1.5 gallon vase: $5
Pump: $6.99
Pot: $1
Perlite: $8.99
Seeds: 25¢
Timer switch: $1
Plant food is also used in this setup
This is a cherry tomato plant, so it won't need much support or for there to be any fear of it tipping over. I thought of this setup after realizing the storebought system I had was way too small for this tomato plant. This tomato plant was supposed to only grow 8" tall, but grew to over a foot tall and outgrew the light. You can see the leaf burn from where the leaves kept growing against the LEDs.
Surprisingly enough, my skylight provides enough diffused light to the point where I don't need a grow light after all.
Now I can grow tomatoes year round and an considering green onions next. I also have yet to determine if my chilli peppers need to also be put in a larger system
by _wheels_21
3 Comments
Block light from getting into the reservoir or algea will form and kill your tomato plant. Algea will also form on the perlite, so cover that as well. Otherwise, if it works, keep it up.
Just so you know, cherry tomato plants can get huge. It has to be a dwarf determinate variety to stay small . Good luck
The pump and timer can be replaced with a wick, just a cotton rope can lift the nutrients up into the perlite.
Hoocho does it a lot on his channel.