Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Dirt would probably end up in the gravel. Also - would end up with a do problem. Plants don't grow well in normal dirt if they are constantly wet. Remember dirt is much more densly packed than gravel etc.

ok, but when you have a pot plant on the concrete you don't end up with dirt all over the concrete.

on the DO, most plants would do fine in a very free draining soil, except that they'd need to be watered 3 times a day in summer. The free draining soil (potting mix would qualify) and the AP water feed would take care of the DO.

Whadda ya think? I've been thinking of it for a while, i know its a "not done" but have been dwelling on it.

I guess my main question would be why bother. I see more negatives than positives unless you had the pots in a raceway that was only flooded daily or something - like I think is being done by some citrus growers.

Well, i've got a potted citrus, a potted avocado that i'd like to try in AP, but don't want to commit to, plus i'm out of gravel space

Steve... don't know if it will help...

Was in the Big B store on Saturday... saw some really large ... probably 150ltr self watering tubs....

like a tub (with holes in the bottom) within another tub.....

they'd probably be big enough for a citrus, even in soil and you could probably set them up like a satellite pot or even plumb them in with an inlet/outlet on a timer or drip feed from top and circulate out the bottom tub....

have a look if you're in there and you'll see what I mean.

Thats how my lemon has been growing for the last two months

I think I may have misinterpreted this statement Steve. I thought you were goin to bury the pot (dirt and all) into a gravel bed.

If you are just talking about effectivelly watering it with AP water then I see no issue. Just don't do it so often that it is always saturated.

The pots F&F speak of sound good - but it might be just as easy to place the existing pot into some sort of container that holds some water - like a cut off bottom from a blue barrel. One of the problems with watering the way you suggest is that the water may flow through the pot without wetting a lot o the dirt. If you place it is a container - the the dirt can take it up by osmosis. Would just need to get the timings right so that it uses up all the water before a new lot is supplied. It would be like an autopot - but not automatic.

The other option would be to use something which difuses the water more thoroughly or to use media which takes it up better (like cocopeat or a soil and cocopeat mix).

Am I understanding now Steve - are you talking run to waste?

HI steve
Add a nother bath tub My lemon is growing in scoria when i planted it it was so root bound i knocked off as much soil as i could and planted it it gets 3 min fish water every time it cycles the lemons have doubled in size since its been in remember without pioneers this whole aquaponic thing would be dead

I've got a dwarf lemon, a dwarf lime and a finger lime all in F&D gravel. They get the same water as everyone else.

I know it is not citrus - but my paw paw is doing fantastically in my gravel bed. It is now well over a meter tall and looks superbly healthy. My only problem will be that the wind may end up knocking it over, because my bed is already 90cm above the ground - so the top of the plant could well end up over 3 meters high. I will be very interested to see how it fruits.

F&F - have you eaten any fruit of the lemon yet?. I will be interested to see if the flavor is as good as or surpasses ground grown plants.

Steve, if you're concerned about the dirt washing through the rest of the system, (and I see possible disease issues) or problems with DO due to too much water retention in the soil then maybe these could be the answer.....

Coco Pots

Could fill them with coir, hydroton, perlite whatever .... reckon I'm going to give them a try at some stage

I was thinking of doing something like that with the self-watering pots. The bigger ones with perlite or vermiculite in them would be good. The plants can use the water held in the bottom and should be ok with only daily waterings to top up the levels. Kind of like smart pots without the "smart" bit.

Nova

not yet the havent ripend yet its actually a lemonade tree so should taste nice

WOW, so many replies! Thanks!

There seems to be some confusion.

What i have are a few potted plants. One with loose potting mix, the other with harder dirt. I eventually (100%) want to make them flood/drain AP but for now i was going to sit them in the gravel bed with some AP water piped to the top of the bed so it ran through the dirt and back to the gravel in the bath tub.

I should have been clearer!

Thanks Again.