Day 16: Updates, updates, updates...

My Elephant garlic, which I am spraying daily with a very weak mixtures of PH adjusted water and nutrients is growing like crazy.  I am very pleased with the results so far, and I foresee growing much more garlic if I continue to have good luck with this.

I have moved my Roma tomato seedlings and lettuce seedlings out of the humidity dome.  I have been perusing as many indoor gardening sites as possible, and several of them recommend removing the dome as soon as leaves begin to appear.  Since I still have peppers under the dome germinating, I simply moved these seedlings out.  They are still under the lights, and now that there is no humidity dome, I assume the rockwool will dry out quickly, necessitating a watering before they are transplanted.

Once I see a little more growth in the tomatoes, I am planning to transplant them into individual DWC containers.  But as it is, I don't have the containers yet so I don't mind waiting.  I'm trying to do this in as frugal a manner as possible, so right now I'm looking for good DWC containers.  Once I am ready to construct those systems I will definitely make a post on it.

I feel like I can probably transplant the lettuce now.  I think that I will make a trip up to Mr. Growitall to pick up some hydroponics grow stones to put in the net cups.  I'm really looking forward to seeing the DWC system Heather an I constructed in action, definitely another post coming up for that!

My Globe basil clone is still doing very well, I think it will go into the DWC system with my lettuce tomorrow.

I planted some new seeds last night also, good fun.  Now in the seed starting tray is spinach, sweet habaneros, Big Boy tomatoes and some very pretty Sweet Tangerine Peppers (a bushy pepper variety).  I first soaked my rockwell cubes in nutrient water(PH tested of course) for about 30 minutes, then I dropped in the seeds.  Also, after tucking the seeds into the premade holes in the rockwool, I used a pencil to push some of the rockwool over the holes, so the seeds won't be exposed directly to the grow lights, as I've heard that can retard growth.  I started more seeds than I need, as I'm expecting my newbie success rate may not be so great!

Tonight I filled the DWC container with tap water.  I won't transplant the lettuce until tomorrow, but I wanted to give the chlorine a chance to evaporate over night.  I used the hose to fill a five gallon jug several times(this way I can see exactly how much water I have so that I know how much nutrient to use)!  There will be a more detailed post on getting this system running tomorrow or the next day.