2018 ASHS Annual Conference

Technology can help overcome some of the issues associated with urban farming, such as the lack of knowledge for indoor-plant production in a non-controlled home environment. Because indoor-home growers are producing plants on a much smaller scale compared to commercial growers, research in this area has been largely neglected over the years. However, indoor-home growers face significant production challenges that cannot be addressed with research focused on large-scale commercial production. The lack of information available regarding the production capabilities of ‘indoor hydroponic gardens’, especially with regard to the minimum inputs required to effectively operate a productive system that can provide a continuous supply of high-quality fresh produce, is affecting our ability to provide consumer-oriented guidance regarding techniques and requirements to produce edibles (e.g., herbs, vegetables) indoors. A 12-week experiment (6 Feb. through 30 Apr. 2018) is being conducted inside a poly-carbonate greenhouse located in Gainesville, FL. The objective of the study is to determine the minimum number of intervals required to change a nutrient solution without sacrificing harvestable yield for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and basil (Ocimum basilicum). Eight treatments are being evaluated using either a water-soluble or a pre-mixed liquid nutrient solution were nutrients are being added every 2 weeks to all treatments to a pre-set volume of water. Regardless of nutrient formula, water and nutrients are completely replaced every two, four, or eight weeks; a control treatment is also included were no water is replaced. Results from this experiment will be presented.