First Deep Clean of Gardyn

Changing processes

Somewhere in the early days of owning a Gardyn, I learned maintenance was to include monthly refreshes and a 6 month deep clean. The refreshes involved taking the lid off to empty the tank. The deep clean involved taking apart the columns now without thier little  help stickers. 

Apparently the recommended process has changed. Now refresh every 2 or 4 weeks depending on crops, a light cleaning quarterly, and the deep cleaning as needed. I was aware Gardyn recently started selling hydroboost (vs H202). I had not started using it weekly. I wonder if there is anything else I missed. Gardyn sends me email on other things.

When looking at the light cleaning I wondered about dumping the tank of  water and h202. There was was discussion of the h202 killing the hydroguard and leaving it overnight to avoid that. I wonder how long it would take the larger quantity to disappear.

I revisited the refresh. I still feel like it should start with turn off and unplug. This cleaning the tank with a soft sponge and baking soda, which I think of as an abrasive, seems new to me. I had been using the bottle brush and dilute h202.

I joined the official Facebook user group right away, and an unofficial one just as fast. The unofficial one existed  due to censorship, and it split into three as people created things to augment the system. In any case there was a thread detailing someone's refresh process to avoid the the deep clean and other issues. I bought into spending and extra 15 minutes per refresh spritzing the the inside of the tubes with H2O2 and using a bottle brush. 

I learned that my plants needed root trimming and as they got bigger and more crowded taking them out to harvest. Bumping up the refresh two two weeks (recommended for big feeders, generally the fruit baring ones) seemed to make sense. Of course life got in the way and sometimes it went over the month. So here I am coming up on a year doing my first deep clean.

Deep clean

My system was cleaner than the one in the video. I had a month's worth of deposits outside each seam.  Inside each seam was green. Do I want to follow other users in taping them? With the occasional exception I think the roots were fresh and would have been picked out with a toothbrush when cleaning the tubes.

I read and had a limited experience of cracked tubing. I was prepared to replace all of it and was less enthiastic about pulling apart joints in tubing if i did not need to. (I also did a clean of the bottom of the lid at that time. This time I noticed some black on the bottom of the wood.) By pulling the tubing out of the column, I was able to leave the tubing mostly intact and the joint that came apart at the bottom of a tower was easily accessible. I was nervous about this level of deconstruction that I had not seen directions for putting it back together.

I knew that the branching alternated and brought the plants closer to the lights. Looking from the back I started from the bottom with a right branch. I put the tubing  thru the hole that gave it the shortest and straightest path up the back.

I have gotten ahead of myself talking of reconstruction, but it is easier to observe when taking it apart.  Also a side note: when I do replace the tubing, I'd test it before putting the columns on.

I also read about the challenges of a certain clip. At this point I am bewildered as to the purpose it serves as I didn't touch it.

 I read of and experienced problems with algea and bugs. My problems were minor compared to those of others. However they recommend getting rid of problem plants now. I am not eager to restart them.

I have stopped trying to reuse rockwool with lots of algea on top (or if it is really busted up and will let in light). I did douse the fiesta gitana in Sierra Natural Science pesticide 203, after harvesting all the flowers.  That seemed easier than spritzing all surfaces. I had mixed it in a cheese puff container that would hold over a gallon, and had a wide mouth and lid. The fairly compact plant barely fit through the mouth.  I had left the plant dripping across the top of the container in my bathtub, only to come back to find the whole thing in it, roots and all. Oops. That left the straw berry, which had 3 berries and a half dozen flowers. I did not have the heart.

The bolters included dill and tatsoi. I gave my huge original tomato to a friend as the bit I rooted in a ypod in the system is now bearing. The suprise 4 seeds seem to be 3 borage plants. Red Sorrel (labels are good) looked like basil but definitely tastes different.  I've got two lettuces and a mustard approaching first harvest.

I used the tank to soak one column at a time. So two gallons of vinegar and equal of water (if you read the directions before the first soak and diluted it). Did not soak terribly long  - like the time it took to take off the funnel (failed with the middle one) and next column. Did not initially realize the funnel screws went into the wooden lid behind the plastic. Made sure to replace one before doing the next. They had some biofilm and bits of rotting stuff. So what do I do with four gallons of green tinted vinegar? FYI I keep a large peanut butter jar with vinegar in it for the ypods. It gets used at refresh and replant time.  The contents a quite brown now. Some of those soaks have gone overnight. I am glad I did this on a table outside despite temperatures dropping to freezing - less concern of cleaning spatters, drips, and spills.

Enough people have melted their systems, they now recommend washing in soap and water. How important is this? Without the ph was 5.

I fiddled with one set of electronic connectors. The camera still does not work. It went for a couple months before not producing. Not sure how important it is. The time lapse was a done once thing and is no longer accessible.  Kelby does not seem to observe this plant  is wilting/ turning brown, here is the fix type functionality. I struggle when trying to access my garden remotely. Will submit another complaint while under warranty. 

I waited nervously for it to reconnect to wifi and to pump water.  It seemed like forever before it came out the top. I was happy to get the plants back in after missing one watering. 

It was past my bed time then so I still have empty ypods and lids to wash and install. I forgot to move my seedlings and sundew back to the lid.

...

The sun came up and is visible! I have turned off the catchy and turned on the fan. The catchy has maybe a dozen tiny things after a couple weeks. gnats? fruit flies? Did I mention the GE fan I bought in college died? I replaced it with a wazoo it can go side to side or up and down. After I saw a fan on the user group after that does both. I just keep shoving recommendations in an Amazon list.  I watered my sundew and sprouts. I have not seen the sundew catch anything. I think the newly sprouted are lollo rossi and a green bean. The kale is still tiny. Time to stop watering the things I've gotten credit for.  I have taken a few pictures, but it is easier to load from the computer after they get saved to google photos. The big towel I put under the lid and the hand towel I use for mopping up really need to get washed now.  I forget to grab them. The thai basil looks a bit wilted the next morning. Hopefully it will perk up after the 8am watering. I forget how loud it is with empty holes. MMMM. Mint tea with yesterdays prunings - caffeine free, but not sugar free. What do I do with the thai basil flowers?

Moving forward:

Do I want to get the hydroboost they are now selling to keep the system clean? I figure I don't need to be the first. Do I want to try the new bareroot strawberries?  Devoting a whole column to them seems excessive. The new Gardyn version 3.0 has gone up $100. Solid funnels and what? Do I want a second systerm or just an upgrade? When everything is going smooth more produce sounds lovely, but every so often the system is time consuming. Lifing the lid off requires a physical effort that does not mix well with injuries. 

Lighting Update: I have now followed the directions that says to switch the sides of the light sticks (and cameras). The lower camera still fails.