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Joined: Sep 2009
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tjrundy Offline OP
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Hello,

I have a contemporary flat, and I'd like to try growing some culinary herbs in water crystals (http://www.watercrystals.com/soillessplants.htm) or an equivalent without soil.

Do anyone have any experience of this?

Is it possible to grow plants from seed this way? If I have a clear vase, will the seeds become confused by 'clear' soil?

Many thanks in advance,

Tom

Last edited by tjrundy; Sep 17th, 2009 at 08:35 PM.
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Welcome, Tom. I couldn't find any info on the forum about your hydroculture needs. But I did research on the net and there is a lot of info out there.
Here is one:http://www.rambridge.com/grow/getcult.html
And there are many, many others.
Please let us know how it does for you? We can all learn.


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What every gardener loves the most, Begins and ends in rich compost. (Tina)
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If you're talking about those polyacrylamide gel beads that expand when you soak them in water, they won't have many nutrients in them (actually, they probably have no nutrients in them). You are going to have to use liquid fertilizer to supplement whatever nutrients they need. I wouldn't suggest you use them to start seeds, and I have never seen anything grown to maturity successfully in them (though my mom is trying to grow peppers in them :S) You're on the right track about the seedlings being confused.

There are two factors that come into play: light and gravity. Any plant cell that gets exposed to light will turn green and start making food for the plant. Once these cells are green, they will become the first bits of stem and leaf.

Plants know to grow against gravity and let their roots grow along gravity (down). Once the root comes out of the seed, it will automatically reach down, and this is set as bearing to the plant what cells need to become what.

I *think* so long as the seed stays in one position the plant won't be confused enough to not know what cells become what parts, but I'm really not positive. If you decide to try, I would cover the vase with a sheet of paper at least until you see roots on the bottom.


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When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant. Mary Ann LaPensee
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I have rooted many plant cuttings in clear water jars sitting in the window and the roots seem to grow ok and are not too confused even though they are in the light. :wink:. My problem with starting seeds indoors always was I don't have enough sun coming in the windows to get them started. So I had pretty much given up on that idea. But last Christmas I got an Aerogarden as a gift, and I have had really great results growing herbs in the kitchen with it. It might be too expensive (?) but it does really work, especially for vigorous herbs like basil. It is a hydroponic kit with lights above, everything you need comes with it, you add water and nutrients to the water every few weeks. The lights are on a timer. The bottom chamber is where the roots grow down into the water. My first batch of herbs lasted 5-6 months. Now I am doing some more.


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