Does anybody have experience with small (all in) hydroponic gardens for the living room? I just found Sunblaster and it looks like they are Canadian!

I want to get a small system for herbs and maybe some lettuce. I have grow lights already to start seeds but I want to step up „production“ for winter.

Any comments on this company or their kits? Anything to watch out for with the hydroponics? I have lots of experience seed starting and growing in general but not hydroponics.

Sunblaster homepage

Edited to add: they have systems for soil! Still wouldn’t mind hearing about hydroponics if anybody wants to share.

  • Canaconda@lemmy.ca
    6·
    11 days ago

    So I’ve used several iDoo systems. Thank you for posting this because I was wanting to buyCanadian.

    I’ve seen this brand at garden centers but in general decided it wasn’t worth the cost compared to what I’m using. I’m honestly thinking of producing some myself similar to the idoo design.

    As far as ramping production. You 100% need multiple units.

    The main thing is to have enough capacity to stage whatever you’re growing. I’ve been growing baby kale for a couple years now and I find they take 4-6 weeks to become harvestable and last a couple months before they grow too tall. Harvesting the leaves accelerates stalk growth, so if you want soft leaves that don’t require cooking your turnover will be shorter.

    You also want to be able to control light distance. For basil I keep the lights suuuper close as they grow to stimulate a thicker main stock. I then like to branch line and top them so they become very productive.

    • bowreality@lemmy.caOP
      4·
      11 days ago

      Thanks! I’ll take a look at this one too. Oh I have a bunch already set up. Grow lights and all just no water system. I hand water all. I am using it for seed starting so we are only talking a few weeks in spring.

      I was hoping to add something I can run throughout winter and is less work. I would prefer to grow in soil but only because I don’t know enough about hydroponics really. I used to have one of the first aerogardens when they came out but didn’t like the pod system and it was noisy.

      I am looking at the LED Sunblaster (not micro) garden right now but I am wondering if I don’t just buy a wicking mat for my trays and pots. I have super amazing trays so that’s not an issue. I’ll need to add something for lights but LED is so cheap now… hmm. Haha the complete kit is just very tempting.

      • Canaconda@lemmy.ca
        4·
        11 days ago

        Aerogardens suck. the iDoos are very quiet.

        So like the primary benefit of hydro system is the pump/oxygenation. The roots stay soft for taking in water instead of getting “hairy” for taking in oxygen. Plants closer to the pump generally grow bigger and faster.

        The pod system has pros/cons. One pro is transferring plants between units. I have bigger units for mature plants while seedlings go in the smaller ones with closer lights.

        I don’t know if it’s less work overall. I probably only spend an hour a week on it on average. Keeping them topped off isn’t too difficult. Every month or so I rotate them according to size and every few months clean one of the units out entirely.

  • Reannlegge@lemmy.ca
    4·
    10 days ago

    I have been considering building my own, I had some other ones in the past I am blanking on the name but I wanna say they where made but a fertilizer company. They were only really good for herbs and little bits of lettuce though, even though that is what you are looking for I would not suggest them.

    I am also thinking of getting into aeroponics for potatoes, rather than growing them in water like hydroponics you set up a sprinkler or something and spray the roots and therefor the potatoes.