vv
E.
Food, Water, Light
NUTRIENTS: If you have not already added nutrient, add now as suggested in the
“Tips” section (you may have added them during the Quick Plant process). Then add new nutrients every two weeks when the automatic reminder activates.
Many Grow Bowl plants like Bonsai or Dwarf Fruit trees may grow more slowly than typical AeroGarden herbs, tomatoes and greens. These live plants need less nutrient than plants started from seed. Look for signs of stress in your plants and use less nutrients per feeding (4-6ml) if you note signs of nutrient burn (yellow/brown leaf edges).
WATER: Due to the large volume of water that is pumped into the Grow Bowl, the “Add
Water” alert will sometimes trigger when the pump is running. Remember the pump only runs 2-5 minutes per hour or less. DO NOT ADD WATER WHILE PUMP IS RUNNING. This will result in your garden being too full. ONLY ADD WATER WHEN PUMP IS NOT RUNNING and
ADD WATER alert is still activated. You can tell when the pump is running when you hear trickling sounds in the Grow Bowl.
Water
Port
Grow
Bowl
Maximum water fill level
Fill water to the bottom of the Grow Bowl through the Water Port, as shown. Do not over fill. Many live plants like Bonsai, Dwarf Fruit trees and orchids like even dryer environments. If you see yellowing leaves or any rotting, reduce the pump frequency.
We’ve run some Bonsai at one minute per week. Experiment and post your results on our facebook page!
The Add Nutrient alert activates every two weeks. For best results, perform a ‘rinse and refill’ before every other nutrient feeding (once a month). To do this, empty the
AeroGarden Reservoir before adding nutrients. This is easiest with a Rinse and Refill
Siphon, available at AeroGarden.com. Alternately, you can use a plastic tube as a siphon, or remove the Grow Bowl and set aside, then remove the Water Reservoir Bowl and empty the water into a sink. Refill with cool water, add nutrients, and reset the nutrient alert.
LIGHT: Most plants will grow well under the “Flowers” setting. Always keep your lights as close to plants as possible without burning.
Tips
The Grow Bowl is a novel method of hydroponic growing in your AeroGarden that expands the possibilities of what can be grown. We’re still learning about all you can grow in your Grow Bowl. A desire for experimentation and trying new things are essential for success with your Grow Bowl!
MEDIA: We have tested a variety of different growing media in the Grow Bowl. We like the Chunk Coco Fiber because it creates excellent oxygenation, is easy to plant and is a renewable resource. However, many other grow media, like gravel, hydroton, perlite, etc., may be used. Be sure to rinse media well before using (to extend pump life). Don’t use particle sizes below 3mm: (actual size)
LIGHTS: Always keep lights as close to plants as possible without burning.
Experiment with the light cycle in the Custom Settings screen to see what impact it might have on flowering cycles with orchids, roses, etc. Never run lights for less than 12 hours per day.
WATER: Many plants like an even dryer environment, with a pump cycle of less than
2 minutes per hour. Orchids and Bonsai might like as little as 2 minutes per week, depending on ambient humidity. Experiment and see what is best for your plants.
➦ Note: With plants that will live for years, or longer in the AeroGarden (like roses, bonsai, dwarf fruit, strawberries and more) it is best to do frequent complete water changes, or “rinse and refill.”
5
Tips
Continued from Page 5.
PLANTS:
Here are a few of the many plants we’ve tried and some tips for successful growing. As we learn more about this new growing technology, we’ll publish our results on our website.
Plant
Strawberries
Bonsai
Orchids
Mini Roses
Dwarf Citrus
Nutrient
4-8 mL
2-4 mL
2-4 mL
6-8 mL
4mL
Moisture
Medium, 2 min/hour
Dry, 2 min/day or less
Dry, 2 min/day or less
Medium, 2 min/hour
Medium, 2 min/hour
Bonsai may require root pruning once or twice a year. There are many good books and websites dedicated to the art of Bonsai — choose one that works for you.
Depending on variety, orchids may need specific conditions to reflower, however we’ve found that patience is the best solution. Orchids flower a few times a year “in the wild” and blooms can last for months.
If your plants are showing signs of stress, check your plants for bugs. Fruit trees often arrive with scale bugs, which are easily treated. Indoors, roses and strawberries can become overwhelmed with aphids. A plan for aphid control should be developed early in your grow cycle with these plants, as their appearance is likely. There are many natural home solutions, and several effective “not so natural” solutions. Ladybugs are effective aphid killers, but they can be a bit of a pest indoors (albeit a cute one).
