I have the 8 pack hydrofarm and it's the kind that the drip rings are at the top and they will drip 24/7 if left on all the time. The trouble I'm finding is that they spit and sputter. The water comes through steadily, but it hits the grow medium and spatters back up. The tomatoes I put in there are fine. They don't seem to mind having wet leaves. But the broccoli, cauliflower and Kohlrabi turn colors and stop growing.
I replaced them with larger transplants, moved them into the center as far away from the splatter as possible and filled them more full with grow medium to try and minimize the splatter. That helped with some of the plants. But with others it's just not working. So I started only leaving the pump on for about half a day at a time. I am hoping that letting the leaves dry out while still keeping the roots moist at all times, it will help...I hope.
Does anyone have any better ideas?
Suzi
8 pack hydrofarm
You should cycle your watering, its not natural for plant roots to be in water all the time. Some wet and dry cycles are ok.
Maybe using a smaller pump or restricting the flow so the water does not fly out of the drip lines so fast.
You could add more medium, make the pots full upt ot the dripper so the water does not fall to far to the medium maybe.....
just ideas to try...
Thanks...yikes. I think I left the water on all day LOL! I guess I'm going to have to get a timer.
Suzi