Solutions to Hydroponic Problems (Lack of Root-Plant Support)

This is the next edition of my cheap and at home hydroponic garden series. Today I noticed that my lemon basil and Italian basil has collapsed on itself. I planned on building supports this weekend (same method), but I had to do it early to prevent damage.

There are several methods you can use to support your plants... You can build a lattice, stake and tie etc. I am going to show a cheap/possibly free way to make a loop and stake support. This works well for tall plants with a stalkier base (in my case, Italian Basil).

In this picture you can see the problem with my Lemon Basil. Note that I was too quick to install my support so you can't see how my other plant (in back right) was folding over itself :/

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Second picture: Two weeks of growth
Thrid Picture: Right after planting

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Coming Soon: Drain/Fill Level Tube ||| Dealing with Reservoir Light Leakage ||| Perpetual Harvesting (for fruiting plants)

Step 1 Materials and Starting

You'll need two things for this.

1. An old metal hanger (like one from a dry cleaner) or some rigid wire (that can be bent/formed).
2. Pliers capable of cutting wire.

To start off - straighten your hanger and cut off one end (the hook or other twisty end).

Comments

[bountycrops]

Thanks for posting this article, trebuchet03 :) This is probably the best way to deal with a common problem in gardening that most growers encounter. Who would have thought that a hanger can be an effective tool that can be used to create a good support for plants, simply amazing!

[carbonspace]

This looks like a great solution to a fairly common problem. Thanks for taking the time to post this. Nice work.

[SerenityGene]

Think part of your problem was your grow medium. Rock wool in cubes will not really provide that much support for the roots.

[trebuchet03]

I'm not convinced this is the case - I've grown in cubes, slabs, cubes in slabs, fired clay media, sand, dirt, etc. Plants that want to vine and grow out tall/thin need support - or just let them sag over.

[julesfl]

Wonderful idea! Your a genius! Just starting my garden, so will use your wire method.

[serpensphile]

Are those organic coat hangers????? ;-)

[andross]

adding an oscillating fan near your plants will also help create support, by causing it to grow thicker stems, just like plants do in the wild from wind.

[tippmannphreak]

ok first off, ive read all of your instructables about hydroponics. i do have a few questions though. would it be ok to have the EXACT same setup and grow...eh...that hippie stuff? im not going to but id just like to know. also, where do you live in florida? i live in pensacola : ). I never knew that it only took two weeks to have plants flourish like that! thanks, and ill comment about my success in a bit! im going to hopefully have mine up and running within the next few day.

[pigpen]

Giving you that answer would be illegal, ain't America wonderful?

[pigpen]

The density of light will help keep the plants upright (needs more light!). It is interesting how certain plants will "sprawl" in this situation (basils and similar culinary herbs have had a notorious way of doing this in my experiences).

[panadero]

I will be building your system soon. My choice to start are cilantro and butterhead lettuce. I am from Puerto Rico and have plenty of sun all year around.

[FrenchCrawler]

Nice job, now your plants will thrive once again.
By the way, Thinkman's Misconceptions (at least the one I looked up) are Plagiarized.....

"Does saltpeter suppress male ardor?:
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_221.html "

You may want to rethink your score.

But at least your instructable is unique and useful to gardeners (too bad I'm not a gardener though but if I become one, I'll know where to look for help :) )

[trebuchet03]

Was this somehow cross posted?

[FrenchCrawler]

Sorry bout that, I'm not a "morning" person (unless I stayed up all night, but last night I didn't) and I wasn't too aware of which post I was on and I had to type quick cause I had to chase off some trespassers that refuse to leave us alone (at least when you bring a video camera along, you have proof)....Now if I only could figure out the best magnet project to make.....Then I could talk to them with my hands free while still recording :P Anyhow, wishing the best of luck to everyone.... Sorry to hear your Rosemary died, better luck next time.

[Tool Using Animal]

You may be getting some etiolation (stretching) if the lights not strong enough.

[FrenchCrawler]

Your happy sun looks like he's on drugs :P

[trebuchet03]

I'll take another picture later... but its getting enough light as I have a high leaf density in addition to rapid vertical growth. But my plants do know the direction that light is coming from. If you can see it in the picture, the Italian basil has the tops of its leaves pointing in one direction :P Not really much I can do because it only gets direct sunlight for about 30 minutes in the evening which was one of the factors for plant selection :P