Uncle Milton Hydro Greenhouse 2 User manual

Table-top Hydroponic Mini Greenhouse
Table-top Hydroponic Mini Greenhouse
Table-top Hydroponic Mini Greenhouse
Hydro
Hydro
TM
Greenhouse 2
Greenhouse 2
Greenhouse 2
®
PLANT FOOD HAZARD - PLANT FOOD COULD BE HARMFUL
OR FATAL IF SWALLOWED. READ CAUTIONS ON INDIVIDUAL
CONTAINER CAREFULLY. NOT TO BE USED BY CHILDREN EXCEPT
UNDER ADULT SUPERVISION.
UMI Westlake Village, CA 91362
818.707.0224 Fax: [phone] www.unclemilton.com
© UMI, Inc. All rights reserved. Hydro Greenhouse is a
trademark of UMI. Printed in China.
WARNING:
WARNING:
CHOKING HAZARD - Small Parts.
Not for children under 3 years.
WARNING:
PLANT FOOD IS AN EYE IRRITANT-
KEEP OUT OF EYES.
®
09/04

Table-top Hydroponic Mini Greenhouse
Hydro
Greenhouse 2
Growing
Medium
Greenhouse
Cover
Planting Bed
Reservoir Bottle
Gardening Tools
Chapter 1
What is Hydroponics?
Hydroponics is the science and practice of growing plants using a solution of water and nutrients
instead of soil. The term is a combination of two Greek words roughly meaning water working. It
was coined by Dr. W.F. Gericke of the University of California in 1936. In that year, Dr. Gericke
successfully grew plants on a large scale in a solution of water and mineral salts. Due to lack of
better equipment, he used his bathtub for the growing bed.
Today, modern hydroponic greenhouses produce high yields of fresh, nutritious crops for
distribution to may parts of the world. They are located in places where it is not possible to grow
crops with soil, because it is too arid or there is not enough room for fields.
Scientists are currently testing the use of hydroponic cultivation in space. As our world’s
population expands and as we explore new frontiers, the primary method of food production will
be hydroponics.
Welcome to the World of Hydroponics
Your new Hydro Greenhouse will provide your plants with ideal growing conditions. You'll be
able to grow from seed to seedling stage fresh vegetables, herbs, fruit, flowers and plants in a
controlled growth environment. You'll have total confidence in what your plants are fed, because
Hydro Greenhouse’s unique Auto-Feed feature automatically supplies plants with complete,
balanced nutrition.
Hydro Greenhouse is absolutely safe to operate indoors or out because it is non-electric. What’s
more, there is never a fear of soil-borne diseases, insects, weeds or odors since Hydro
Greenhouse uses no soil.
Your new Hydro Greenhouse includes:
Planting Bed—Space-saving table-top size can be placed almost anywhere for your
convenience.
Greenhouse Cover—Transparent and vented. Provides a warm, protected, humid climate
perfect for healthy germination and early growth.
Reservoir Bottle—600 ml easy-access bottle automatically dispenses nutrient solution.
Includes cap for easy mixing.
Nutrient Transfer Strip—Absorbant feeding wick transfers nutrient from the Reservoir
Bottle and evenly disperses water and nutrient into the Growing Medium.
Growing Medium—Inert, pH-controlled mixture provides a clean, odorless support for roots.
Excellent moisture-retention capability. Course-grade aggregate provides uniform aeration.
Nutrient Mix—Year supply balanced formula provides your plants with all the essential
minerals and trace elements in their purest form. Mixes instantly in water. pH-balanced and
odorless.
Gardening Tools—Includes shovel for digging holes for seeding, fork for leveling Growing
Medium and Nutrient Spoon for measuring Nutrient Mix.
3
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: What is Hydroponics?
