Now is the Time to Start Indoor Hydroponics – Epi-2990

Full details and all resources and links along with the audio version of this episode can be found at https://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/indoor-hydro-21 ‎

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Why hydroponics, why not aquaponics or soil based systems
Incredibly efficient for indoor growing
Aquaponics is far more complex and more difficult to do indoors
Hydro done right is incredibly cheap and ideal for growing greens and starting plants
Far less likely to experience clogs - hence overflows - aka water disasters
If you don't have enough nutrient you just add more, no fish to kill
Why start with an indoor system
Grow in winter
Easy to tend to even in bad weather
Measure your access to food in steps
Almost zero pest or disease concerns
If you can build it inside you can take it outside when the weather is right
The three basic systems to consider indoors
Pure Kratky - no pumps at all
Pump Driven - using a pump that moves water and a reservoir
Air Pump Enabled - uses an air pump to keep O2 high in the system
Kratky Advantages
Nothing to break
Uses zero energy beyond lights
Works very well
Can run on a timer and not use energy 24/7
Kratky Disadvantages
Requires top ups on longer grows
Requires a deep (higher capacity) grow tub
Ends up with significant waste fluid that can be heavy (messy) to dispose of in indoor systems
Can use a float valve controlled reseviour
Pump Driven Advantages
Top up the reservoir and the entire system is seen too
Can and likely should use "Kratky elements"
Water can be "pumped out" for fluid changes
Is highly automated
Pump Driven Disadvantages
Requires energy, additional expense and an additional point of failure
More likely to experience leaks or over flows
Requires grow beds to be sufficiently elevated above a reservoir
Requires pipe, fittings, bulkheads and penetrations (additional expenses)
Airpump Driven Advantages
Really super charges growth
Less prone to leaks, etc
Less expensive then a water pump (initial cost and energy cost)
Does not require a reservoir but can use one at same level as the system
Can and likely should use some "Kratky elements"
Can run on a timer and not use energy 24/7
Airpump Driven Disadvantages
Includes an additional though small energy requirement
Additional expense (pump/s, tubing, airstones)
Requires manual topping like Kratky unless you have a resiviour
Functions of a Hydro System for Lifestyle Resiliency
Fresh food on demand
Start plants for spring and fall gardens
Can later be scaled to literally any size
What I recommend for growing in a small indoor system during winter months
Two colors of leaf lettuce
One variety of romain lettuce
Arugula
One or two verities of "Asian greens"
Spinach (use my germination trick)
Two types of basil
Parsley
Green Onions (grocery store trick)
A system of only 28 grow spaces can do 3 plants of everything here
Three plants is ideal because you can have plants in starting, mid-growth an harvest at the same time
Such a system will easily provide a few salads to a family of four every week
Why I recommend MasterBlend as your fertilizer
You can store many years worth for about 2.5 cents to the gallon for fluid
I have stopped doing any meter readings and use the 2,2,1 formula with 100% positive results
It is absolutely all you need for the leaf crops covered here
It will do a great job on starting "fruiting plants" to be set out even at the greens 2,2,1 ratio
One word of advice store is an air tight environment, seriously
Thoughts on containers
Kratky jars, jugs, etc.
Rubbermaid style tubs
Pipe based systems
Building your own boxes with rubber liners
Thoughts on indoor greenhouses and why they make sense
This is something anyone can do, for well under 100 dollars that pays for itself fully in a couple months