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Post by jestermax on Mar 13, 2021 8:29:41 GMT -5
So, my AG's screen broke and the company is sending me a replacement unit. This means I'll have to start over, but I have a very large Thyme plant that I'd love to keep and use for cooking. I know that basil can basically be tossed in a teacup of water and it'll thrive (I'm doing that with my Thai basil right now). What about thyme though?
My plan is to keep the plant indoors next to my AG to use its lights, but I'm not sure if I'll need to get potting soil for it (or if there are other things I'll need to pick up today). Ideally it would be able to grow in water just like it's doing now, but perhaps it can't support itself?
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airscapes
AGA Bounty
Lettuce eat Cake!
Posts: 642
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Post by airscapes on Mar 13, 2021 9:10:22 GMT -5
Can you actually extract it from the AG without distorting the root ball? What condition is your AG in, does it still function, if so just leave everything as it is until you get the new machine and swap the plants out, assuming you can extract it without serious damage. If I am missing something here and you have to remove it and can, and want to keep it in water, find a way to suspend the plant over the water container so the roots are mostly in the water with a small amount still in the air. Check out this thread, it explains the process, you would just be start with a fully grown plant. aerogardenaddicts.com/thread/2796/kratky-method-startedIf you plan to move the thyme outside for the warm weather (not sure where you are located) a 7-9" pot or larger with potting soil would let you keep that plant for the rest of the growing season and maybe longer assuming you have a locations with sun inside or it can go outside. I have had thyme in a planter outside live through several winters (drys up and comes back next year) here in the Philadelphia area. Thyme is a fairly rugged plant.
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267
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Post by Shawn on Mar 13, 2021 9:42:03 GMT -5
You can place it in water if you want. Use the Kratky method airscapes pointed to or blow some bubbles with a straw daily for air flow. I mean that is basically what the AG's are doing Of course you can place in soil. And then there is leaving them in the unit until you get the new hood. Again use a straw and blow some bubble in the water to aerate it.
Keep us posted.
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Post by jestermax on Mar 13, 2021 9:44:52 GMT -5
The device has been "functioning", but with a not ideal light cycle. AG is mailing me a replacement unit, but asked that I mail back the old one and start with a new grow kit. So I can either transplant all of my stuff over, or move some to pots. My thyme and basil are the only ones I really care about since I could harvest the parsley for 1-2 dishes this weekend. If I moved them to the new machine, then I wouldn't be able to grow anything else in the spots of some of my lesser desired plants, as the lamp is already at max height.
I'd have to cut some of the roots to separate them as they've joined forces and three of them have an alliance right now. so there would likely be some level of damage no matter what I do in order to extract them. I already have pulled out the Thai Basil into a small cup and I keep it beside the unit; I didn't want to eat it, so I've been keeping it as a pet, and it seems to be growing just fine. So my plan with the thyme would be to do the same (indoors only), or at least keep it alive long enough for a new thyme to grow in while I slowly harvest what I need from it.
That's probably good to hear that it's rugged. I suppose it is already currently growing in only water, so maybe the only issue is making a rack/clamp system to hold it upright...
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Post by jestermax on Mar 13, 2021 9:51:12 GMT -5
You can place it in water if you want. Use the Kratky method airscapes pointed to or blow some bubbles with a straw daily for air flow. I mean that is basically what the AG's are doing Of course you can place in soil. And then there is leaving them in the unit until you get the new hood. Again use a straw and blow some bubble in the water to aerate it.
I'm thinking that maybe I won't snip the AeroGarden plastic bits out and I'll just rig up a coathanger rack to hold the plant onto a plot/cup of some sort. That is good to know about the airflow part though; I wouldn't have planned to do that (and I don't do it for my current Basil pet)
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267
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Post by Shawn on Mar 13, 2021 10:01:34 GMT -5
I think you have a plan set to keep your plants going.
One thing great about AG's is that you can start new plants at any time. I actually have Thyme growing now too.
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