Welcome to the World of Hydroponics
How to Start Your Hydro Greenhouse
Chapter 2: Hydroponic Gardening Technique
What You Can Grow
Planting Instructions
Caring for Your Hydroponic Garden
Chapter 3: How to Order More Supplies
Trouble Shooting Chart
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Table-top Hydroponic Mini Greenhouse
Hydro
Greenhouse 2
Nutrient
Transfer
Strip
Planting
Bed
Lift Reservoir
Bottle Base
4 5
Chapter 2
Hydroponic Gardening Technique
What You Can Grow:
• Fruit
Strawberries are the most popular fruits to grow hydroponically. Be sure Planting Bed does not
become waterlogged. The best strawberries will grow in the second and third years.
Planting Instructions
A seed is actually a miniature plant—root, stem and a pair of leaves—encased in a hard coat filled
with nutrient. When placed in moist surroundings suitable for growth, the seed coat softens and
the tiny seedling sprouts. Its root grows down in search of nutrients while its stem and leaves
grow upwards, in search of light. There is enough nutrient inside to feed the plant until it develops
a second pair of leaves. This period of initial growth is called germination. Hydro Greenhouse is
an ideal environment for healthy germination since it is free of soil-borne disease and insects, is
protected from dust particles, provides ample humidity, and can be placed indoors where the
temperature is warmer.
Refer to the seed packets for proper planting instructions.
Plant more seeds than you want to grow. After they have germinated, keep only the healthiest
plants and remove the rest.
Caring for Your Hydroponic Garden
The most important requirements in a plant’s life are nutrition, light, humidity and temperature.
You can provide all of this with your Hydro Greenhouse. Lets take a look at each requirement
one at a time.
• Nutrition
Plants require specific mineral and trace elements in proper proportions whether they come from
soil or from hydroponic nutrient solutions. Nutrient Mix contains all the mineral and trace
elements a plant needs for healthy growth. These include nitrogen for the manufacture of protein
in leaves, phosphorus for development of roots and flowers, and potassium for synthesis of plant
starches and prevention of disease.
• Herbs
Chives
Dill
Fennel
Parsley
Rosemary
Sage
Sweet Basil
Tarragon
Thyme
• Outdoor Flowers
Asters
Ageratum
California Poppies
Candy Tuft
Chrysanthemums
Dianthus
Dwarf Zinnias
Forget-me-nots
• Vegetables
Chili Peppers
Cucumber
Tomatoes
Zucchini
How to Start Your Hydro Greenhouse
Preparing the Planting Bed
Place Nutrient Transfer Strip into the bottom, middle of the Planting Bed. Be sure
to insert one end of the Nutrient Transfer Strip into the groove under where
the Reservoir Bottle rests. Open sealed bag containing Growing
Medium and pour into Planting Bed to a level of 1/
2inch below rim.
Growing Medium is dry and dusty at this time, so be sure
room is ventilated. Slowly pour one Reservoir Bottle of
clear water over Growing Medium.
Preparing Nutrient Solution
Fill Reservoir Bottle with 2 1/
2cups of warm water.
Add one level nutrient spoonful (1/12 tsp) to the
Reservoir Bottle. Screw cap on bottle and shake
until nutrient has dissolved. Remove cap. Carefully,
yet quickly invert bottle, place into the Reservoir Bottle
Holder in the Base.
The amount of nutrient solution your Hydro Greenhouse
uses will depend on the temperature the number of plants.
Never let your Reservoir Bottle empty completely. Normally, a weekly water change will be
necessary.
clear tape
1. Unroll the clear cylinder.
Bend the plastic in the opposite direction from the way in
which it was rolled up in the box and insert the tabs into
the slots as shown.
2. Tape lid onto clear
cylinder with clear tape
Assembling the Greenhouse Cover
IMPORTANT: After plants have grown to 3- 4 inches in height, increase the
concentration of Nutrient Mix to two (2) Nutrient Spoonfuls per Reservoir Bottle.
CAUTION: Only use the recommended concentration of Nutrient Mix.
Too much will burn the roots of your plants.
Align
seam
at end
of oval

Table-top Hydroponic Mini Greenhouse
Hydro
Greenhouse 2
67
Monthly Backflushing
As a result of continued feeding with Nutrient Mix, salt deposits will begin to accumulate in the
Growing Medium. This is a natural occurrence and may inhibit the free flow of nutrients to the
roots. However, this is easily remedied. Once a month, sprinkle one Reservoir Bottle of clear
water (without Nutrient Mix) over the Planting Bed.
