circles represent the holes drilled for insertion of the
plants.
The use of LECA as the growing medium results in
the even distribution of the nutrient solution through-
out the growing chamber due to its superior wicking
properties. That permitted the use of a relatively small
pump to “trickle” the solution into the chambers,
rather than having to fl ood them periodically.
The enclosed pipe design limited the evaporation to
only the growing holes, and once the crops had been
planted, even that could be reduced by surrounding
the base of the plants with plastic sheets to further
limit the open area.
In use, we did fi nd that it was diffi cult to keep a uni-
form fl ow into each of the growing chambers, but by
July 2019
adding a simple in-line valve at the entry point, that
was easily adjusted and remedied. GG
Ray Barkalow has been growing orchids for over 45 years,
and owns First Rays, which offers horticultural products to the
hobby grower. He may be contacted at raybark@fi rstrays.com
and you can visit his website at FirstRays.com.
www.GardenandGreenhouse.net
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