Thursday (19-December-2019) — New Jersey

Indoor Nature in New Jersey.

I harvested the first of the indoor hydroponic strawberries today. Before tasting them I took this focus stacked image with some German chocolate.

Indoor hydroponic Strawberries and Chocolate. Composite of 50 focus stacked images taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 160, 80 mm, f/2.8. 1/15 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and Helicon Focus. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Indoor hydroponic Strawberries and Chocolate. Composite of 50 focus stacked images taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 160, 80 mm, f/2.8. 1/15 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and Helicon Focus. (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (99.5 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (27.3 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Rained much of the day. Overall a net deficit of 72.2 kWh.

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Sunday (15-December-2019) — New Jersey

Indoor Autumn Nature in New Jersey.

Ripe indoor hydroponic strawberry and broccoli head nearly ready to harvest. Indoor hydroponic Snapdragon, Marigold, California Poppy, and Zinnia flowers.

Indoor Hydroponic Strawberry. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 800, 80 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Indoor Hydroponic Strawberry. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 800, 80 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Indoor Hydroponic Broccoli. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 800, 80 mm, f/16, 1/60 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Indoor Hydroponic Broccoli. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 800, 80 mm, f/16, 1/60 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)


Click on the above image to access my PhotoShelter gallery to access the individual images in the following slideshow.


Daily Electric Energy Used (73.2 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (20.4 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Overall a net deficit of 52.8 kWh.


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Saturday (14-December-2019) — New Jersey

Indoor Autumn Nature in New Jersey.

I found a Stink Bug trying to claim my first “just about ripe” indoor hydroponic strawberry. ARRG! Green Tomatoes and Purple Superhot Peppers. Calendula, Snapdragon, and Plains Coreopsis flowers.


Click on the above image to access my PhotoShelter gallery with the individual images in the following slideshow.


Daily Electric Energy Used (65.2 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (5.92 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Overall a net deficit of 59.3 kWh.

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Saturday (23-November-2019) — New Jersey

Indoor Hydroponic Flowers.

The first Strawberry flowers have appeared. Since I do not have bees inside the house, I will have to manually pollinate these to get indoor strawberries this winter. Other plants that have bloomed (or are about to bloom) include Plains Coreopsis, Lilliput and Thumbelina Zinnia, Marigold, and Cornflower.

Strawberry Flower. AeroGarden Farm 07 Right. Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 OIS macro lens (ISO 160, 80 mm, f/14, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Strawberry Flower. AeroGarden Farm 07 Right. Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 OIS macro lens (ISO 160, 80 mm, f/14, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Plains Coreopsis Flower. AeroGarden Farm 04 Left. Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 OIS macro lens (ISO 320, 80 mm, f/11, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Plains Coreopsis Flower. AeroGarden Farm 04 Left. Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 OIS macro lens (ISO 320, 80 mm, f/11, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Yellow Thumbelina Zinnia Flower. AeroGarden Farm 04 Left. Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 OIS macro lens (ISO 800, 80 mm, f/11, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Yellow Thumbelina Zinnia Flower. AeroGarden Farm 04 Left. Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 OIS macro lens (ISO 800, 80 mm, f/11, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Pink Lilliput Zinnia Flower. AeroGarden Farm 04 Left. Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 OIS macro lens (ISO 320, 80 mm, f/11, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Pink Lilliput Zinnia Flower. AeroGarden Farm 04 Left. Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 OIS macro lens (ISO 320, 80 mm, f/11, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Marigold Flower. AeroGarden Farm 04 Left. Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 OIS macro lens (ISO 800, 80 mm, f/11, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Marigold Flower. AeroGarden Farm 04 Left. Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 OIS macro lens (ISO 800, 80 mm, f/11, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Cornflower Flower Bud. AeroGarden Farm 04 Left. Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 OIS macro lens (ISO 320, 80 mm, f/11, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Cornflower Flower Bud. AeroGarden Farm 04 Left. Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 OIS macro lens (ISO 320, 80 mm, f/11, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (73.1 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (30.0 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Sunny with some clouds, but cooler outside. Overall a net deficit of 43.1 kWh.

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Friday (08-November-2019) — New Jersey

Indoor Hydroponic Strawberry Gardens Update.

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) 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 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) 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 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 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)
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.

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