NUTRIENTS: Faster growing plants (more than 1 inch per week) should be fed the full 8ml of nutrients per the instructions on the nutrient packaging. Slower growing plants should be fed less nutrients, 4-6ml per feeding. Some plants, like orchids, might need a hydroponic bloom formula added to induce flowering. A complete hydroponic nutrient solution must always be used to feed plants. Completely change the nutrient solution once a month or more, by emptying the bottom water reservoir bowl (not the Grow Bowl) and then refilling with fresh water and nutrients.
POLLINATION: Flowering plants like strawberries and dwarf fruit trees will need help pollinating without bees around. When flowers open, shake plant gently, or go from flower to flower with a cotton swab to pollinate.
OTHER: The Grow Bowl makes an excellent rooting environment for plant cuttings. Insert young plant stems into the grow media and move lights away from plants (or turn off) until cuttings are established. Chunk Coco may also be directly seeded with the seeds of your choice. Plant starts may then be grown to maturity or teased out of the media for transplanting into an outdoor garden or other containers.
A Final Tip… Keep your garden clean! Trim off brown or dead leaves (this is natural) to keep your garden healthy and looking great.
AeroGrow has a searchable online resource section. For more detailed information about growing in your AeroGarden, please visit:
www.aerogardensupport.com
.
We also have an active Facebook Community that loves to answer questions at facebook.com/aerogarden. “Like” us for special offers and community fun!
www.aerogarden.com
©2013 AeroGrow International Inc., P.O. Box 18450, Boulder, CO 80308-1450 506621-0000 AG
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™
Grow Bowl Instructions
™
Your AeroGarden Grow Bowl
allows for a new type of hydroponic growing in your AeroGarden — perfect for a wide variety of plants like strawberries, bonsai, dwarf fruit trees, orchids, mini roses and more.
The Grow Bowl works with any ULTRA-based, models, including:
•
ULTRA
•
ULTRA LED
•
Miracle-Gro EXTRA
What’s Included:
Grow Bowl
Drain Filter Water Port
Cover
Inlet
Nozzle
Short Pump
Nozzle
1
How It Works
Before assembling the Grow Bowl it helps to understand how it works
1 The Grow Bowl replaces the Grow Deck of your AeroGarden ULTRA, ULTRA LED, and new Miracle-Gro EXTRA.
2 The Grow Bowl is then filled with a “soilless” grow media (we recommend chunk coconut fiber).
3 Live plants such as Strawberry Crowns,
Bonsai, Dwarf Fruit, mini Roses and
Orchids, are planted in the media.
4 The customizable pump options on the
ULTRA and EXTRA models are then used to water the media by filling the Grow Bowl at regular intervals (we recommend just a few minutes or less per hour).
5 After the watering cycle, the pump shuts off and the Grow Bowl drains, pulling oxygen into the media. This is ideal for plants, like strawberries and orchids, that love drier, well drained soils.
A.
Assemble Grow Bowl
The Grow Bowl sets up in minutes. Just follow these easy steps:
4
Short Pump
Nozzle
Pump connector
1 Start with your clean AeroGarden unplugged and with no water.
2 Remove the grow deck (lid with seed pod openings) from your AeroGarden and store it for later use.
3 Remove the long pump nozzle (already on your AeroGarden) from the pump. Make sure the pump connector (see diagram) stays with the pump. Store the long pump nozzle for later use.
4 Connect the Short Pump Nozzle (included with your Grow
Bowl) to the Pump Connector.
5
5 Insert Inlet Nozzle through drain hole on the underside of the
Grow Bowl. Parts should click together securely. Try a bit more pressure on the Inlet Nozzle if no click is heard. Inlet Nozzle must be fully inserted to connect with Drain Filter in next step.
6 Place Drain Filter over the drain hole on the inside the Grow
Bowl and snap into place. Make sure it locks firmly with the pegs of the Inlet Nozzle. Drain Filter will not move if installed correctly. If Drain Filter is not securely in place, push inlet nozzle farther into the bottom of the Grow Bowl.
7 Set Grow Bowl in place in AeroGarden Bowl. If correctly assembled, Inlet Nozzle will fit naturally into Short Pump
Nozzle. Doesn’t fit? Make sure you are using the Short Pump
Nozzle and that it is fully inserted into the Pump Connector.
Short Pump Nozzle must be connected to the pump, not the bottom of the Grow Bowl.
8 Fill AeroGarden Bowl to the bottom of the Grow Bowl Tray until water is just touching. Water should not flow into the Grow Bowl.
9 Place the Water Port Cover over the Water Port opening.
6
Bottom outside of Grow Bowl
Inside of Grow Bowl
Grow Bowl
Drain Filter
Inlet Nozzle
Short Pump Nozzle
Pump Connector
Pump
Long Pump Nozzle
(remove and store)
AeroGarden Bowl / Base
2 l When adding water, only fill to bottom of Grow Bowl. DO NOT OVERFILL.
