Newbie questions- emptying the tank, moving pods?

[kissyboots]

This has probably been discussed 100 times before but I have yet to empty and refill my tanks- can this be done without unplugging the machine?

Also, a tomato plant appears to have snuck into my parsley pod which is ok because I only ever use parsley for meatballs, and because it seems to be making progress despite me pruning it like an herb. (A herb?) It would probably be wise to move it to the Harvest with the slow but hopefully germinating Heirloom pod is, and move that pod to the Extra. Is there guidance on how to move pods between machines once they started? I don't want to risk killing it!

I was going to plant one each jalapeno and heirloom in one extra and use the other for herbs and lettuces. Could an extra sustain two pods of tomatoes and one of peppers? I have one heirloom pod left and I'm worried this one won't germinate. 

Also, I've seen people stick chives in the front of a tomato plant. Is putting an extra herb where a spacer will go going to slow down the tomatoes?

Thanks

[Shawn]

Lets see if I can help answer some of the questions.

It is recommended that you empty and refill once a month or every other feeding.  Depending on the plant and roots etc, I may do it every third feeding.

Two tomatoes and a pepper in a large machine?  I do not recommend this.  Only One Pepper and One Tomato OR Two Peppers OR Two Tomatoes at most.

I have moved plants around plenty of times, mostly herbs.  As long as you can get the root system out of the hole and back into another one it should be fine.  Just be careful if they are tangled together with other plants.  Carefully untangle.


I don't think the chives will slow down the plant but the amount of nutes you land up putting in a tomato may be too much for the chives ..  however it also may thrive.

[drbanks]

Being absolutely crazy, I do a full dump & Refill every two weeks when it tells me to add nutrients. A big reason for that is that I'm not using the standard Aerogarden nutes. They're designed to be dumped every four weeks, but the nutes I'm using are designed for 14 days.

Follow manufacturer recommendations

Sent from my SM-N950U1 using Tapatalk

[kissyboots]

Dec 14, 2017 18:19:29 GMT -5 Shawn said:

Lets see if I can help answer some of the questions.

It is recommended that you empty and refill once a month or every other feeding.  Depending on the plant and roots etc, I may do it every third feeding.

Two tomatoes and a pepper in a large machine?  I do not recommend this.  Only One Pepper and One Tomato OR Two Peppers OR Two Tomatoes at most.

I have moved plants around plenty of times, mostly herbs.  As long as you can get the root system out of the hole and back into another one it should be fine.  Just be careful if they are tangled together with other plants.  Carefully untangle.


I don't think the chives will slow down the plant but the amount of nutes you land up putting in a tomato may be too much for the chives ..  however it also may thrive.

Thank you! I'll definitely stick to one of each, I don't want my first time to fail!

I have to look up how to dump and refill, the grow bowl is so unwieldy and weird and I have to get something to bring water to it. The others are just standard setups. I think the first time is always scary!

[kissyboots]

Dec 14, 2017 18:30:48 GMT -5 drbanks said:

Being absolutely crazy, I do a full dump & Refill every two weeks when it tells me to add nutrients. A big reason for that is that I'm not using the standard Aerogarden nutes. They're designed to be dumped every four weeks, but the nutes I'm using are designed for 14 days.

Follow manufacturer recommendations

Sent from my SM-N950U1 using Tapatalk

Thank you! Do you suction the water out? 

[kissyboots]

Unrelated! Sorry. Is the Be The Bee Pollinator really going to make a difference in yields?

[serri588]

I've had the power flicker a few times, and having the unit unplugged for a short time isn't a big deal. You have to reset the clock but the rest of the information stays. Most of the grow bowls could be pulled off the base without unplugging the unit- just the pump.

I bought a cheap siphon off Amazon and plan on doing that instead of trying to dump the bowls though. The farms are set up to empty by connecting a tube directly to the pump and letting it do the work. With so much water, I might use the siphon and the pump at the same time to try and speed up the process.

[drbanks]

Yes, I use a siphon pump. Basically, I pre-mix a gallon of nute solution in one of those Aerogarden gallon jugs, then grab an empty bucket, the pump and the jug. Siphon the bowl out then refill from the jug. Just takes a couple of minutes, and the longest part is mixing t he nutes.

Since I rarely have all sites planted. I can siphon refill through an unused site hole, removing and replacing the spacer plug.

Sent from my SM-N950U1 using Tapatalk

[MaryL]

I got this battery operated siphon on the recommendation of someone here (I think Corinne) and it works like a dream.  (Don’t leave your batteries in it between use).   I really only need to use it when a garden is fully grown such that removing the basin to the sink risks damaging the plants.  Otherwise I just disconnect the pump and bring the entire basin/garden to the sink.

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HEBR3I/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[MaryL]

Dec 14, 2017 19:03:58 GMT -5 kissyboots said:

Unrelated! Sorry. Is the Be The Bee Pollinator really going to make a difference in yields?

I don’t have it but those who do really like it.  You can also use an old electric toothbrush the same way.

[drbanks]

Dec 14, 2017 19:03:58 GMT -5 kissyboots said:

Unrelated! Sorry. Is the Be The Bee Pollinator really going to make a difference in yields?

Well, some form of moving the pixie dust around is in order.  Some people blow a fan at their plants, others will gently shake the plant.  And others use an electric toothbrush or a Be the Bee.  I use one.  Actually, I use several.

[Shawn]

Dec 15, 2017 7:46:27 GMT -5 MaryL said:

I got this battery operated siphon on the recommendation of someone here (I think Corinne) and it works like a dream.  (Don’t leave your batteries in it between use).   I really only need to use it when a garden is fully grown such that removing the basin to the sink risks damaging the plants.  Otherwise I just disconnect the pump and bring the entire basin/garden to the sink.

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HEBR3I/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ooops, I leave mine in,

[kissyboots]

Thank you SO MUCH for all the feedback- since it was half price for both and free shipping, I bought the siphon and bee. Annoyingly, I paid for a shipping upgrade and my stuff from days ago hasn't shipped. But hopefully they'll arrive in time for the first nutrient water change. I think each were $7 and change. Skeptical about this 300% increase in harvests though 

[MaryL]

Dec 15, 2017 9:46:27 GMT -5 kissyboots said:

Skeptical about this 300% increase in harvests though 

I know what you mean.  All I can tell you though as someone who doesn’t have one is that Shawn, Dawn and Mike get far more peppers on their plants than me - I’m lousy at pollinating.  Maybe if I had one sitting there it would prompt me to pollinate more often.  Whatever method you use, you have to do it routinely and often.  I forget.

[kissyboots]

I'm pretty forgetful but I hope that being drawn to the AGs daily will remind me to pollinate them. I'd love to get a bunch of tomatoes to make up for the terrible outdoor tomatoes we had this year- none on the eastern seaboard it would seem, my dad is here half of the time and in MA half of the time and couldn't grow them anywhere. 

I'm Sicilian and this is totally a grudge plant. 

[mike]

I have an old brush head for my Oral B Round Head Toothbrush. I touch the back of the head of the operating brush to the stem of the bloom. I only change the water every two months.

[kissyboots]

I considered the electric toothbrush route but it was so cheap (and cute). I was not gonna spend $20 on a watering can though!

[Shawn]

I use the back of a toothbrush too.  I cut all the bristle off so I do not accidentally hit something and ruin it.

[kissyboots]

I can be clumsy, good reminder