.
Foyer AeroGarden Bounty Harvest 01-Left: Only remaining plant Lemon Mint at 139 days. The pH was 7.20 and the TDS was 400 ppm. Added no Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL buffer down solution.
Foyer AeroGarden Bounty 02-Right: Oregano (positions 01-03), Rosemary (positions 04-06), and Thyme (positions 07-09) at day 28. Three of three Oregano sprouted, none of the Rosemary sprouted, and one Thyme sprouted. The pH was 5.95, and the TDS was 465 ppm. No additional plant food or buffer added. Topped off with DI water.
Daily Electric Energy Used (76.2 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (7.7 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. The clouds returned. A deficit of 68.5 kWh.
It has been 9 days since the last AeroGarden hydroponic farm update. Many sprouts from the seeds planted then. Harvested a few more small yellow tomatoes, two zucchini, and several strawberries. All of the auxiliary water bottles needed to be refilled.
AeroGarden Farm 01-Left. Tomato plants at 137 days. Manually pollinating the tiny yellow flowers, several tiny green tomatoes forming. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.19 and the TDS was 321 ppm. Added 40 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL of buffer up.
AeroGarden Farm 01-Right. Various “edible” flowers (Dianthus, Snapdragon, Marigold, Calendula) at 137 days. Trimmed and pruned the dead flowers and leaves. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 4.68 and TDS was 278 ppm. Added 40 mL Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL buffer up pH adjustment.
AeroGarden Farm 02-Left. Pepper plants at 136 days. The pepper plants are getting bigger, and a few flowers. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.19 and the TDS was 177 ppm. Added 40 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 02-Right. Herb plants (Dill, Basil, Chives) at 136 days. The dill and parsley doing OK, others not as good. Harvested some dill. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.712 and the TDS was 177 ppm. Added 40 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and no buffer up solution added.
AeroGarden Farm 03-Left. Pepper and Basil plants at 136 days. The plants are getting bigger with more flowers but no peppers yet. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.85 and the TDS was 412 ppm. Added 32 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and no buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 03-Right. Various flowers (Dianthus, Zinnia, unknown, poppy) at 79 days. Dianthus and Zinnia blooming. Two of the Poppy plants have buds, but the flowers have not opened yet. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.35 and TDS was 367 ppm. Added 40 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL of buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 04-Left. Chives (all 12 positions) at 21 days. Doing badly only 3/12 sprouted. No additional water needed. The pH was 6.34 and TDS was 463 ppm. No additional plant food or buffer up solution added. Reset to germination mode (pump on 1 hr, off 11 hr).
AeroGarden Farm 04-Right. Bunching Onions/Scallions (all 12 positions) at 21 days. 12/12 sprouts. No additional water needed. The pH was 6.27 and TDS was 474 ppm. No additional plant food or buffer up solution added.
AeroGarden Farm 05-Left. Flowers – Snapdragon, Celosia, Coreopsis, Dianthus, Gazania, and Poppy at 88 days. Dianthus and Coreopsis flowers opened. Pruned some of the large zucchini leaves from the next tray blocking the plants. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 4.91 and TDS was 519 ppm. Added 8 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 2 mL of buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 05-Right. Zucchini and other vegetables at 88 days. The zucchini plants growing vigorously, cut back some leaves and harvested one large zucchini. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 4.84 and the TDS was 470 ppm. Added 16 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 2 mL of buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 06-Left: Ground Cherries (all 12 positions). At 21 days 9/12 sprouted some growing faster than others. No additional water needed. The pH was 6.09 and TDS was 465 ppm. No additional plant food or buffer up solution added.
AeroGarden Farm 06-Right: Burpee Sugar Snap Peas (positions 01-03); Snow Peas (positions 04-12). At 21 days, 11/12 sprouted. Noted some fuzzy white mold growing on the seeds. Some of the plants are growing very fast (up to 18″ high). The pH was 5.19 and TDS was 292 ppm. Added 32 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL of buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 07-Left. Strawberry plants at 115 days. Most plants growing well, harvested several strawberries. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 4.62 and TDS was 439 ppm. Added 32 mL of Root Farm Base solution, 32 mL of Root Farm Flower and Fruit solution, and 2 mL of buffer up.
AeroGarden Farm 07-Right. Strawberry plants at 115 days. Most plants growing well, harvested several strawberries. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 4.38 and TDS was 221 ppm. Added 32 mL of Root Farm Base solution, 32 mL of Root Farm Flower and Fruit solution, and 2 mL of buffer up.
AeroGarden Farm 08-Left: Mustard (positions 01-06). At day 21 five of six plants growing robustly . The pH was 6.08 and the TDS 463 ppm. Added 16 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and no buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 08-Right: Broccoli Raab (positions 01-06). At 21 days all positions growing robustly, some leaves already harvested for lunch. The pH was 5.40 and the TDS was 074 ppm. Added 40 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and no buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 09-Left: Swiss Chard (positions 02-07). At 21 days all growing robustly. The larger plant at position 01 was transplanted from a different farm. The pH was 6.64 and the TDS was 573 ppm. Added 8 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and no buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 09-Right: Bok Choi. At Day 21 plants growing very robustly, leaves from the largest plant used in soup. The pH was 6.75 and the TDS was 147 ppm. Added 40 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and no buffer up solution.
AeroGarden Farm 10-Left: Romaine Lettuce (positions 01-06). At day 21 plants growing robustly. The pH was 5.10 and the TDS was 287 ppm. Added 24 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL buffer up solution.
Farm 10-Right: Arugula (positions 01-06) and Molokai Greens (positions 07-12). At day 9 all of the seeds sprouted. The pH was 6.14 and the TDS was 466 ppm. No additional plant food or buffer added.
Great Room AeroGarden Classic-6 01-South: Cilantro (positions 01-06) at day 21. Two sprouts looking good, three other sprouted, one looking poor. The pH was 5.67 and the TDS was 1130(?). No additional plant food or buffer added. Topped off with DI water.
Great Room AeroGarden Classic-6 02-East: Various Parsley (positions 01-06) at day 21. All sprouted. The pH was 6.02 and the TDS was 1160 ppm(?). No additional plant food or buffer added. Topped off with DI water.
Foyer AeroGarden Bounty Harvest 01-Left: Only remaining plant Lemon Mint at 132 days. No flowers, drinks a lot of water and uses a lot of plant food. The pH was 4.24 and the TDS was 180 ppm. Added 16 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL buffer up solution.
Foyer AeroGarden Bounty 02-Right: Oregano (positions 01-03), Rosemary (positions 04-06), and Thyme (positions 07-09) at day 21. Three of three Oregano sprouted, none of the Rosemary sprouted, and one Thyme sprouted. The pH was 6.16, and the TDS was 460 ppm. No additional plant food or buffer added. Topped off with DI water.
Daily Electric Energy Used (67.5 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (41.1 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Most sun in a long time. A deficit of 26.4 kWh.