Never add water while pump is running, even if “ADD WATER” light is on.
Grow Bowl
Water Port
Maximum water fill level
B.
Program Pump Intervals
The Grow Bowl uses the customizable features of the ULTRA and Miracle-Gro Extra to automatically water grow media at defined intervals. To check that the system is functioning well, it is best to set the program before adding Grow media.
In the Miracle-Gro EXTRA model:
•
Press the Pump Select button to set pump timer to Interval 5/55 (min)
➦
Press “Quick Start” button and take garden through Quick Plant cycle set up for “Flowers.”
Press “Quick Start” button and and follow on screen prompts to take your garden through a complete Quick Plant cycle set up for “Flowers.” Then…
1
•
When finished with Quick Plant, press “Home” button to get to
“Home – 1 of 2” menu options
•
Use arrows and select
“More Options”
2
•
On “Home – 2 of
2” use arrows and select “Custom
Settings”
•
Press “OK” three times to get to “Custom
Settings” main menu
3 4 5
•
Use arrows and select
“Pump Cycle”
6
•
Use arrows and select
“Customize Pump”
•
Use UP/DOWN arrows to change
“Mins On” to “2”
•
Use left/right arrows to move to “Mins Off”
•
Use up/down arrows to change
“Mins Off” to “58”
7
•
Use arrows and select
“Customize Setting”
•
Press “OK” once to activate settings.
•
Press “OK” to select “Setting
Correct”
•
Press “Home” button twice to return to
Dashboard
3
•
Some plants like an even dryer media. For example, a Bonsai or orchid might like 2 minutes on and 4 days off. Adjust and learn what is right for your plants. See “tips” section for more details.
•
Within one minute your pump should begin to cycle for 2-5 minutes (depending on garden model). During this time, water should pump into the grow bowl, reach the drain grates to overflow, then, when the pump shuts off, drain back into the reservoir.
The Add Water light may activate at this time. Do not add more water! Only add water
when pump is not running and Add Water light is still on.
C.
Add Grow Media
Once you know your system is cycling correctly, you can add in the grow media.
AeroGrow uses a renewable resource, Chunk Coconut Fiber, as a grow media (some may have been included with your Grow Bowl kit, depending on the bundle you purchased). For information on using other types of grow media, see the “TIPS/Media” section of this guide.
•
Soak 1/2 of Chunk Coconut Fiber (one bag) by adding enough warm water directly into the bag to cover fiber completely. Allow to soak in sink for 5 minutes, then drain.
•
Add soaked Chunk Coconut fiber to Grow Bowl.
•
Do not add more media until system has run for at least 24 hours. Adding more media at this stage will make your garden harder to plant. Coconut fiber floats before it is soaked, and it will spill out of your garden if too much is added at first.
•
Save the other half of the Grow Media to fill the Grow Bowl in 24 hours. Add this media to the grow bowl dry (do not soak). Add enough media over time to fill the bowl to even with or slightly higher than grow bowl edge.
D.
Plant Garden
Following are instructions for planting the Strawberry Root Crown Kit from AeroGrow, or other live plants:
•
Plant Strawberry Crowns or any live plant immediately upon arrival. If you are unable to plant right away, store in refrigerator.
•
To plant, clear a hole for each root crown in the grow media using fingers or a spoon.
•
For Strawberry Crowns: Place the crown, root side down, into the media, with the top of the crown near the top of the media as shown. Be sure the root extends to below the watering level in the Grow Bowl (see diagram).
Strawberry Crown Top
(above Grow Media)
Grow Bowl
Plant Roots
(within Grow Media)
Grow Media
Maximum Water
Fill Level
AeroGarden Bowl
•
Reposition media around plant roots.
•
For live plants like orchids, mini roses, dwarf citrus and Bonsai: remove plants from container. Wash gently in a bucket or under a hose to rinse as much dirt as possible from roots. Place plant so that top of roots are even with top of Grow Bowl. If roots are too large, trim roots to fit with scissors. Don’t worry! If roots are too small, fill under roots with coco fiber.
•
Do not overplant! Plants need room to grow. If you plant all 10 crowns from the strawberry kit, plants must be thinned back to the healthiest 6 plants after 2-3 weeks.
Leaving more than 6 live plants in your Grow Bowl will cause over-crowding.
•
After 24 hours, make sure plants are well-positioned in Grow Media (plants may have shifted due to Grow Media floating). Add more media, a bit at a time over the next few days to fill the Grow Bowl to the top and help better support the plants. Top media should always appear dry after Grow Bowl is filled. Reposition the plants as needed for proper depth in media, or to support plant.
4
