HAWAIITALKS!

I wanted to do this:

http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/HG-42.pdf

which is basically using an old juice container to grow lettuce hydroponically, and I was going to plant on every week for 5 weeks so we have a fresh head of lettuce every week. I don't know where to find net pots and hydroponic fertilizers.

I read that the main difference between regular fertilizers and hydroponic ones are the micro nutrients. I'm thinking I might order that online if I can't find it locally (http://www.greenleafaquariums.com/aq...ertilizer.html) but that still leaves the net pots. Does anyone know of anyplace that sells either the fertilizer or net pots locally?

you sure you not trying for grow da kine

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is "lettuce" the new code name now?

lol sorry i dont know local places that carry those products i think online might be the best bet

isnt there one in kalaha side

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yes...there is a store in kahala. its across from kahala mall in that little strip mall. forget the name but i think its in the phone book

Thats a long drive, anything like that around Waipahu?

careful...there was a story recently of 2 people falling into a coma on the Big Island after eating vegetables from their own personal gardens.

It was due to some kind of parasite that got on the leaves, some kind of ringworm.

never heard about people getting sick eating vegatables grown with artificial light.. maybe they had problems with the medium/soil or something. you have to do alot of research to know what kinds of parasites can attack your specific crop/indoor garden. a high pressure sodium light is expensive and it gives off alot of heat.

i don't know who all sells hydroponic stuff besides that kahala place. i don't even know if they are still in business... i just find it fascinating that you can grow stuff without real sunlight. you could make a basement a garden, incase of tornados and what not.

those nets look like the drain cap for a yard drain. home depot sells that and i think they carry peat moss. you could look in the pool section for something that resembles those nets..

actually, the method in that article uses regular sunlight. It's simple enough for anyone to do. i'll have to go to home depot again to look for those things. Thanks for the suggestions.

HAWAIIAN HYDROPONICS


808-735-8665


4224 Waialae Ave
Honolulu, Hawaii 96816

neat idea, c.h.

i bought Manoa Lettuce seeds about a month ago but i haven't done anything with them yet. staring at the package will not make them grow, i have found.

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that is because you are not staring/glowering hard enough.

:chuck_norris: could make them grow by just raising an eyebrow at them.

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HAHA!

i wonder if you could MacGyver something similar without having to look for those net pots.

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LAWL!

isn't that called, "being stoned"???

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that's what i was thinking (the drain things).

alternately, couldn't you just get a regular cheapo garden plastic pot, a 1/2" drill bit, and go to town on the pots until you get one that looks like the net pots?

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we do large commercial hydroponic applications

try

http://www.amhydro.com/index.php/Gro...ay-Insert.html

the freight for a small order will probably eat you alive.

We may do something smaller in the near future is our business slows.

#00

damn! $130 for that tray? nuts

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it is 3 feet x 3 feet

besides a commercial guy wouldn't even blink at that price - as long as it lasts 15 years

#00

hahaha! i would be happy if i could get one plant to grow.

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my girl's work place was given a heads up that one of them might end up dying and coming by their office for an autopsy.

I think one of them is at queens right now being treated for it.

Something about a parasite that originates from rat feces. Their garden was probably not fenced off giving rats and stuff easy access to it..

I'm not sure about the parasite either. Gotta find that news article for the exact name.

I was thinking about somehting like this, but for it to work, I would need to either find the right size pot, which I doubt they have 1 1/2" pots (unless they do?) or buy a new container. I'm thinking maybe just buy some kind of nylon netting and shove peat moss in it, then zip tie it to the top of the bottle. But that still leaves the fertilizer part of it, which I was trying not to buy online, but I might have to.

i wonder what the hydroponic fertilizer consists of. i just picked up the rooting hormone at (of all places) Don Quijote's.

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I think the diff between hydroponic and regular is that they include the micronutrients (boron, calcium, etc...) as well as the macronutrients (n-p-k) for the plant.

And, don't shoot me if I'm wrong, but I think root hormone is to encourage root growth when you propagate with clippings. I saw a video that they clipped some plant's branch off and dipped it in root hormone and stuck it in some potting mix to encourage root growth.

most good fertilizers have micro nutrients - the cheap crap doesn't.

