Containers for planting e.g.

flower pot, tyre,

bucket


Sharp sand: A cubic yard of sharp sand will
fill fifteen (15) containers 20-30 cm
(8-12 inches) wide by 30 cm (12 inches) deep.

Do not mix any other material with the sharp
sand.

Fertilizers
either 12:12:17:2 + TE or 12:8:16 + 3
Calcium Nitrate
Magnesium Sulphate

Three (3) cotton bags (30 cm long by
15 cm wide/ 12 inches by 6 inches) to hold
each of the measured amounts of fertilizers

Plastic barrel 200 litres ( 50 gallons) with
a cover

Watering Can


Setting up the system involves site
selection, selection and preparation of the
containers and preparation of the fertilizer
solution.
Figure 1: A Range of Crops Grown using the
Sharp Sand Based Hydroponics System
Site Selection
Select a site to place the container. Ensure
the area is flat and gets at least 5-6 hours of
sunlight daily.
TT: Ag. Ext : 12:01

By: Rishi Mohansingh (Agricultural Officer I)



Hydroponics is a technique of growing plants
without soil.

Crops can be grown in the absence of soil,
compost or manure by adding required
nutrients to the rooting medium in which they
are grown.

Some crops that can be grown in the
Hydroponics System include:
Leafy vegetables : lettuce, pakchoi,
cabbage
Herbs : chive, celery, parsley
Fruiting vegetables : tomato, pepper,
melongene
Vining crops : bodi, seim, cucumber,
melon
Root crops : radish, beet, sweet
potato
Other crops : cauliflower and
broccoli
Ornamentals : ixora, butter cup
Selection and Preparation of the Container
Choose a container. The depth and width of
the container chosen depends on the size of the
mature plant. Most vegetable plants can grow
in 20 - 30 cm (8-12 inches) deep
containers.













Figure 2: Drainage Holes at bottom of container
Prepare the container by making drainage
holes at the bottom and place it on a flat
concrete surface.





















Fill the container with sharp sand only.
Fertilizer A Barrel - 200 litres
(50 gallon)
12:12:17:2+ TE or
12:8:16 + 3
12 tablespoons / 180 grams
Calcium Nitrate 6.5 tablespoons / 98 grams
Magnesium
Sulphate
3.5 tablespoons / 53 grams
Preparation of the Fertilizer Solution
Fill the plastic barrel with tap water.
The barrel must be of a dark colour (blue,
green or black) with a cover to keep out the
sunlight.

Do not use clear or white barrels since they
allow sunlight to enter and break down the
fertilizer, making the solution weak. The
cover also prevents the wind from breaking
down the fertilizer solution.

Add the recommended measured amounts
of the following three fertilizers to
different cotton bags and tie them.
Table 1 : Recommended Fertilizer for use in
Barrel of Water
The cotton bags will keep the insoluble
material in the fertilizer out of the solution.



Figure 3: Fertilizers in cotton bags
12:12:17:2+TE Calcium Nitrate Magnesium Sulphate
Place the three (3) cotton bags with the
fertilizers in the barrel of water and
cover the barrel.

Leave the bags of fertilizers in the barrel
of water for 10 12 hours to allow all the
nutrients to be released.
The fertilizer solution is now ready for use.
Remove the bags from the barrel.

One litre of nutrient solution is needed to
fertilize one (1)container 20-30cm
(8-12inches) wide by 30cm (12inches) deep
with plants per day.

The size of the container will determine the
type of plant and how many can be planted.

Only use seedlings that were grown in a
sterile rooting medium to ensure that you do
not introduce any pests and disease
problems into the system. Seedlings grown in
soil, compost and manure may introduce weed
seeds, pests and diseases to the sharp sand.
Figure 4: Fertilizers in barrel of water
Magnesium
Sulphate
12:12:17:2 + TE
Calcium Nitrate
The bottle of water is used
as a weight to retrieve the
bags after the nutrients
have been released














Figure 5: A two-week old cabbage seedling
growing in a sharp sand based
hydroponics system
Transplant healthy seedlings into the
container at the recommended depth and
spacing.














Vegetable and herb seedlings must be green,
with 4-6 leaves and have cream to white roots.
There must be no discolouration or holes on the
leaves; and no flower buds, flowers or fruits.

Note: Large seeds, for example, cucumber and
bodi can either be planted directly as seeds or
planted as seedlings.

Fertilizing and Flushing must be done in a
seven day cycle throughout the life of the
crop.

Use a watering can to apply the nutrient
solution for the first 6 days followed by a
flushing of the growing medium with water
on day seven (7).

Apply the nutrient solution to the sand
immediately after planting the seed or
seedling until the solution slightly drains
f r o m u n d e r t h e c o n t a i n e r .
This should be counted as the first day or
day 1.
















Figure 6: Nutrient Solution draining
from bottom of the Container














This should be counted as day 2 to day 6 in the
cycle.
On the seventh day after planting apply
water only until it drains slightly from under
the container. This will flush out any
build-up of elements, which can be toxic to the
plant.

Do not use the nutrient solution on the
seventh day.

Repeat the process of fertilizing and flushing :
6 days of nutrient solution followed by 1 day
of water only throughout the life of the crop as
described in Table 2.
The nutrient solution will provide all the
nutrients needed for all stages of plant
growth and production. Do not apply any
additional fertilizers to the plant or to the
nutrient solution in the barrel.
Apply the nutrient solution, once daily
in the morning, for the next five (5) days
until the solution slightly drains from
under the container.
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 1
Nutrient
Solution
Nutrient
Solution
Nutrient
Solution
Nutrient
Solution
Nutrient
Solution
Nutrient
Solution
Water
only
Nutrient
Solution
Table 2: Fertilizing and Flushing Cycle
Use environmentally friendly methods as
described in the factsheet Making Natural
Pesticides to control pests and diseases.
Note: Plant pungent plants in and around
the garden for example marigold, chive
and celery. These plants repel pests
from attacking your plants.

Weeds harbour pests and diseases and
compete with the growing plant for nutrients,
water and sunlight. Remove weeds by hand as
soon as you see them.

Observe your plants daily for any incidence
of pest and disease problems. Remove pests,
diseased plant or diseased parts of the plant by
hand and dispose safely.

Higher yields - The plants grown in the
system produce higher yields. The nutrient so-
lution provides all the elements as needed by
the plant in a readily available form for growth
and production.
More efficient fertilizer use - The
hydroponics system uses water and
fertilizers more efficiently when compared to
soil.

Harvest plants/fruits once they reach the
desired stage of maturity.

Once the harvest is complete, you can replant.
The following is recommended to prevent the
gradual loss of the sharp sand from the
container:
Uproot the entire plant once harvesting is
complete.
Wash roots in a bucket of clean water.

Return the sand that was collected in the
bucket into the container.
Remove all remaining plant parts and weeds.
The container is now ready for replanting.

The Extension Training and Information Service Division acknowledges
Mr. Barendra Ram (Agricultural Assistant II) County St. Patrick West for the research
and development of the Sharp Sand Based Hydroponics System in Trinidad

Less use of pesticides - This is because sharp
sand has less weed seeds and pest and disease
organisms than soil.

Better quality produce - The harvested
produce has a longer shelf life and higher
nutritional value.





"All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form, or
by any means reproduced without permission in writing, of the Ministry of Food Production ."
Published and Printed by
the Extension Training and Information Services Division
Ministry of Food Production
Trinidad and Tobago
December 2012