This is the time of the year I'll start seriously growing my chili's again. I usually have chili's growing around the year in my hydroponic system, but during the winter I got some kind of insects in the chili's so I decided it's easier just to remove them all and start all over again after a while.
Now the while has passed.
I started by washing all the clay pebbles added in the hydroponic system.
And this is what I used. I scooped this full of pebbles, washed them clean from clay dust and then poured them in the container. Again and again. I'm not sure how much clay pebbles I have there, but it's enough. Enough that with help of a 4 yo it wasn't only fun to wash them.
The container with clay pebbles will go on top of the water container. I usually have around 20 liters of water in it and so far, I've always measured it with a bucket.
Finally I've grown smart enough to mark the 20 liter line, so I can just add the water directly from the faucet. Yay for engineering!
The water pump was submerged. It is connected to a timer, turning on for one minute four times per day to bring water up to the plants above in the clay pebbles. The water is also loaded with nutrients to give them optimal growth, as there is no soil for the plants.
No "natural" nutrients available, this is all they get. A bit greenish liquid. What a time to be alive.
I added the chili's I've pre-grown in a separate container, but as I assumed they didn't take the moving very nicely. They went a bit droopy and are basically hanging around. Like some annoying teenagers not wanting to stand straight and find a job.
The kids are growing up so fast.
Could I add some kind of support for the chili's? This looks just sad.
Maybe I'll try to keep you all updated on how the teenager chili's will finally roughen themselves up, grow up, get a job and raise a family of their own.
Then I'll be proud.