Plant Lab Educational Hydroponics System

FAQs

Career Preparation

What careers can hydroponics help prepare students for? 

Potential career opportunities include: nursery/greenhouse technician, cultivation manager, agricultural engineer, agronomist, irrigation technician, horticulture instructor, and culinary/food service.

How are other teachers using hydroponics systems?

Our hydroponics educational systems are used to engage students in agriculture, FCS and science programs. They’re also used to incorporate STEM concepts into your curriculum and teach the relevant, in-demand skills that today’s careers require. Here is one example of a teacher’s experience. 

General Usage

What is hydroponics?

A method of growing plants without soil

I’m new to hydroponics. Where do I start?

Find simple steps for starting a program and make sure you have everything you need:
Hydroponics Education Implementation

Starter kit materials and user guides are included with every purchase so you can begin growing right away

Why are these hydroponics units right for me?

Our hydroponics units save space, use less water than traditional soil farming, speed up grow times, reduce chemical use, increase food security, and provide career exploration opportunities as well as foster student engagement in the classroom.

Are these units noisy?

No. They were created in response to educator requests for interactive growing systems that could be easily used in classroom settings. The noise level has been compared to a quiet white noise machine.

What is the difference between the Plant Lab, Plant Mini and Plant Producer hydroponics systems?

Both systems include reusable grow cups, a germination tray, seeds, rockwool, a 1-year limited warranty, LED grow lights, and curriculum.

• The Plant Lab System features 3 vertical shelves connected to individual water sources. This enables experimentation with different plants, water levels, and nutrients on each level. More details are below:

1. 1. Plant sites: 33
   2. Shelf spacing (grow height): 10”
   3. One fan per shelf unit
   4. Three 2-gallon water tanks/one per shelf
   5. Weight: 75 lbs.

• The Plant Producer System features 3 vertical shelves that are all connected to a single water source. This enables equal nutrient allotment and concentrated growth on each level. More details are below:

1. 1. Plant sites: 42
   2. Shelf spacing (grow height): 20” bottom, 12” middle, 12” top
   3. Two fans per shelf unit
   4. One 7-gallon tank
   5. Weight 100lbs

• The Plant Mini System Class Pack features 5 compact, desktop sized growing systems. These systems enable users to experiment with deep water culture, ebb and flow and microgreen varieties.

1. 1. Plant sites for each unit: 12
   2. Shelf spacing (grow height): 11” from the top
   3. One fan per unit
   4. Each unit has a four-liter water tank
   5. Each unit weighs 6.4 lbs.

What consumables can I expect to eventually have to replace to keep my hydroponics system functioning?

As you use your hydroponics system, you can expect to replace:

• • Seeds (Your system will come with 1 butternut lettuce seed packet)
  • Nutrients (We recommend using general hydroponics Florado A & B Fertilizer or general hydroponics Flora Bloom Fertilizer)
  • Grow medium sponges

Where can I buy replacement consumables?

Many large retailers offer a variety of seed, nutrients, sponges, etc. Below is a sampling of seed companies that offer online ordering and direct shipping of seeds. Local, regional, or national seed suppliers are also resources for seeds.

1. 1. Johnny’s Selected Seeds Winslow, ME johnnyseeds.com
   2. Seed Savers Exchange Decorah, IA seedsavers.org
   3. Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds Mansfield, MO rareseeds.com
   4. Burpee Seeds and Plants Warminster, PA burpee.com

What if I already have a greenhouse?

Hydroponics systems are great additions to programs with greenhouse access! Hydroponics systems can save space in greenhouses by growing plants vertically. Additionally, hydroponics systems in greenhouses enable students to easily compare different growing methods – in this case, plants grown in soil versus plants grown in water. Hydroponics systems can also be used to sprout seeds for greenhouse plants.

What if I have carpet in my classroom? I’m concerned about the moisture content and leaks.

Do hydroponics units have to be placed in dark rooms?

No. The units can be used in a variety of settings, including classrooms with natural light.

How many systems would you recommend for a 20-student classroom?

It depends on your budget and how you want to implement the system. In general, we recommend one system for a 20-student classroom.

Do you offer product support?

Yes! Our product support team is available M-F 8am-5pm Central Time via phone, email or chat. Contact customer support here

What other program support do you provide?

We offer free webinars, blogs, and classroom resources to help your program succeed

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