Aeration vs No Aeration - Hydroponic Peppers w/Time Lapse (Brinno) “Semi-DWC vs Kratky”

Summary

This video explores growing hydroponic peppers, specifically comparing the effects of aerating the water versus not aerating it. The experiment, which previously tested basil, aims to reveal differences in growth and taste. Using a time-lapse, the host demonstrates how aerating the water led to better plant growth, while non-aerated plants showed signs of nitrogen deficiency and root pruning. The video highlights how oxygen at the roots supports healthy growth and suggests aeration's benefits, depending on the plant type. A taste test of the peppers will follow in an upcoming video.

Takeaways

• 🌱 The video focuses on growing hydroponic peppers and compares aerated water vs non-aerated water.
• 🔬 A similar experiment was done earlier with basil, but it didn’t show significant differences due to basil’s low oxygen needs at the root level.
• 🌶️ The pepper variety used in this experiment is called 'Big Thai Hybrid,' and a taste test will be conducted at the end of the experiment.
• 👶 The seedlings were started with three seeds per pot, and the weaker ones were removed to make the conditions even.
• 📷 The video uses a time-lapse, captured by a Green OTL c200 Pro camera, to show plant growth over time.
• 🕰️ The plants seem to anticipate darkness as they move before the lights turn off, indicating an adaptation to the light cycle.
• 💧 Aerated water led to better root growth and healthier plants, with the non-aerated plants showing signs of nitrogen deficiency.
• 🧪 To ensure fairness, the same hydroponic solution was mixed and divided evenly between the two test containers.
• 🌿 Root mass was directly proportional to the plant size, with aerated plants showing healthier roots due to better moisture reaching the roots.
• 🤔 The video suggests that different plants have unique growth requirements and that while aeration worked here, it might not always be the case for other plants.

Q & A

What is the main objective of this experiment?

The experiment aims to determine if airing the water versus not airing the water has a significant impact on the growth of hydroponic peppers.

What previous experiment did the presenter mention?

The presenter previously conducted a similar experiment with basil, which doesn't require a lot of oxygen at the root level. Some differences were observed, but nothing significant.

What type of pepper is being used in this experiment?

The experiment uses an Asian hot pepper called 'Big Thai Hybrid.'

How were the seedlings prepared for this experiment?

The presenter started with three seeds per net pot and then removed the ones that were growing poorly to ensure all plants started out about the same size.

What new equipment did the presenter use in this video?

The presenter used a new time-lapse camera, the Green OTL c200 Pro, to capture the entire growth process with one picture every five minutes.

What interesting behavior did the presenter observe in the plants during the time-lapse?

The presenter noticed that the plants started moving before the lights turned off, suggesting they had adapted to the lighting hours and possibly had an internal clock or muscle memory.

What difference in growth was observed between the aerated and non-aerated methods?

The aerated method showed significantly better growth, while the non-aerated plants developed a nitrogen deficiency, with their lower leaves turning yellow.

How was the hydroponic solution prepared to ensure fairness in the experiment?

The presenter mixed the hydroponic solution in a five-gallon bucket with four gallons, divided it into two buckets, and repeated the process to ensure both containers had identical mixtures.

What is the reason that airing the water helped the plants grow better?

Airing the water creates water vapor when bubbles pop, which helps the exposed roots continue to grow and reach the solution. In the non-aerated method, the roots that were exposed to air dried out and stopped growing.

Why did the non-aerated roots stop growing?

The non-aerated roots were air-pruned, meaning the humidity in the air was not enough to keep the root tips alive, causing them to dry out and stop growing.