Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Looking for any idea's why rosemary just doesn't want to grow in my system.

I can grow many other types of things, basil & parsley grow out of control any time I have them in, but batch after batch of rosemary grows at a glacial rate and then finally dies out.

Many of my plants are ones I buy, wash the dirt off and plant, so I start with fairly fully grown plants, I also have done this a ton of times successfully.

My system is an indoor gravel flood and drain system using fluorescent bulbs, it is well established (about 3 years old).

Any idea's?

A quick google suggests that rosemary likes well drained soil and not to be over fertilized. This would suggest to me that it would it be suitable for Aquaponics.

Note: I am no expert and could be wrong.

My rosemary grows just fine...

RupertofOZ:
Its good to see someone is getting it to work in an aquaponic system, must be something about my system.

I was thinking about putting a regular potted rosemary on top of the bed to see if it does any better, then it will be the same location, same light, etc, just different media to grow in.

Rupe: is your system running with a nitrate reading of 0?

I had rosemary in mine for a while but they all died. My nitrate reading is around 100. Perhaps too many nutrients for rosemary?

I know my nitrates are up around 80 or so, I can't grow stuff fast enough to suck em up.

Too many fish or too few plants....

Could it be lack of light? I know they are a full sun kind of plant

Hubby broke a couple of sticks off our rosemary bush in the front garden and stuck them into a growbed... and they have nearly all survived!

And in that time we had a massive nutrient spike which hasnt seemed to hurt them... if anything they are looking pretty darned healthy considering they are only about 15 cms tall... We even got flowers!

And the flowers are quite cute as well...

Yep very cute, especially when your plants are only 10cms tall

We have pretty high pH too and thats not seeming to bother them, so if that was a worry for you Id probably rule that out... I still think it might be lack of light

Thats some big Rosemary Rupe! Nice buddy, very nice.

I grow rosemary fine in a raft or flood and drain so it cycle time really shouldn't be an issue. Whats your PH?

Most of my systems run between 6.0 - 6.6 ... depending on when I test...

I think the secret for rosemary, and other plants that like fast draining soil... is actually about oxygenation....

And a well oxygenated system will grow anything IMO...

I've also grown aloe vera, another plant that supposedly doesn't like "wet feet"...

All my systems run with readings of 0,0,0....

i have had the same thing with rosemary, seems ok for a bit, but then it dies out, indoors as well.. so i'm guessing it's a light thing..