Hydroponic fertilizers generally address a different need since the media (in this case only water) doesn't have the ability to store the nutrients in a way that is easy for the plants to absorb. There are many different ideas on the subject but cat - ion exchange is severly limited in a hydroponic situation.

This gets very technical and then there are different ideas and yada yada yada no one seems to agree anyway.

#00

The people who are sick from eating raw lettuce from their garden are infected with what is known as the "Rat Worm". The USDA sent out a warning today via e-mail to the local farms.

In order to sell produce commercially (In Hawaii) there is a set of rules known as SAP or safe agricultural practices which will reduce most of the risks of getting something like the "Rat Worm virus. Produce that is to be eaten raw (uncooked) has a higher standard. Produce that has a skin that will be uneaten (bananas, watermelon etc) has less stringent requirements.

here's something I found on the Rat Worm virus -

How can people get infected?
People can get infected by eating raw or undercooked snails or slugs that are infected with this parasite. In some cultures, snails are commonly eaten. Some children, in particular, have gotten infected by swallowing snails/slugs “on a dare.” People also can get infected by accident, by eating raw produce (such as lettuce) that contains a small snail or slug or part of one.

Other ways of getting infected may include eating raw or undercooked freshwater prawns, crabs, or frogs. Of note, fish do not spread this parasite.



Can an infected person infect other people?
No.



In what parts of the world have people become infected with this parasite?
In many parts. But most of the known cases of infection have been in parts of Asia and the Pacific Islands. Some have been in other areas of the world, such as in the Caribbean.



Have cases of this infection occurred in the United States?
Yes. Cases have occurred in Hawaii (and other Pacific Islands). Very few cases have been reported in the continental United States. In 1993, a boy in New Orleans got infected by swallowing a raw snail “on a dare.” The type of snail he swallowed isn't known. He became ill a few weeks later, with muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, a slight fever, and vomiting. His symptoms went away in about 2 weeks, without treatment of the infection.



Can giant African land snails be infected with this parasite?
Yes. This type of snail, which can grow larger than a person's hand, is just one of many types that can be infected. But snails can be infected only if they have ingested contaminated rat feces. We don't know if any of the giant African land snails in the continental United States are infected.

Of note, these snails pose a major threat to agriculture because they multiply quickly and have ravenous appetites for plants and produce. It is illegal to own these snails without a special government permit. For more information about these snails, go to the United States Department of Agriculture's Web site on Giant African Snails.



What are the symptoms of infection with this parasite?
Some infected people don't have any symptoms -- or have only mild symptoms that don't last very long. Sometimes the infection causes a rare type of meningitis (eosinophilic meningitis). The symptoms can include headache, stiff neck, tingling or painful feelings in the skin, low-grade fever, nausea, and vomiting.



What should I do if I think I might be infected with this parasite?
You should see your health care provider, who will examine you and ask about any symptoms, travel, and exposures you've had (for example, to snails/slugs). You might have some blood tests, as well as tests for meningitis.



Does infection with this parasite need to be treated?
Usually not. The parasite dies over time, even without treatment. Even people who develop eosinophilic meningitis usually don't need antibiotics. Sometimes the symptoms of the infection last for several weeks or months, while the body's immune system responds to the dying parasites. The most common types of treatment are for the symptoms of the infection (such as pain medication for headache) rather than for the infection itself. Patients with severe cases of meningitis may benefit from some other types of treatment.



How can I keep from getting infected with this parasite?
Don't eat raw or undercooked snails or slugs. If you handle snails or slugs, wear gloves and wash your hands. Always remember to thoroughly wash fresh produce.



This fact sheet is for information only and is not meant to be used for self-diagnosis or as a substitute for consultation with a health care provider. If you have any questions about the disease described above or think that you may have a parasitic infection, consult a health care provider.


#00

whoa.. right on Fred!

i know you know what you are talking about but i thought you were typing all that until i got to the last part. hahaha.... wait, you didn't type that, did you?