Starting hydroponic plants on clay pebbles

Рет қаралды 32,492

Күн бұрын

In this video I share how I start my hydroponic seedlings on clay pebbles or hydroton. Clay pebbles are great for staring many plants and also for use in net cups and for grow full cycle in some cases. So far everything I have tried this way has worked well except for peas. Most all greens work well. If you have any questions just let me know and I will get back to you. Thanks to Johnathan Fox for the time stamps as follows
@jfox2082
"🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation:
00:00 🌱 Growing in Clay Pebbles Introduction
- Introduction to growing plants in clay pebbles.
- Emphasis on clean and undamaged roots for plants in setups without media.
- Mention of a planter for growing baby greens using clay pebbles.
02:01 🔍 Creating a Planter for Baby Greens
- Description of a Rubbermaid container setup for growing baby greens.
- Explanation of creating holes in the container for proper drainage.
- Clarification on the arrangement of containers for the hydroponic setup.
04:10 🌱 Planting Seeds in Clay Pebbles
- Rinsing clay pebbles before use to remove dust.
- Preparation of containers and filling with clay pebbles.
- Planting seeds, using broccoli rabe and arugula as examples.
09:29 🌞 Care After Planting
- Advice on lighting conditions after seed sprouting.
- Immediate use of nutrient solution after sprouting.
- Overall care tips for successful growth in clay pebbles."
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Пікірлер: 84

@judyjahnz2363 5 ай бұрын

Charles, I found out that if you lay a thin sheet of toilet paper over the top of the clay pebbles you can put your seeds on it and they will grow through and not fall into the water before they germinate. Love this way. Growing lots of greens inside this year. Supposed to be very hot again.

@CharestStudios 5 ай бұрын

Sounds good! Thanks!

@Katya-zj7ni 3 жыл бұрын

This is wonderful info! Thank you so much xxx

@CharestStudios 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Catherine! Your very welcome. I appreciate your feedback!

@AlfredTanious 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Dave for the video

@CharestStudios 4 жыл бұрын

Your welcome, Alfred. If you want to grow vegetables besides greens and herbs I recommend the peat pellets. I start the plants in the peat pellets and then just drop them into a net cup with a bit of clay pebbles around them once they are a few inches tall.

@juneallison7052 3 жыл бұрын

This is a great idea David. I don't really like rockwool because it starts to grow fungus so I will try using your method with just the pebbles. Thanks!

@CharestStudios 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, June. Yes, exactly. I am not a fan of rockwool for that reason and the fact that it is not really re useable. The clay pebbles have worked great for me.

@lovemusicandsound2722 4 жыл бұрын

Great video! Such a wonderful way to grow food. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with the world. Wonderful You Tube station too! Best of luck with everything!

@CharestStudios 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you, my love. I am grateful to have found out about passive hydroponics here on youtube and have learned much from others as well as from my own experience and experiments. We enjoy a lot of fresh foods grown right here and that is awesome.

@sl1020 Жыл бұрын

Great ideas! Thank you!

@CharestStudios Жыл бұрын

You’re welcome! Thank you! Happy growing!

@lindajenkins3950 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this informative video! Today I started kale, spinach, lettuce and pak choi for my fall downspout garden. I can't wait to see how the seeds do growing right on the clay pebbles.

@CharestStudios 4 жыл бұрын

Your welcome, Linda. Glad you liked the video. I love starting plants that way for my growpipe which is very similar to the downspout planter. I think you will like it. Happy growing!

@cheftura9083 4 жыл бұрын

Great, thanks David I will try it....

@CharestStudios 4 жыл бұрын

Hope you enjoy

@pamp3445 3 жыл бұрын

I actually have bok choy and totsay growing on clay pebbles! and spinach! First time and I was successful. Thank you for the lesson!

@CharestStudios 3 жыл бұрын

That's great, Pam! I am glad to know the video was helpful. Thanks!

@sn232 2 жыл бұрын

1 tsp maxigrow per gallon - THANK YOU! Love the idea of stacking 2 sizes of containers to create a grow platform.

@CharestStudios 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Yes the two tier system is great for the baby greens for sure.

@juliannegill5486 4 жыл бұрын

Dave - thanks for this video! I made this container (rubbermaid container with holes) without the hydroton and used it to grow pea shoots. Worked perfectly - I'd share a pic, but can't on KZfaq. Thanks much!

@CharestStudios 4 жыл бұрын

Your welcome. Sounds great! glad the video was helpful.

@Krachuken Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing your experience. What’s the composition of the liquid fertilizer/water that u r using.

