AeroGarden Farm 04, Right Tray, Day 28. The Basil at position R01 is doing very well. The other Basil, Chives, Dill, Parsley, and Thyme plants are much smaller. The Oregano and Rosemary plants did not sprout. At the last update (Day 14) the bowl was drained and refilled with 8 L rainwater and 16 mL plant food. The new pH (5.89) TDS (525 ppm). At 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).
AeroGarden Farm 04 Right Tray at 28 days. R01-R03 Basil; R04 Genovese Basil; R05 Chives; R06 Dill; R07 Dill; R08-R09 Parsley; R10 Oregno; R11 Rosemary; R12 Thyme. 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)
Daily Electric Energy Used (67.4 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (29.1 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. More sun, not as cold. Overall a net deficit of 38.3 kWh. I’ve run out of credits for the excess electric energy produced this summer, so will be paying an electric bill this month.
Daily Electric Energy Used (69.2 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (18.4 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. More clouds, not as cold. Overall a net deficit of 50.8 kWh. I’ve run out of credits for the excess electric energy produced this summer, so will be paying an electric bill this month.
The Asian Lady Beetle is still on the Zinnia flower. My first indoor Marigold flower opened.
Asian Lady Beetle on a Pink Zinnia Flower. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 160, 80 mm, f/11, 1/60 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)Asian Lady Beetle on a Pink Zinnia Flower. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 160, 80 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)First Indoor Hydroponic Marigold Flower. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 160, 80 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Daily Electric Energy Used (75.5 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (31.8 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Sun and clouds, but cold outside. Overall a net deficit of 43.7 kWh. I’ve run out of credits for the excess electric energy produced this summer, so will be paying an electric bill this month.
It has been getting cold outside. Several nights now well below freezing. The solar bird bath fountain is still running, but its surface is covered with ice. The fur on this young doe looks pretty scruffy.
Ice in the Bird Bath Fountain. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 200 mm f/2 OIS lens + 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 200, 280 mm, f/8, 1/680 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Click on the above image to access my PhotoShelter gallery with the individual images in the following slideshow.
Daily Electric Energy Used (75.5 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (31.8 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Sun and clouds, but cold outside. Overall a net deficit of 43.7 kWh. I’ve run out of credits for the excess electric energy produced this summer, so will be paying an electric bill this month.
The strawberry plants in the Hydroponic Tubs appear to be doing better than the ones in the AeroGarden Farm (compare with yesterday’s post). In addition to adding more plant food based on the TDS, I am also titrating the addition of buffer to adjust the pH. I will watch the plants carefully, and my dilute with more water to bring the TDS between 500-800 ppm.
Hydroponic Tub 01 (Left) Day 45 and Tub 02 (Right) Day 28. Tub 01 has six strawberry plant runners from the outside Grow Towers. Tub 02 Sweet Charlie Strawberry Plugs (ISONS). Tub 01 (pH 5.28, 807 ppm); Tube 02 (pH 6.93, 477 ppm). The plants in Tub 02 are getting bigger. During the last two weeks added rain water a couple of times. Not sure if this is due to evaporation or respiration. Tub 01 added 1.0 mL buffer, 5 mL Root Farm Base (4-0-1), and 5 mL Root Farm Bloom (1-4-7). Tub 02 added 10 mL Root Farm Base (4-0-1), and 10 mL Root Farm Bloom (1-4-7). Post addition Tub 01 (pH 6.20, TDS 1080 ppm); Tub 01 (pH 6.24, 1010 ppm).
Hydroponic Tub 01 (Left) Day 45 Tub 02 (Right) Day 28. L01-L06 Strawberry Runners from outside Grow Towers; R01-R06 Sweet Charlie Strawberry Plugs (ISONS). 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 Tub 03 (Left) and Tub 04 (Right) Day 02. Both Tubs have Sweet Charlie Strawberry plants with washed roots (ISONS). Tub 03 (pH 4.34, 649 ppm); Tube 04 (pH 4.39, 703 ppm). The plants in both tubs are getting bigger. During the last two weeks added rain water a couple of times. Not sure if this is due to evaporation or respiration. Tub 03 added 2.0 mL buffer, 5 mL Root Farm Base (4-0-1), and 5 mL Root Farm Bloom (1-4-7). Tub 04 added 2.0 mL buffer, 5 mL Root Farm Base (4-0-1), and 5 mL Root Farm Bloom (1-4-7). Post addition Tub 03 (pH 6.34, TDS 887 ppm); Tub 04 (pH 6.38, 951 ppm).
Hydroponic Tub 03 (Left) Day 28 Tub 04 (Right) Day 28. L01-L06 Sweet Charlie Strawberry free roots (ISONS) ; R01-R06 Sweet Charlie Strawberry free roots (ISONS). 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)
Hydroponic Tub 05 (Left) Day 45 and Tub 06 (Right) Day 28. Tub 05 has six strawberry plant runners from the outside Grow Towers. Tub 06 Chandler Strawberry Plugs (ISONS). Tub 05 (pH 6.06, 1208 ppm); Tube 06 (pH 5.07, 781 ppm). The plants in Tub 06 are getting bigger. During the last two weeks added rain water a couple of times. Not sure if this is due to evaporation or respiration. Tub 05 no additions. Tub 06 added 1.0 mL buffer, 5 mL Root Farm Base (4-0-1), and 5 mL Root Farm Bloom (1-4-7). Post addition Tub 05 (pH 5.86, TDS 1220 ppm); Tub 06 (pH 6.18, 1041 ppm).
Hydroponic Tub 05 (Left) Tub 06 (Right) Day 28. L01-L06 Strawberry Runners from outside Grow Towers; R01-R06 Chandler Strawberry Plugs (ISONS) . 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 Tub 07 (Left) Day 14 and Tub 08 (Right) Day 14. Tub 05 has six strawberry plant runners from the outside Grow Towers. Tub 06 Chandler Strawberry Plugs (ISONS). Tub 07 (pH 4.34, 1191 ppm); Tube 08 (pH 4.02, 1240 ppm). The plants in both tubs are getting bigger. During the last two weeks added rain water a couple of times. Not sure if this is due to evaporation or respiration. Tub 07 added 2.0 mL buffer. Tub 08 added 2.0 mL buffer. Post addition Tub 07 (pH 6.20, TDS 1194 ppm); Tub 08 (pH 5.40, 1220 ppm).
Hydroponic Tub 07 (Left) Tub 08 (Right) Day 28. L01-L06 Chandler Strawberry free roots (ISONS) ; R01-R06 Chandler Strawberry free roots (ISONS) . Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1/4 lens (ISO 320, 35 mm, f/11, 1/50 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Daily Electric Energy Used (66.3 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (33.19 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Sunny most of the day. Overall a net deficit of 33.1 kWh.
