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--- michka:know-hows:bioproductive_balcony [2014-04-09 11:36] – michka
+++ michka:know-hows:bioproductive_balcony [2014-04-09 11:51] – michka
@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 ===Seedling Pots===
-===Growing Bags===
+{{ :michka:know-hows:img_4845.jpg?400 |}}
-I am currently researching on sewing growing bags out of [[michka:know-hows:bioproductive_balcony:grocery_bag_containers|unusable grocery bags]]. I ended up sewing one out of a similar plastic fabric found in FoAM's storage space. This bag is now the main growing space on the balcony, and the first radishes planted there are thriving !
+I built most of my seedling pots [[michka:know-hows:urban_foraging|out of waste packaging]] found in FoAM's bin.
-I also performed some [[michka:know-hows:bioproductive_balcony:self-watering|self-watering]] trials.
+I used many different kinds:
+   * Plastic bottles bottoms
+   * Aluminium drinking cans
+   * Aluminium food cans
+   * Small & big plastic yoghurt pots
+   * Cardboard-aluminium drink boxes bottoms
+   * Cream cheese plastic boxes
+   * Appetizers plastic boxes
+   * Vegetable plastic boxes
+   * Eggboxes
+   * Toilet paper rolls
-====Self-Watering Systems====
+The only thing not to forget is to poke holes at the bottom of the containers for draining.
-I also looked for diverse [[http://www.hellocoton.fr/to/dIgI#http://www.comment-economiser.fr/arrosage-automatique-fait-maison.html|self-watering systems designs]]. I tried diverse systems, based on ropes, pieces of fabrics, and plastic bottles, and have not found a very efficient one yet.
+My favorites remain plastic boxes. Aluminium cans are good, but their cutting edge may be harmful for some creeper's thin stems. Pure cardboard ones, like eggboxes and toilet paper rolls dry very quickly and are fragile when soaked with water. I would not advise them.
-===Rope-based system===
+My first batch was made from very big pots, which need a lot of soil to be filled. My subsequent ones where made with smaller pots, to save the amount of soil use and start out more seeds from the beginning.
-{{ :michka:know-hows:img_4882.jpg?400 |}}
+To start out seedlings, I would say that small yogurt pots are the best I found until now.
-Water flows slowly from the bottle to the soil through the rope, by capillarity. It works but does not waters the soil enough.
+===Growing Bags===
-===Fabric-based system===
+{{ :michka:know-hows:img_4824.jpg?400 |}}
-{{ :michka:know-hows:img_4895.jpg?400 |}}
+After some web research, I understood that it seemed completely fine to [[michka:know-hows:bioproductive_balcony:grocery_bag_containers|use common grocery bags as a planter]]. I ended up sewing one out at the right dimensions from a similar plastic fabric found in FoAM's storage space. This bag is now the main growing space on the balcony, and the first radishes planted there are thriving !
-It is supposed to work almost the same way as the rope-based system, but does not seem to be as efficient - it may be a design issue. A new version made of a continuous piece of fabric - and not small ones tied up together - should be tried out.
+I also performed some [[michka:know-hows:bioproductive_balcony:self-watering|self-watering]] trials.
-===Water-layer based system===
-{{ :michka:know-hows:ku-xlarge.jpg?400 |}}
-I found this design [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ffe7JfYyBFE|on Youtube]]. It works well (as long as you do not don't forget to plug the bottle correctly). However, the soil was too soggy with this system.
-===Good neighbour system===
-{{ :michka:know-hows:img_0320.jpg?200 |}}
-After these failures, Rasa offered me to take care of the seedlings when I am away, and I am very grateful to her !
-====Windshield====
+===Windshield===
 After dramatic death of my first seedlings during a windy day, I started to think about how to protect the plants on the balcony from the wind. I have currently installed a piece of transparent plastic and some glass windows as windshields. I may move towards a system based on plastic bottles.