@harrymyhero 2 жыл бұрын

I have small containers that size with sand and seeds in them right now.

@CharestStudios 2 жыл бұрын

That's great! If the sand works good that is awesome too.

@chuckburrows2082 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Dave, great video, having great success with your grow pipes, but have had some trouble with starting seeds in the clay pebbles. I think your video will help. Thanks again.

@CharestStudios 4 жыл бұрын

Your welcome, Chuck. Glad to hear you are having great success with the grow pipes. I really love the grow pipes for greens and herbs. I always have at least a couple going. In the summer I have some long ones. Going to make some more long ones for this summer. I plan to try the small gravel like aquarium gravel and see if that works any better for starting seedlings. If it does I will share about it.

@sheri023 4 жыл бұрын

@@CharestStudios I was thinking aquarium gravel too. Maybe course sand too.

@CharestStudios 4 жыл бұрын

@@sheri023 Yes, I am going to try some gravel when I get a chance and sand might work. It's worth a try.

@14chstr 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks this is really helpful. Can I put a ply of tissue on top so that the seeds won't fall into the water solution?

@CharestStudios 3 жыл бұрын

You can try that, but I have found if you use a small shallow container they will even sprout under water and grow up through. you will loose some but I always get more than I need. If I need 8 plants I plant about 16 seeds.

@veronicafrancis4213 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing. I would like to know what do you do to the pebbles after each harvest. Do you wash them and if so with what?

@CharestStudios 4 жыл бұрын

Your welcome. I usually just wash them with soap and water and have not had any problem.

@RubberBand03 4 жыл бұрын

I've been learning a lot from these videos. What grow light are u using?

@CharestStudios 4 жыл бұрын

That's great! I just use an led shop light. 5000k.

@budfariss 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks David! I’m still doing this and getting results with newer seeds! Are you leaving the lights on them 12 or 24 hours/day?

@CharestStudios 4 жыл бұрын

That's great Bud. It must have been the seeds. I turn my lights on when I get up and off when I go to bed. It is usually around 15 hours.

@elsaw0827 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this video. Do you keep the solution at the top of the pebbles after germination, or do you let the water level drop as roots develop?

@CharestStudios 4 жыл бұрын

Yes I do keep topping it off.

@Rhonda2580 3 жыл бұрын

Could you also grow microgreens with the two layer system with the clay pebbles? I am currently using your method with the plastic container and the piece of window screen on the top.

@CharestStudios 3 жыл бұрын

Yes you can! I use the clay pebbles method more for my baby greens but you could use it for micro greens. It maybe more work to clean up after the grow than the screen method though.

@cheftura9083 4 жыл бұрын

Hi David I'm new in this hydrophonics. do i have to fill everytime the water whenever the water went down? Thanks

@CharestStudios 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Elmer. No, you only have to fill it when it gets low. I usually let it go down to 1/4 before refilling. So in the beginning it takes nothing for the first week or so and as they grow you need to check more often.

@Rhonda2580 4 жыл бұрын

Do you add a little lid over the top of the containers, until they sprout?

@CharestStudios 4 жыл бұрын

No not for these. I do on the micro green containers though.

@RedNeckRed647 2 жыл бұрын

I’m wondering if river pebbles might be an acceptable substitute for hydroton, or gravel? PH might need to be monitored I’m guessing.

@CharestStudios 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, I think that would work just fine. I would give it a try if you have some on hand.

@williehill2935 3 жыл бұрын

What size Rubbermaid Containers are these please. I'm off to shop soon to pick them up but can't find the dimensions or volume :-) Thanks Dave. As always I love your channel (and your artwork)

@CharestStudios 3 жыл бұрын

The big ones I use for the micro greens or the bottom container are 1 quart or one liter not sure which. They have cup measurement on one side and ml on the other. The small one that fits in the top I think is 2cup or a sandwich container. I get mine at walmart and they are usually right next to each other. The little tiny ones I use for starting seeds are about 2 inches across and I get those at the dollar store.

@michaelguest9428 3 жыл бұрын

Great video! If I used clay pebbles as my medium for growing will it support my plant when it gets bigger? I wanted to do this with peppers and some other plants.

@dave8272 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! If you use them in a net cup they will work. The roots will grow through the net cup and when the plant is larger that is what will support the plant more than the clay pebbles.

@michaelguest9428 3 жыл бұрын

@@dave8272 You're welcome. Awesome thank you so much!

@golfshoe9321 2 жыл бұрын

I do peppers, cucumbers, basil, thyme etc in kratky and leafy greens are tough to get started from seeds. I may just try this for all my seeding. I used cotton ball media but some roots can't dig through the cotton mesh. All I want are roots!

