Planter Instructions
What’s Included?
Setting up your Planter
From Seed
Soak one grow sponge per white plastic grow basket in filtered or distilled water for 1 hour
Place one hydrated grow sponge in each of your white plastic grow baskets, then insert them into your planter lid
Put between 1 and 4 seeds in the hole on top of your grow sponge
When the seeds have sprouted, carefully remove any extra seedlings so only one plant remains in each grow sponge
Transplanting or Rooting
Fill your 5 or 3 inch black plastic mesh pot with one layer of the provided expanded clay pebble medium
Gently place the rootball, stem, or grow sponge into the mesh pot
Continue holding the plant
The rootball or grow sponge should be as far down in the mesh pot as possible, while the majority of the plant or cutting remains above the lid of the planter
Carefully fill the remainder of the mesh pot with expanded clay pebble medium, ensuring your plant stays upright
Mixing Plant Nutrient
Fill the "Parts A and B" eyedropper bottle with room temperature filtered or distilled water
Pour the water in the eyedropper bottle into your mixing container
Measure out 1/2 teaspoon (or 2 grams) of Part A (masterblend tomato 4-18-38) and add it to the container
Measure out 1/4 teaspoon (or 1 gram) of Part B (Magnesium sulfate/epsom salts) and add it to the container
Thoroughly mix or shake the mixture until all solids are fully dissolved in the liquid
Pour this mixture back into the "Parts A and B" eyedropper bottle
Rinse out your container
Fill the "Part C" eyedropper bottle with room temperature filtered or distilled water.
Pour the water in the eyedropper bottle into your mixing container
Measure out 1/2 teaspoon (or 2 grams) of Part C (Calcium Nitrate 15.5-0-0) and add it to the container
Thoroughly mix or shake the mixture until all solids are fully dissolved in the liquid
Pour this mixture back into the "Part C" eyedropper bottle
This plant nutrient recipe will produce a 1oz (30 mL) eyedropper bottle of “Parts A and B” (Masterblend 4-18-38 and Epsom Salts) and another 1oz bottle of “Part C” (Calcium Nitrate 15.5-0-0).
Generally, you should use these solutions in equal parts. If your plants are young or you are growing a leafy plant, you can use slightly more "Part C" because nitrogen is good for leaf growth. If you are growing a fruiting plant that is currently flowering or transplanting a plant into your container, you can use slightly more "Parts A and B" to encourage fruiting and root growth.
These two bottles (when used in equal parts) are enough liquid plant food for .833 gallons (3.15 liters) of water. For 1 cup (~250 mL) of water, use 2-2.5 mL of “Parts A and B” and 2-2.5 mL of “Part C”.
We recommend only using distilled or filtered water for your planter. City or well water can contain minerals and nutrients that interfere with your plant growth.
Feeding Your Plants
Shake each of your solutions until all particulates are dissolved again
Ensure there is no algae or mold growing inside your solutions
For every cup (8 oz or ~250 mL) of water you add to your plant, add 2 mL of “Parts A and B” solution and 2mL of “Part C” solution.
We highly recommend Epic Gardening's article on identifying nutrient deficiencies and over abundances.
If you notice that your plants are exhibiting signs of a nutrient deficiency, you can add 1 mL of “Parts A and B” solution, and 1 mL of “Part C” solution to your hydroponic planter at a time. Be careful not to overfertilize your hydroponic planter. More is not better with hydroponic nutrient!
If your plants are spindly or struggling to keep themselves upright, you may need to move them to a location with more sunlight or install a grow light. For assistance with any hydroponic planter concerns, please contact us at chrysanthemumproductions@gmail.com.