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 Post subject: Shallow F&D
PostPosted: May 8th, '07, 17:12 
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I've been thinking about the discussion on the 'Is water the limit for soil based crops?' and I think I'd like to try a shallow flood and drain system for cutting propagation. What I'd like is a shallow tray (10cm deep x 1m x 60cm) that is filled and emptied on a timer.

Any suggestions for tray? I think I'll put it on the hard to reach corner on my GH bench so it can drain back to the fish tank by gravity. I've got a 30W pond pump that should be able to fill it reasonably quickly and I could timer it from the computer. What I can't work out is what to make the tray from, and how to get it to drain smoothly.

What sort of gravel should I use?

What sort of rate?


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PostPosted: May 8th, '07, 17:48 
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Depends on the pump, the budget, and the scrounging prowess.... :)

For cuttings I would thing that gravel is out of the question, too much root damage in removing lots of cuttings.. Hydro clay or perlite would be better..


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PostPosted: May 8th, '07, 18:26 
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Budget = $0, scrounging prowess medium....

What about cocopeat?


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 Post subject: Re: Shallow F&D
PostPosted: May 8th, '07, 18:29 
Seriously, this cant be healthy.
Seriously, this cant be healthy.
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Hi njh try looking behind fish and chip shops they have a lot of stainless trays like this 80 =60 =10 good luck


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PostPosted: May 8th, '07, 18:34 
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Just don;t get caught pinching them... :lol:


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 Post subject: Re: Shallow F&D
PostPosted: May 8th, '07, 18:47 
Seriously, this cant be healthy.
Seriously, this cant be healthy.
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This one and a smaller one ended up in the tip


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PostPosted: May 8th, '07, 18:53 
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Staino trays like that being thrown out...? That is a waste....


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 Post subject: Re: Shallow F&D
PostPosted: May 8th, '07, 18:57 
Seriously, this cant be healthy.
Seriously, this cant be healthy.
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Man you should see the stainless stuff i have


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PostPosted: May 8th, '07, 18:59 
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F&F - I love youe work. Again - I wish you lived near me, or I lived near you.


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 Post subject: Re: Shallow F&D
PostPosted: May 8th, '07, 19:31 
njh... the "traditional" hydroponics "flood and drain" tray has always been the type in the photo below.....

650 x 650 x 95 size...... usually about $35

Regards coco peat.... given that it holds water really well you'd probably have to do some trial and error regarding the timer cycle to allow for sufficient draining/drying of the peat....

Obviously would depend on the type of plant cuttings you were trying to strike and how they react to water retention.....

Perlite or 70/30 mixes of Perlite/Vermiculite have always been the recommended seedling/cutting raising mixes for hydro....


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PostPosted: May 8th, '07, 19:43 
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NJH - I've been growing some seedlings in cocopeat trays for transplant into my system. Int he shade they only need watering every 5 or so days and the trays are much shallower than you would use for cuttings and are not in a tent or anything to retain moisture. You'd probably hardly need to water them at all if using coco-peat. I'd be inclined to go something else - like perlite with gravel on top to stop perlite floating. That way you woulc flood more often and have a greater supply of oxygen to the roots when drained.


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PostPosted: May 8th, '07, 20:01 
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an old shower floor? they are about 1m2


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PostPosted: May 8th, '07, 20:05 
or the tray out of an old air conditioning unit/water cooler....


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PostPosted: May 8th, '07, 20:07 
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A bread tray lined with plastic.


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PostPosted: May 9th, '07, 09:03 
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You won't believe this, but I just found a tray just like that Rupert! I was riding to work and someone had it out on the nature strip! I dinked it back home. It appears to be some kind of fibreglass, mine has two holes in the middle. I'll hook it up tonight if I get a chance.

I reckon I might be able to just sit it directly over the tank at one end.

I'll try perlite + vermiculite (I have a bag somewhere) and cocopeat. See which works best.

Agreed re timing.

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an old shower floor? they are about 1m2


I just pulled out our old shower floor, but I had to use a sledgehammer - it was concrete. A new one costs $100.

re stainless, can you solder it with normal plumbing solder?


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