Used grow lights for the first time today. We’re still experimenting, but the plan is to produce a continuous supply of microgreens and herbs. The white rectangle in a small zippered bag wirelessly logs light levels and surface temperatures in a spreadsheet.
Category: Apartment Gardening
Winter Preparations
Prepared for winter. Took down the irrigation system I’d built for our balcony plants. Gave the 250 feet of tubing and 48 drippers a shower.
Got to Start Somewhere
Rain has set in, so we canceled a 4-day trip “Up North” and went plant-shopping instead. It’s a start.
Remotely Managed Gardens
Posted Remotely Managed Gardens on Wheels.
Remotely Managed Gardens on Wheels
It’s not a great way to end a trip to be greeted by desiccated or drowned houseplants. Travel and houseplants don’t get along terribly well. My partner, Dwight, enjoys long winter trips and growing things. I enjoy long winter trips and playing with tech. When it comes to indoor gardening, it’s a match made in… Continue reading Remotely Managed Gardens on Wheels
Balancing Act
Successfully prototyped a pressure balancing system for watering indoor plants. The highest plants are over 6 feet above the lowest plants. I was able to adjust the system so that each dripper gets similar water pressure.
Plant Controller
Completed a controller for our indoor plants. We can control irrigation and three sets of grow lights over the Internet. The controller turns the water pump off when the tank is almost empty or the Internet goes down (after a preset number of minutes).
Apartment Farm
Assembled a grow light stand where we’ll grow herbs, baby greens, and microgreens. Each set of LED lights is connected to the Internet. I’ll be adding drip irrigation and will create IFTTT applets to control the lights and the irrigation.
Drip Irrigation Prototype
Prototyped a drip irrigation system for about fifty plants on our balcony. I’ll create IFTTT applets to control the pump based on reports from the moisture sensor. Next on my shopping list: a 30-gallon tank.
Regifted Amaryllis
With 40+ miles per hour winds, and blowing snow, it was a perfect day to organize our nest, hang pictures, and enjoy this amaryllis. The plant was regifted to us by a friend, concerned it is poisonous to her cats. We were happy to give it a home.