Day 181
UPDATE#7
Grower update
Update #7
Not archivedOpen original URL
I need to eat more salad. :P. Now I have cucs to put on it which makes it even better.
GrowLog
SuccessfulBounty Lettuce with Fan-Based Tip-Burn Control
Grow log by serri588 · Original thread
7 visual updates8 photos19 replies
View recapCrop🥬Lettuce
VarietyRouge d'Hiver, assorted Burpee lettuce mix, assorted AeroGarden lettuce pods
MethodAeroGarden hydroponics
EquipmentAeroGarden Bounty, clip-on circulation fan
Plants-
AudienceAdvanced
What you can learnA strong lettuce-management diary showing how airflow, temperature, plant spacing, and reduced nutrient strength affected tip burn and plant form.
Actions:1 Nutrients1 Equipment1 Watering1 Harvest1 Finished
Useful practices
- using a circulation fan to reduce tip burn
- adding ice during watering
- using one lettuce plant per pod
- limiting mature plants to six per deck
- feeding lettuce with reduced-strength MaxiGro
Problems encountered
- recurring tip burn
- warm growing environment
- fan not restarting after power flickers
*The days were calculated automatically and approximately.
Day 163
UPDATE#6
Grower update
Update #6
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Starting to get back online after my work trips. These are from a Burpee mix so I don't know the specific variety.
Conversation
S
We are glad to have you back They look great no matter what they are.
U
You are a lettuce Diva!! Lovely!
Day 111
UPDATE#5
Grower update
Update #5
Actions taken
FinishedEnded or consolidated the extra lettuce units before travel.
I cut down to one Bounty of lettuce with the trip to Seattle. It survived the week alone only looking a little shaggy. The plants are from a Burpee mix, so I don't know the individual varieties.
Conversation
S
It looks great!
Day 58
UPDATE#4
Grower update
Update #4
Actions taken
HarvestPulled a large lettuce plant for lunch.
I still can't remember to put ice in the bowls, but the plants are definitely happier with the fan. I do currently have one plant with tip burn, but it is mild. I've discovered when the power flickers the fan doesn't come back on automatically, so that may be why the one plant got burned.I pulled this monster out today for lunch. I had to take a picture before I chopped it up:
Conversation
S
That looks WONDERFUL serri588. Nice color and huge!
U
Ooo I really would love to know the name of that red lettuce, serri.
S
I've kind of given up tracking- most of the stuff I'm growing these days come from Burpee mixes. However, I'm pretty sure that's one of my last AG pods, Rouge d'Hiver variety.The fan really has helped get healthier, more compact plants. The nutes are 1/2-1/4 strength GH Maxigro powder. Stuff is dirt cheap and lettuce does just fine on it. I do one plant per pod and 6 plants per Bounty/Farm deck after their first month.
Day 40
UPDATE#3
Grower update
Update #3
Actions taken
EquipmentInstalled a small clip-on fan to cool and move air around the lettuce.
WateringAdded ice cubes instead of plain water to cool the root zone.
So since pretty much day one I've had issues with tip burn regardless of how much/little nutes or where I place the lights. I was reading the other day, and some university page (I'm sorry I don't remember which one) was saying that one of the issues with commercial hydro lettuce was that heat from the lights plus the rapid growth could cause calcium deficiencies leading to tip burn.I can't stand having my apartment below 74-72 so Amazon to the rescue. I picked up a small clip-on fan, and I've also been watering them by dumping in bowls of ice cubes instead of water.Only time will tell if this works, but so far I haven't spotted any new tip burn, and it seems like the plants are more compact. When I put my hand near them the definitely feel cooler and the leaves are crisper than they were before.
Conversation
D
Tried any mooch or CaliMagic?I don't normally use a Ca supplement on my lettuce, but if it's showing a Ca deficiency...I've also read elsewhere concerning water temperature in larger hydro systems: If you can't decide whether youneed to buy a chiller/refrigerator for your water circulator, then you need to buy one.
S
I always put ice on my herb and lettuce projects water. They like cold water and grow better in cold.
S
I found the article. This is what it has to say about tip burn "Most often the symptoms are not due to lack of calcium in the root-zone but rather environmental causes leading to poor calcium supply to young leaves"www.e-gro.org/pdf/2015_431.pdfI do put ice in when I remember, but in order to keep the water below 72 or so I'd need to add ice faster than the lettuce can drink it. The next round of plants is getting going. The older plants haven't had any tip burn since I've added the fan, but the new plants will be the first real test.
Day 30
UPDATE#2
Grower update
Update #2
With the windowsills getting cold and all the Farms off for a couple weeks. The lettuce is getting a bunch of friends to share the light.
Day 1
UPDATE#1
Grower update
Update #1
Actions taken
NutrientsUsed General Hydroponics MaxiGro powder instead of the three-part nutrient series.
Not much to say here- I'm using up the pods that came with my machines and then I'll switch to seeds. I'm using GH Maxigrow powder on these instead of the 3 part series that is more popular.
Conversation
S
They look nice.How do you use the powder?
S
I use empty 20oz soda bottles to mix the powder with a bit of water. A few shakes and it dissolves quite well, but I usually need another round of water to get the last of the powder dissolved. As with my GH 3 part nutes, I use half the recommended amount.The downside is that they are less stable in terms of ph. Fine for lettuce with regular water changes, but I wouldn't want to use them on something like my cucumbers which is unstable even on the liquid nutes.
S
Thank you for the explanation and advice
M
Gosh those look lush!