Hydroponics Product

By Group Awesomponics

Julie Sole David Siembida Greg Hillard Paul Sujka Marian Ankomah Colin Hoelzel Christian Riley

What Is Hydroponics?
Hydro Ponics

= water = labor Growing

Soil-Free Uses Has

water and a medium to grow plants

been around for centuries

(Perez, 2008)
Clip Art

History
Does

anyone know any historical examples? gardens of Babylon hieroglyphs

Hanging Egyptian Aztecs

Floating Gardens

(Roberto, 2003)

http://www.personal.psu.edu/amp5364/HangingGardens.html

Essential Parts
Water
A

method of water circulation

Clip Art

Proper

nutrients

Lighting Plants

Type

of design to contain all the above

Problem
Build Must

complete working system be mobile

Educational Purposes
Base

must be smaller than 2 ft by 4 ft system must be under 6 ft

Entire

Project Constraints Contd

Self-contained
Lights

and pumps inclusive

Able

to support multiple types of plant life

and green leaf lettuces

Red

Budget
Set

of $200

up initial budget

Many

materials donated by Harvest Moon Hydroponics

Advantages

Soil-free growing

No mess
Clip Art

Allows plants to be grown where quality soil is poor Eliminates the diseases found in soil Decreases the amount of time needed for growing

(Perez, 2008)

Advantages Cont.
Decreased

growing period = Increased crop output

crop output = increased profit

Increased

Pesticides
Can

are not needed

grow indoors regardless of weather

(Jones, 2005)

Clip Art

Disadvantages

Up front costs are more

Must build apparatus

New growers must research methods of growing

pH levels and nutrients must be monitored

Happens naturally in soil. Grower must maintain this is hydroponics system

(Jones, 2005)

Nutrients
Must

be added because no naturally occurring nutrients are present chosen was FloraMato
nutrient
Powder

Nutrient

Added

flushed

to the reservoir each time the system is

(Harris, 1992)

Nutrients (Contd)
Provides

the three essentials

of growing

Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium

Will

effect the pH in the system

http://sugarcreekgardens.wordpress.com/2009/03/ 28/npk-demystified/

Nutrients used in the system

pH Levels
What

is pH?
Hydrogen levels the acidity or alkalinity of a solution

Potential

Measures

Measured Neutral

on a scale of 1 to 14

pH is 7 (Low, 2002)

http://www.ssc.education.ed.ac.uk/bsl/chemistry/phscaled.html

pH Levels (Contd)
pH

levels affect plants ability to absorb nutrients

If

proper pH is not met, maximum plant output is not achieved (Alexander, T., et al., 2000)

Monitoring

pH is as simple as using a basic pH testing kit 6.3 (Taylor, 2010) Levels for growing are 6.2

Recommended

Aeration
Air

is needed in cultivating a hydroponics garden

respiration to occur without drowning the plants of oxygen is absorbed through the roots

Allows

98%

(Taylor, 2010)

Clip Art

Bacteria and Stagnation

Stagnation occurs when water and nutrients arent properly circulated

Can result in bacteria growth Leads to disease

Results in decreased plant survival rate

Some bacteria is good for a system

Naturally found in nutrients and water Just as in humans, can increase plants immunity to disease

(Winterborne, 2005)

Bacteria
How

do we avoid controlling good and bad bacteria?

Flush

the system each week with fresh water to prevent disease Valve at bottom of bucket reservoir Fresh nutrients added

Root Rot
http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/ adams/gh/drootrot.htm

Variety of Designs
Hanging

Window Garden columns connected by thin

Multiple

tubes

Vertical

Tower Garden

Utilizes

a reservoir at the bottom of the main pipe

Hanging Window Garden

A

frame supports hanging greenhouselike bottles

is pumped to the top of the frame

Water

Water
It

drips through the bottles

is recirculated through pump at bottom and back to the top be fitted to windows for natural light

Can

http://inhabitat.com/windowfarms-grow-an-edible-hanging-indoor-garden-this-winter/

Vertical Tower Garden

Consists

reservoir

of a main pipe at the top of the

Pipe

is drilled with columns of holes where plants are inserted are injected into the reservoir up a central tube within the pipe

Nutrients Pumped

(Roberto, 2003)

Benefits of Tower System

Durability
PVC

vs. recycled bottles

Aeration
obtained

by pump splashing water back to reservoir; no extra pump needed

Bacteria
Easily

maintained by emptying reservoir weekly

Building the System:

Tower

design was chosen for easy mobility and durability grow more plants with this design than hanging garden one main tower and reservoir based on cost

Could

Selected

Deciding materials
How
How 6

we calculated pump size

we calculated reservoir size

inch diameter allowed for 2 columns of plants (roots decided that)

Self-Contained
Designed
Thus,

to be entirely mobile

must be self-contained

One

electrical outlet connects to one power strip

Everything

The Reservoir
5

gallon black bucket

Opaque

to avoid nutrient degradation

Plywood

enclosure around bucket

Asthetics
To

ensure light-tight reservoir

The Reservoir
Reservoir Hinged

is entry point for nutrition

pH

door allows for easy monitoring of

Is

simple for draining and adding new water

Valve

Bucket reservoir and valve

Pump
550

gallon per hour

Gives

proper circulation of water and nutrients enough head to splash water on the towers cap for plants to absorb water that trickles down the pipe sides

Provides

Allows

550 gallon per hour pump

The Mobile Base

Consists

of 2 x 4s

Plywood Caster

Wheels

Screws,

washers nuts and bolts

Plant Media Chosen For Use

Rockwool Artificial Allows Two

(doesnt rot)

water/air to flow through

5 foot T-5 80 watt lights

https://images.nonexiste.net/image/241010

Net cups and rockwool media that hold plant roots

Plants
Red

Oak Lettuce and Black-Seeded Simpson Green Lettuce Nutrients

FloraMato Nutrients

system

are added after each flushing of

Will

Check pH after each nutrition addition

Plants and Nutrients Continued

Add
If

pH Lower solution if too basic

too acidic, add pH Up Solution

pH

will affect how the plant absorbs the nutrients in the system

Doboski, T. (2012)

Red Oak Lettuce

http://www.alibaba.com/productfree/11193799/Red_Oak_Lettuce.html

How it works:
Pump

moves the water through a 0.75 tube to the top of the pipe. reaches the top of the tube, it exits as a free jet. the top of the rounded pipe cap so that water is directed to the sides of the pipe in all directions.

