MAINTAINING YOUR RAINFOREST
Maintain the Solution Level
Nutrient solution
is lost through evaporation and plant transpiration. Large,
fast-growing plants can lower the reservoir solution level very quickly so you
should check the reservoir daily, or use a controller.
Always maintain the nutrient solution at a level between the upper and lower
mark
on the drain/level tube. Under warm, dry conditions, add plain water as
needed to maintain the correct solution level; under cool, humid conditions,
add very mild nutrient solution instead. Stir well and adjust the pH level
whenever
you add water or solution to the system.
Completely Replace Nutrient Solution
You should completely replace the nutrient solution at least once a month. If
nutrient
use exceeds 1 gallon/day in the RainForest, drain and replace the
solution every two weeks. If nutrient use exceeds 2 gallons/day in the
RainForest, replace the solution once a week.
Transplant Your RainForest Plants
You can grow fast-growing crops such as lettuce to maturity in the
RainForest. Some other kinds of plants, such as Ficus benjamina,
will live
happily for years in a RainForest system.
Other large or long-lived plants can be started in the RainForest and then
transplanted to the ground or to an
WaterFarm unit (a General Hydroponics
unit specifically designed for use with large, long-lived plants).
When transplanting, carefully separate or cut apart tangled roots. If there
is a
large root system, do not try to salvage the cup. For short-lived plants, such
as annuals, transplant the plant in its cup. For plants whose enlarging roots
might
be choked by the cup, cut the cup apart and remove it from the roots
in sections.
Clean the System Between Crops
In between crops, drain and dismantle the RainForest system. Thoroughly
clean the reservoir, drain/level tube, cups, lids, spinner, and Hydroton with a
dilute chlorine bleach solution (1/2 cup/gallon). Rinse well and reassemble.
This disinfects the system and reduces the rate of algae buildup and
disease. Note: Do not remove spinner from motor shaft.
Troubleshooting
From time to time, you may need to clear nutrient deposits or bits of plant mat-
ter from the sprayer holes.
To
do this:
1.
Turn off the system and remove the motorized sprayer from the cover.
2.
Spray
clogged holes with pressurized water until debris is removed.
Reservoir
Access
Opening
under each
lid insert
Growing Cup
Vortex Sprayer
Each RainForest module consists of:
Reservoir with drain/level tube -- 17 gallon capacity
Reservoir cover
Root Guard
Root Guard Sleeve
Lid inserts
Vortex Sprayer (with Sprayer Boot)
Hydroton
Growing cups (plastic net cups)
CocoT
ek™ liners & caps
•Model 236 has 36 - 2” sites (6 in each lid insert)
•Model 318 has 18 - 3” sites (3 in each lid insert)
•Model 66 has 6 - 6” sites (1 in each lid insert)
Optional RainForest System Controller
General Hydroponics
™ o
ffers an optional system Controller™ that automatically
maintains the level of the nutrient in many interconnected RainForest modules.
This option is perfect for large-scale growing, since it eliminates the need to
monitor each module separately
.
6” Lid Insert
3”
Lid Insert
2”
Lid Insert
Liner
Cap
Root Guard
Root Guard Sleeve
Drain Level Tube
with water
level
tape marks
Liner
Growing
Cup
Sprayer Boot
Cap
(4 pages)
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