⚠️ This forum has been restored as a read-only archive so the knowledge shared by the community over many years remains available. New registrations and posting are disabled.

All times are UTC + 8 hours




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 21 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
 Post subject: grow bed mediums
PostPosted: Feb 25th, '09, 05:13 
Bordering on Legend
Bordering on Legend
User avatar

Joined: Jan 23rd, '09, 02:37
Posts: 306
Gender: Male
Are you human?: define human
Location: sunshine coast
hi all..

i am trying to set up a (cheap) system here in sth east qld and have been wondering what would be an appropriate medium for the grow beds.

i hope to be using a variety of troughs, tanks and 1/2 barrells for the gb's..

scoria is as scarce as rocking horse excrement..... and the clay balls are way too expensive... and the scoffing laugh from the hydroponic supply man when i asked about aquaponics...

could anyone guide me in the right direction to what would be good to use... and what to avoid..

loving the forum.... have learnt so much already!!

thanks


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
    Advertisement
 
 Post subject: Re: grow bed mediums
PostPosted: Feb 25th, '09, 08:47 
Seriously, this cant be healthy.
Seriously, this cant be healthy.
User avatar

Joined: Dec 6th, '07, 01:13
Posts: 10709
Images: 0
Location: central FL
Gender: Female
Are you human?: YES at least mostly
Location: USA, Florida, Yalaha
Avoid limestone or marble, tends to buffer the pH a bit too high for most people and plants.

Seems many people down under use blue metal (make sure it is clean as stuff that was piled by a road project might have oil products spilled on it.) Granite might also be good though heavy and usually not cheap. I rather like river rock as it is about the cheapest stuff around here other than limestone.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: grow bed mediums
PostPosted: Feb 25th, '09, 09:36 
Seriously, this cant be healthy.
Seriously, this cant be healthy.
User avatar

Joined: Aug 7th, '06, 20:07
Posts: 8293
Location: margaret river West Oz
Gender: Male
Location: Western Australia
Pea gravel maybe??


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: grow bed mediums
PostPosted: Feb 25th, '09, 11:19 
Legend Member
Legend Member

Joined: Feb 8th, '07, 11:18
Posts: 975
Location: Buckhead, The City of Atlanta, The State of Georgia, The Republic of the United States of America
Gender: Male
Are you human?: Yes
Location: United States
Pea gravel is the cheapest by me too. About 3 USD for approx 40L.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: grow bed mediums
PostPosted: Feb 25th, '09, 15:53 
Seriously, this cant be healthy.
Seriously, this cant be healthy.
User avatar

Joined: Nov 13th, '07, 06:23
Posts: 5315
Location: Bundoora, Melbourne
Gender: Male
Are you human?: somewhat
Location: Victoria, Australia
Unlikely you've considered it, but don't use wood chips, especially pine of any kind.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: grow bed mediums
PostPosted: Feb 25th, '09, 15:54 
Seriously, this cant be healthy.
Seriously, this cant be healthy.
User avatar

Joined: Nov 13th, '07, 06:23
Posts: 5315
Location: Bundoora, Melbourne
Gender: Male
Are you human?: somewhat
Location: Victoria, Australia
River stones have been found to work well, know anybody with a creek you could mine some from? I know they're expensive to buy :-(


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: grow bed mediums
PostPosted: Feb 25th, '09, 17:07 
Bordering on Legend
Bordering on Legend

Joined: Apr 22nd, '08, 08:32
Posts: 476
Location: Wollongong
Gender: Male
+1 for river pebbles. 15/20mil. I used them in my small system and they worked a treat. This is probably obvious but if you contact all your local landscape supplies yards and play them one against the other you can usually get the price down.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: grow bed mediums
PostPosted: Feb 25th, '09, 17:39 
Bordering on Legend
Bordering on Legend
User avatar

Joined: Jan 23rd, '09, 02:37
Posts: 306
Gender: Male
Are you human?: define human
Location: sunshine coast
wow..

thanks for the quick replies!!

i was at work when i wrote the post..so i was a little too quick..

there is plenty of river stones around here... the mary river stones are mined close to here..

i was concerned that the stones may retain heat esp when it is hot... this i thought might raise the water temp...

i was also being a wuss and after something lighter... :)

i will look into the pea gravel.. might have a different name here ...

thanks all!!!!


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: grow bed mediums
PostPosted: Feb 25th, '09, 18:52 
Bordering on Legend
Bordering on Legend

Joined: Aug 26th, '08, 16:31
Posts: 405
Gender: Male
Location: Scarborough, QLD
I used what is commonly called "salt and pepper". A light coloured gravel with black/brown flecks through it. I got it because it was the cheapest suitable material at the landscape supplies :D :)


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: grow bed mediums
PostPosted: Feb 25th, '09, 18:57 
A posting God
A posting God
User avatar

Joined: Jul 1st, '08, 11:03
Posts: 3690
Gender: None specified
Location: Australia NSW
Gravel, river rock in my system. But after expanding with new gb's and clay I've got to say clay is great. Even if you just top dress your gb's in the stuff. I used 3 ish bags to top dress a 1000ltr gb today. The temp is better and plants seem to grow better in it.
ImageImage


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: grow bed mediums
PostPosted: Feb 27th, '09, 12:16 
Newbie
Newbie
User avatar

Joined: Jan 11th, '07, 17:23
Posts: 40
Location: Brisbane
Gender: Male
Are you human?: Yes
Location: QLD, Australia
Top dressing beds? Sounds interesting, what did you use for the bulk of the beds? Have you found the clay balls mixing into the other media during planting and harvesting at all?


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: grow bed mediums
PostPosted: Feb 27th, '09, 12:50 
A posting God
A posting God
User avatar

Joined: Jul 1st, '08, 11:03
Posts: 3690
Gender: None specified
Location: Australia NSW
Gravel and river rock for the bulk in the gb's. And the clay likes to stay on the top because it is a lot lighter. Threw gravel the wrong way and it ended up on top of the clay and all I did was give it a stir and the gravel disapeared. Will top dress all the older gb's. Gravel and river rocks are cheap but the plants do find it harder to grow. But they will also help support larger plants.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: grow bed mediums
PostPosted: Feb 27th, '09, 13:47 
Valued Contributor
Valued Contributor

Joined: Feb 6th, '09, 07:17
Posts: 58
Gender: Male
Location: Nathalia Victoria
Dufflight looks as thou you could be on a winner with your top dressing :cheers:


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: grow bed mediums
PostPosted: Feb 28th, '09, 18:18 
Newbie
Newbie
User avatar

Joined: Jan 11th, '07, 17:23
Posts: 40
Location: Brisbane
Gender: Male
Are you human?: Yes
Location: QLD, Australia
Hey Duffylight,

It sounds good, over a 300-350mm deep bed how thick so you recommend the clay balls and does this mean no root crops? ie. carrots.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: grow bed mediums
PostPosted: Feb 28th, '09, 18:27 
A posting God
A posting God
User avatar

Joined: Jul 1st, '08, 11:03
Posts: 3690
Gender: None specified
Location: Australia NSW
In the BYAP gb's I used 10cm's of cycled gravel. So no problems with root crops. You can always use 90mm PVC filled with clay to sit on top if your really worried. The other gb's I have 10cms ish of clay on the top. Mainly for the better temp and the plants seem to grow faster in clay. When the roots make it into the gravel or river rock the plant is allready powering along. The heavy media helps support the larger plants.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 21 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC + 8 hours


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron

Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
Portal by phpBB3 Portal © phpBB Türkiye
[ Time : 0.110s | 13 Queries | GZIP : Off ]