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Comment by Steve Perreault on October 18, 2011 at 4:35pm

I'll be growing in the greenhouse this winter Elliot Coleman style (no heat). I expect temps to dip into the 30s - too cold for aquaponics. I want to do a small basement AP system with Zipgrow towers and a T5 lamp hanging vertically. I saw some cool looking waterproof lights and had to comment on your picture.

BTW - I missed your lighting presentation at the AP Conference. Is there any way I could bribe you for a copy?

Comment by Jesse Hull on October 18, 2011 at 11:56am

Hey Steve, 

Would you be doing this in a greenhouse, or would you be relying on artificial lighting exclusively?

I've experimented with vertical lights, light movers, and auto-rotating towers, and Charlie Price did similar techniques after we sent a bunch of stacking planter towers to Scotland more than a year ago.  

The type I'm speaking of are pictured below.  

The main objective for towers was in greenhouse cultivation, but I have some ideas and may re-visit these for indoor use soon.

*Note: After this prototype, the design was changed, as the 5-gallon drain buckets weren't wide enough.

Comment by Steve Perreault on October 18, 2011 at 10:24am

Jesse,

I agree with you regarding the use of overhead lights with a vertical growing. I'm looking into some waterproof T5 lamps that would look pretty cool suspended vertically at strategic locations between the towers

Comment by Jesse Hull on October 17, 2011 at 8:43pm

No kidding... there are definitely ways you could light this, but it wouldn't be as easy to look at.  

Otherwise, it's a real-time greenhouse set up for sure (which isn't saying anything bad).

It's a nice show for the Chicago airport, though.  Isn't hard to see times are changin' .

Comment by Rob Nash on October 17, 2011 at 8:12pm

I would like to hear the cost vs production on a system like this.

Comment by Jesse Hull on October 17, 2011 at 1:38pm

RE: "Great looking but pretty pricey units..." (Two Jay)

 

Definitely pricey  -and although it makes for a better display, I certainly don't think using vertical grow units with overhead lights is the best way to go.  You could tell that the plants on the bottom 1/2-1/3 of the units were far from reaching their photosynthetic potential.

Jesse

Comment by Two Jay on October 12, 2011 at 8:56am

Great looking but pretty pricey units.  Thanks for sharing the picture(s).