@golfshoe9321 2 жыл бұрын

Nice work! Would larger seeds like cucumber or beans work with this method? I'm thinking of putting a small paper towel bed at the top with the seed and have a bottom wick into the water/pebble mix. Is this overkill or just drop them into the pebbles?

@CharestStudios 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Marlon. I believe they would do fine directly on the clay pebbles. you could try it both ways just to experiment but I think without the paper would be better. I have not tried it with those plants because I usually plant them in small peat pots with potting mix in them. The peat pots them can fit right into net cups later. This year I may try it right on the clay pebbles unless I just buy my plant starts. Happy growing!

@golfshoe9321 2 жыл бұрын

@@CharestStudios Thanks for responding...will report back!

@Rhonda2580 3 жыл бұрын

David, so you don’t have to cover the small container, for the seeds to germinate and sprout?

@CharestStudios 3 жыл бұрын

That's correct. The clay pebbles are good at wicking moisture so they will keep your seeds wet enough to sprout and the light won't stop them from sprouting either. It is a great method when you want clean roots to plant.

@Rhonda2580 3 жыл бұрын

While you are waiting for the seeds to germinate, do you need to spritz them with water or solution, to keep them moist?

@CharestStudios 3 жыл бұрын

No they shouldn't need it as long as you filled up the container to near the top of the clay pebbles with solution.

@fargo3342 4 жыл бұрын

What brand of pebbles are these? I'm getting a lot of mixed reviews on Amazon when looking

@CharestStudios 4 жыл бұрын

Hydro crunch amzn.to/30YGPgB I really like them.

@debranagle1011 2 жыл бұрын

Are you going to do a video on your grow pipe?

@CharestStudios 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Debra. Thanks for buying a growpipe! I f you click on the video button at the top of my channel it will show you all my videos. Ihave lots of growpipe videos. Here is one that may be helpful kzfaq.info/get/bejne/edZ5nKpmuJrMlmg.html. I will ship you growpipe out today. Let me know if you have any questions.

@RubberBand03 4 жыл бұрын

How often do u change the nutrient? Or do u just top it up?

@CharestStudios 4 жыл бұрын

I just top it up.

@Rhonda2580 4 жыл бұрын

Could you have just used the larger container and used your window screen method on top, instead of the two containers and the clay pebbles?

@CharestStudios 4 жыл бұрын

Yes, but the roots may get damage when removing.

@LeslieJones817 2 жыл бұрын

What size pebbles do I need?

@CharestStudios 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Leslie. I have only seen them come in the one size and they vary from about 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch.I have also just tried some pebble from outside and that will work in a pinch. I get mine here amzn.to/32KBjCg. That is my affiliate link. You can find smaller bags from the same company if you look around a bit. Happy growing!

@jfox2082 6 ай бұрын

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:00 🌱 *Growing in Clay Pebbles Introduction* - Introduction to growing plants in clay pebbles. - Emphasis on clean and undamaged roots for plants in setups without media. - Mention of a planter for growing baby greens using clay pebbles. 02:01 🔍 *Creating a Planter for Baby Greens* - Description of a Rubbermaid container setup for growing baby greens. - Explanation of creating holes in the container for proper drainage. - Clarification on the arrangement of containers for the hydroponic setup. 04:10 🌱 *Planting Seeds in Clay Pebbles* - Rinsing clay pebbles before use to remove dust. - Preparation of containers and filling with clay pebbles. - Planting seeds, using broccoli rabe and arugula as examples. 09:29 🌞 *Care After Planting* - Advice on lighting conditions after seed sprouting. - Immediate use of nutrient solution after sprouting. - Overall care tips for successful growth in clay pebbles. Made with HARPA AI

@CharestStudios 6 ай бұрын

Thank you very much. I will add this to the video description. I appreciate that!

@hadeelareny7152 Жыл бұрын

What is this solution? Where to buy it? Thanks

@CharestStudios Жыл бұрын

Hi. The solution is Maxi Gro. In the U.S. it is available on Amazon. It is for greens and herbs. You want Masterblend for fruiting plants.

@hadeelareny7152 Жыл бұрын

@@CharestStudios Can you use Maxi Gro to grow tomato from seeds? Thanks

@CharestStudios Жыл бұрын

@@hadeelareny7152 You can start them with Maxi Gro but I would recommend switching to Masterblend when the flowers start or just using masterblend from the start. Masterblend is for fruiting plants and MaxiGro is good for foliage or your greens and herbs.