Water

Strikes

How it works continued

Water

runs down the inside of the main tower pipe

Wets rockwool

The

roots absorb nutrients mixed into the water. liquid continues down the pipe until it drains back into the reservoir,
Causes

Excess

aeration and mixing.

Collected

and recirculated through the system.

Future Evaluation of System: Hydro plants vs. soil plants

Size

of plants

Appearance Taste Compared

to soil-grown plants

Black-Seeded Simpson Green Lettuce

http://www.podponics.com/content/ black-seeded-simpson

Evaluation of System: Apparatus

Ease

of Use

Maintenance Durability Complications

Factors Not Accounted For

Cleaning Electricity

and replanting
Draw use of nutrients, lights, medium

Continued

http://www.energyrefuge.com/blog/com pany-launches-widget-to-help-consumerssave-electricity/

Possible Future Modification

Added

supports atheistics

Angled supports for increased stability

Add YSU logo Add Moon Harvest logo

Additional

Adjust

light mountings

Cost
Item 6''x10' Sch40 PVC 2"x10' Sch40 PVC PVC Flange PVC Cement 6" PVC Cap Pump, 8' Head 2" Net Cups Rockwool Caster Wheels Tank Lumber - 2''x4''x8' SPF Lumber - Plywood 1/2'x4'x8' M isc. Fasteners/Screws (1 Box) Stainless Eye Bolt 5/8''x8''w/2nut,2wash 12' clear tubing, 1/2" dia. Seeds pH lower Pro pH Test Kit 5' Single T5 Fixture w/ Bulb Timer 5 Gal. Bucket FloraM ato 1.5lb Dry Humidity Dome Cut Kit Tray 10" x 20' Power Strip Description/Use M ain tower Plant holders M ounting for main tower M ake plant holders stay in place Disperse water on plants Pump Plant holders Plant holders Base 5 gallon bucket Cart Cart - Base/Box Put the cart together Hold hose & pipe in place at top Feeding tube, (price per foot) Plants! M easure pH of plants pH test kit Flourescent Light Fixture Set times the tights & pump will run Water Reservoir Nutrients Used to grow seeds Used to grow seeds Supply power to pump and lights Estimated Price 42.48 6.53 19.84 6.95 11.00 25.00 0.15 0.15 6.00 7.95 3.00 22.26 12.00 2.00 4.00 0.75 1.35 8.95 5.95 24.97 15.00 3.00 15.34 2.50 2.00 4.00 Quantity 1 1 1 1 1 1 30 30 4 1 6 1 1 4 1 8 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 Total Cost 42.48 6.53 19.84 6.95 11.00 25.00 4.50 4.50 24.00 7.95 18.00 22.26 12.00 8.00 4.00 6.00 2.70 8.95 5.95 49.94 15.00 3.00 15.34 2.50 2.00 4.00

Bolt 1/4''x1.5'' w/ 2 nuts, 2 washers each Hold flange & pipe in place/Stainless

Bought Donated Bought Bought Bought Donated Donated Donated Donated Donated Donated Donated Donated Bought Bought Donated Donated Donated Donated Donated Bought Donated Donated Donated Donated Donated

Total Cost = Actual Amount Paid =

332.39
107.27

Marketing
Can

marketing the design and system

Healthy choices Via the internet

Larger audience

Marketing Produce

Could be sold to local markets or grocers Organic and pesticide free

References

Alexander, T., et al. (2000). The best of growing edge. (2 ed., pp. 47-51). Corvallis, OR: New Moon Publishing, Inc Doboski, T. (2012). Personal Communication. February 5, 2012. Harris, D. (1992). Hydroponics: the complete guide to gardening without soil. (pp. 18-22). London: New Holland Publishing. Jones, J. (2005). Hydroponics: a practical guide for the soilless grower. (2 ed., Vol. 1, pp. 4-5). CRC Press: United States of America. Low, G. (2002). Integral hydroponics: Indoor growing principles for beginners and intermediates. (3 ed., p. 6). North Charleston: BookSurge Publishing. Munson. B. (2009). Fundamentals of fluid mechanics. (6 ed.). Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Perez, L. (2008). Hydroponics for the home. (pp. 5-12). San Jose: Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture. Resh, H. (2003). Hobby hydroponics. (pp. 9-16). Mahway: Newconcept Press. Roberto, K. (2003). How to hydroponics. (4 ed.). Farmingdale: The Futuregarden Press. Smith, D. (1987). Rockwool in horticulture. (pp. 10-15). London: Grower Books. Taylor, A. (2010). Flairform growers guide. (1 ed.). Kardinya, Western Australia: Flairform Growers. Venter, G. (2010). Successful hydroponics. (pp. 116-118). Bloomington: Xlibris Corporation Winterborne, J. (2005). Hydroponics: Indoor horticulture. (pp. 198-204). Guildford: Pukka Press Ltd.

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 6

Day 8

Day 9