This hydroponics system was designed for a school setting, with 3 independent slanted gullies containing 10 holes each to allow water to flow back to buckets. Each gully level was supplied by different wattage grow lights. Plants were initially grown for 1-3 weeks in a greenhouse with blue light to develop root systems, then transplanted to the hydroponics system. Over time, various plants like cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers were grown, with some developing infections initially. By day 60, the plants had overtaken the system with extensive root growth and multiple crops being harvested. Upon disassembly, a thick carpet of roots was found lining the gullies.

1. Hydroponics System
For the school setting

2. Design
- 3x 2m long gullies with
10 holes each.
- Gullies fully independent
- Separate water cycle
- Separate dual spectrum
lights
- Same environmental
conditions
- Same temperature
- Same natural lighting
conditions

3. Gullies at an angle
Each gully is slightly
slanted to allow water to
flow back into the bucket.
(13 Oct 2017)
System design and
installation by
Emporium Hydroponics
www.emporiumhydroponics.com/

4. Lighting
Each level has 3 lights.
(COMPANY NAME)
Each level has a different
wattage:
- Top: 300 W
- Middle: 200 W
- Bottom: 125 W

5. 2-weeks of root growing
The plants initially don’t
reach down into the water
flowing inside the gully.
Hence, their root system
has to be developed in a
greenhouse under blue
light for 1-3 weeks.

6. Details
Light: In blue light range,
which is essential for
germination to take place.
2.5 L tap water + root
growth promoting
enzymes
Plants growing in
Rockwool to give them
something to hold on to
(typically used as

7. 3rd of November = Day
0
BOLD: Planted on Day 0
Non-bold: Planted on Day 3
4 additional cucumbers planted on Day
6
Pumpkins planted on Day 13

8. DAY 14
14 day old
cucumbers
5 day old
cucumbers
Tomato

9. DAY 14– Cucumber Root System

10. DAY 14 - Transplanting into the hydroponics
system
3 cucumbers transplanted
into the hydroponics
system 2 weeks after
sowing (12 Nov).
Light: 200 W for 12 h/day
pH: 6.0
EC: 1.5
14 days old11 days old9 days old

11. Time lapse - DAY 14
Tomato
Cucumber
Pumpkin
Bell Pepper
Cabbage

12. Time lapse - DAY 15
Tomato
Cucumber
Pumpkin
Bell Pepper
Cabbage

13. Time lapse - DAY 18
Tomato
Cucumber
Pumpkin
Bell Pepper
Cabbage

14. Time lapse - DAY 25
Tomato
Pumpkin
Bell Pepper
Cabbage
Cucumber

15. DAY 18
Cucumber
Pumpkin

16. DAY 18 - First plant falls a bit sick
Mineral
deficiency?
Fungal
infection?

17. DAY 18 - First plant falls a bit sick
Fungal
infection?
These leaves were cut in
order to prevent a
potential spread to other
leaves.

18. DAY 18 – Cut leaves

19. DAY 23 – Pumpkin
The pumpkin shot up very
quickly very high. Much
thicker stem and leaves
than the other plants.
Root system is decent,
but not as massive as the
cabbage root system.

20. DAY 23 – Bell Pepper
Very thin leaves and
stem, also very small and
delicate root system. Not
yet ready to be placed in
the hydroponics system.

21. DAY 23 - Tomato
Thick and hairy stem,
relatively thick leaves.

22. DAY 23 - Tomato
Thick and hairy stem,
relatively thick leaves.

23. DAY 23 - Hydroponics
4 cucumbers are growing
now inside the
hydroponics gully under
200W dual-spectrum
lights.
Note the variation in size
between the 1st and 2nd
plant. They have the
same age.

24. DAY 23 - Hydroponics

25. DAY 23 - Hydroponics
More infections. Leaves
were cut off in the
process.

26. DAY 25 – Cayenne Pepper!
25 days is a very long time. I
had no hopes for anything to
sprout anymore. BUT a cayenne
pepper seedling made it!
Maybe it’s best to cut the
rockwool to half the height,
which should make it easier for
seeds to push up and down to
the light and water respectively.

27. DAY 25 – The hydroponics setup
Cucumber
Tomato
Pumpkin
Bell
pepper

28. DAY 25 – The biggest plant so far
A 23 day old cucumber plant is
the biggest so far. It has 5 large
leaves, 3 small leaves and a
new leaf coming out from the
top.

29. Day 60
The plants have completely
taken over the system. The gully
tops are bulging out from the
excess root growth, the tomato
plant needs multiple support
strings and had to be trimmed
down.
Multiple crops are now
growing…

30. Day 60
A handful of tomatoes
went very quickly from
green to red.

31. Day 60
The cucumber plant
climbed 2 meters up
and grew a cucumber
at the ceiling.

32. Day 60
Red peppers grew
on one of the three
plants.

33. Day 60
Chili peppers also
turning quickly
ripening – within a
week of appearing.

34. Day 60
Chili peppers also
turning quickly
ripening – within a
week of appearing.

35. Disassembly
Due to the summer
holidays the system
had to be taken
down.
A great chance to
look at the root
system.

36. Disassembly
A giant mesh of
roots formed a 1-2
cm thick carpet
inside the gully. It
was impossible to
remove the plants
without destroying
the roots.

37. Disassembly

38. To be continued…
This presentation was uploaded
on the 29th of November 2017. A
new one will be uploaded as
things progress.
Contact details:
Philipp.herzberg@uaesouthbank.org.
uk
Blog: www.uptrain.net