Starting Construction of the DWC for Lettuce (I know, sounds impressive!)

So, not long after finding the Sure To Grow videos I mentioned in the last post, I found another blog, one whose very name encapsulated so much about what I want to do!  Frugal Hydroponics is a fantastic little blog that has a great video segment on how to build a DWC system for small vegetables This was perfect for me, since I wanted to find a way to economically grow quite a few lettuce plants, and I didn't really want to try to build a complicated system for doing it.

Even though we just planted our seeds, I am very excited about this project(almost crazed), so we started construction of our DWC system right away(so it's ready when needed, of course).  A DWC system works by feeding the plants highly oxygenated, and nutrient rich water constantly.  To do this I am going to suspend planting pots called net cups over a reservoir of water.  In that water are nutrients, and one other very important thing, an air bubbler!  This is a must, or the plants will drown and rot.  Air pumps, one of which I have not purchased yet, range in price from $10 to $100s.  I will probably shoot for around $40.  The air pump is hooked up to an air stone(about $2) that produces bubbles to oxygenate the water.

Here's what we've done so far (this will be an ongoing project as funds allow!):

Made a trip to Menards for a heavy duty tote.  Do not get the cheap ones unless you want to be mopping and pumping nutrient water out of your house when it cracks!

Next, we measured out hole spacing in the lid of the tote using the net cups we purchased.

Then, Heather went to work cutting out holes with her wedding present!

Here how the top looks:

And this is a net cup (maybe $.50 each)

They fit together so nicely!

 

This is as far as we've gotten on the DWC system.  When it's complete, well, I'll have another post for that!  Maybe even some fun video :)