Different hydroponic methods

We investigated the different methods of hydroponics constrained by several factors. We needed the roots to grow quickly, they should be visible, and the method used should allow for many different root growth shapes to be created.

In order to determine the best possible method, we visited the key supplier of hydroponics in the Wellington region, the Switched on Gardener (SOG) in Ngaio gorge. The experts at SOG provided us with three different options, deep water culture, aeroponics, and flood and drain subirrigation. Each of these methods were then investigated further.

Deep Water CultureDeep water culture keeps the plants constantly suspended in nutrient enriched water. This common method was not used as there can often be large amounts of algae growth in the water which will inhibit the ability to view the roots as they grow.

AeroponicsAeroponics keeps the roots of a suspended plant saturated in a fine mist of nutrient enriched water. This method has several key benefits and promotes a much higher growth rate due to the high amount of available oxygen. The resultant plants have an 80% increase in dry weight biomass, however the algae growth in the environment is high which would considerably reduce the visibility of the root growth.

Flood and drain subirrigationIn this hydroponic method the nutrient enriched water is periodically flooded over the roots. This process provides some of the benefits of Aeroponics, but considerably reduces algal growth and was therefore selected as the preferred method.

A flood cycle period of 15 minutes flood every 3 hours was suggested by the experts at SOG, this cycle was adjusted slightly in order to find a good balance between, the best growth without drying out the plants, the least algae growth, and a good level of water oxygenation.

Exposing the Root Structure

Since we are leading towards the root structure becoming the object the dirt becomes an issue as it obscures the beauty of the plant. To deal with this we decided to look into hydroponics and aeroponics.

Processes of Control

We looked at several processes controlling the plants

+ physical molds
+ directing the plants growth through light
+ impairing growth through the use of chemicals

Plants

Because of time constraints an issue was finding a plant that grew fast enough to test our ideas. We also wanted something which we could see a market for. Plants we looked at

+ vines
+ bamboo
+ mushrooms
+ fruit
+ herbs
+ sea sponges
+ rhubarb

We thought if we could control the way in which edible mushrooms grow we could design "designer mushrooms" for high end restaurants. However, we felt that this was very limited market and our ideas could be pushed much further.



We looked at bamboo because of the speed of growth but its toughness and strength would be hard to control.

We looked at controlling the fruit of the plant, rather than the whole plant such as square watermelons. However, this type of thing has already been done.



We also considered sea sponge as a material. For a while this looked promising as they can reassemble themselves once they have been blenderised. We chose not to follow this path for several reasons. Firstly, because we did not want to kill the sponges. Secondly because the process of keeping sponges is very expensive and lastly we discovered that once we removed the constraints on the growth of the sponge it would just expand back to its original form.



When investigating the plants we decided that the root structure was more beautiful and offered more options in form and structure. We then started to look into controlling roots through molds. Our ideas were reinforced by looking at root bound plants where the roots were dense enough to hold the shape of the pot that contained it.

Starting Point

Our initial goal was to create products through controlling the growth of plants. To start with we discussed the different types of plants which we could use in the ways in which we could control them. Our very initial precedent were bonsai kittens. This is a internet hoax but showed kittens contained in jars. This process is quite distasteful and cruel and we would not want to cause harm to any living creatures, but this idea is our starting point.

Design challenge

Project brief:
"Construct yout own 3d printing machine* and a range of grown products in 6 weeks.

As designers we are in a unique position to create both unconventional and aesthetically considered approaches to growing products. The scale and application of the technology is limited only by the capacity to create a considered and supportable arguement for its creation. This could include buildings, food, jewelery or beyond."