Instruction:

Step 1: Gather a water pump, an inner tray and outer tray

Step 2: Drill holes at the bottom of the inner tray

Step 3: Install the tray cover, water pump and inner tray

Step 4: Line the inner tray with glass rocks

Step 5: Cover glass rocks with filter cloth

Step 6: Lay coarse coconut fibers on top of the filter cloth

Step 7: Cover coarse coconut fibers with fine coconut fibers

Step 7: Vertical look of the layers in the inner tray

Step 8: Lay seedlings on top of the fine coconut fibers and cover them with additional fine coconut fibers

Step 9: Connect water source to the pump, install the tray under a UV light and a fan

Step 10: Mix the medium solution, fill the outer tray and turn on the water pump to water the seedlings for the first time

  1. Gather a water pump, an inner tray and an outer tray. The inner tray should be about 4 inches deep. The outer tray should be slighter deeper than the inner tray. Ensure that the water pump and inner tray can nesting inside the outer tray

  2. Drill holes at the bottom of the inner tray for water drainage

  3. Install the tray cover, water pump and inner tray

    • To make the tray cover, trace the shape of the outer tray onto a one inch foam board and cut. Trace out the shape of the inner tray in the center of the foam board and cut.

    • Place supporting blocks inside the 4 corners of the outer tray to level the surface of the tray cover with the edge of the outer tray. We used Lego blocks as our supporting blocks. The tray cover prevents evaporation of the liquid nutrient medium.

    • Place the water pump inside the outer tray and mark the tray cover of where a slot should be cut to fit the water pump; cut the slot

    • Fit the water pump securely into the slot that was cut in the tray cover and leave the pump’s output water tube, which will become the incoming water tube for the inner tray, and pump’s power cord outside of the outer tray

    • Put supporting blocks for the inner tray inside the outer tray and align them with the 4 inside corners of the tray cover

    • Place the inner tray inside of the outer tray; adjust the height of the supporting blocks to ensure the water incoming end of the inner tray is slightly higher, so water can flow from one end of the inner tray to the other end of the tray

  4. Fill the inner tray with 1 - 2 inches of glass rocks. The thickness the layer depends on the depth of your inner tray

  5. Cover the glass rocks with a filter cloth. We used fine linen cloth.

  6. Place a layer of coarse coconut fibers on top of the filter cloth

  7. Cover the coarse coconut fiber layer with a layer of the fine coconut fibers

  8. Place seedlings on top of the fine coconut fibers at least an inch apart and cover them with additional fine coconut fibers. Each shoot should be almost poking out with all the roots and rhizomes covered. 

  9. Place the tray under a growth UV light, connect the water pump with the water source, watering the tray. Keep a fan running near by the tray simulate the nature breeze. This will help strengthen the plant structure of the young leaves and prevent molding.

  10. Mix the medium solution, fill the out tray and turn on the water pump for the first time watering of the seedlings

Future Design Considerations:

We have experienced slight degree of molding. For future design, we are considering to use plastic bug netting material instead of fine linen as the filter layer. Use sterilized wool or glass fibers, instead of coconut fibers.

To print the instruction, click here.