IMPORTANT: Do not begin monthly back-flushes until plants have reached maturity, since
flooding can wash away seeds and seedlings.
• Light
The energy contained in light is used to make the plant grow, blossom and reproduce. Place the
Hydro Greenhouse where it can receive plenty of sunlight. During summer, place in indirect
sunlight.
You can also use artificial light to stimulate growth. For an automatic lighting system, suspend one
or more fluorescent lamps or grow lights about a foot over plants and connect to a timer. Set the
timer to allow between 10 to 18 hours of light a day.
• Humidity
Humidity is the amount of moisture present in the air. Plants, especially young one’s, need a
certain amount of humidity. It’s no wonder that the humid tropical areas of the world are so lush
with vegetation. The Greenhouse Cover produces the same kind of climate on a smaller scale. As
your plants grow, you will be able to observe moisture condensing on the inside surfaces. The air
vents control humidity by allowing fresh air to pass in and out. On warm humid days, remove the
top for a few hours to allow additional ventilation.
• Temperature
Plants grow only when their environment is the appropriate temperature in your Hydro
Greenhouse. Should be located in an area having a daytime temperature range of 65°F to 76°F
(18°C to 24°C). Nighttime temperature should not exceed daytime temperature, as often occurs
in air-conditioned rooms.
• General Care
As your plants grow, pinch off and discard all dead and dry leaves. Remove any fallen leaves and
debris from the Planting Bed. Algae that may have grown inside the Reservoir Bottle can be
removed with household rubbing alcohol, followed by rinsing with hot water.
Be careful not to use household chemicals on or around your greenhouse. Over-spray of cleaning
agents can cause damage to plant life.
Chapter 3
How to Order More Supplies
You can order refills for your Hydro Greenhouse directly from Uncle Milton
at 818-707-0224. The refill kit includes Growing Medium, Nutrient Mix and Nutrient Transfer
Strip.
SYMPTOM
Slow or no growth
Wilting
Dropping of leaves
or flowers
Rotting of leaves and stems
Pale leaves;
lean growth
Multi-colored
leaves turned all green
Yellowing of leaves,
leaf fall
Yellowing of leaves,
no leaf fall
Brown margins and
spots on leaves
No yield
POSSIBLE CAUSE
• Too cold; frost
• Low humidity
• Too hot
• Waterlogging
• Nutrient solution too strong
• Sudden temperature change
• Sudden light change
• Cold nighttime temperature
• Low humidity
• Waterlogging
• Poor pollination
• Old age
• Disease or fungus
• Weak nutrient solution
• Waterlogging
• High humidity
• Not enough light
• Too hot
• High humidity
• Weak nutrient solution
• Not enough light
• Weak nutrient solution
• Waterlogging
• Low humidity
• Cold draft
• pH of water supply too high
• Very hard water supply
• Too hot
• Low humidity
• Waterlogging
• Too much sun
• Nutrient solution too strong
• Not enough light
REMEDY
• Move to warmer area
• Replace Greenhouse Cover
• Move to cooler area or remove
Greenhouse Cover
• Drain Planting Bed
• Dilute with water
• Move indoors; Adjust temperature
• Use artificial lighting
• Move indoors
• Replace Greenhouse Cover
• Drain Planting Bed
• Hand pollinate
• Replace with new planting
• Use insecticide, fungicide
• Add nutrient mix
• Drain Planting Bed
• Remove Greenhouse Cover
• Move to sunny area or
use artificial lighting
• Move to cooler area
• Remove Greenhouse Cover
• Add nutrient mix
• Move to sunny area or
use artificial lighting
• Add nutrient mix
• Drain Planting Bed
• Replace Greenhouse Cover
• Move to warmer area
• Add one aspirin or 1/2tsp. white
vinegar
• Use distilled water
• Move to cooler area
• Replace Greenhouse Cover
• Drain Planting Bed
• Move to shady area
• Dilute with water
• Move to sunny area or
use artificial lighting
Trouble Shooting Chart