The First Hydroponic Pacham Project

(October 30, 2018)

I was really excited when I finally got my Hydroponic Nutrient Solution.  So, the following day after we got the nutrient solution (October 28), I searched our house for a container that I can use for the project.

And I found this!

These I think will be perfect for a Peppa Dew plant.

So, I converted it into a hydroponic container.

First, I cut a hole on the blue lid, big enough for the red cup to fit in.

Then I punched some holes in the red cup.  Those holes are intended to let some water in.  Also, that is where the roots would eventually come out to reach the water.

Lyle, (the one where we bought the solution from) told us that we should put 25ml of each solution for every 10 liters of water.

The containers water level should be just enough for it to reach about a centimeter of the cup.

The container will need 2 liters of water for that, which means that I will have to put 5 ml of SNAP A and 5 ml of SNAP B.

I then put some white stones on the red cup and then the Peppa Dew plant (the one I planted last September 29 - October 14 blog posting date).  Then covered the roots with some more white stones (first picture).

I hope that the plant would bear many fruits.

Wish me luck!

The SNAP Hydroponic Solution

SNAP solution or Simple Nutrient Addition Program solution is one of the many nutrient solutions that you can use for hydroponics.

SNAP was developed by Dr. Primitivo Santos and Dr. Eureka Ocampo of the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna, Institute of Plant Breeding, with the help of the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Agricultural Research.  They made their research in 1999, twenty years ago.

This was developed as a low-cost solution for small scale (backyard and commercial) farming.

Low-cost, because you only need a container with a cover to hold the water with the SNAP solution, and some cup/s with some gravel or coco peat that will hold the plants.  Also, the solution itself only cost around Php300.00 to Php350.00 a pair.  And you do not really need a water pump, unlike other large-scale hydroponic farms.

A set of SNAP is composed of SNAP A and SNAP B, which you will add to water one at a time.

The ratio is 25ml of SNAP A to 10 liters of water, then you need to mix it well.  After that, pour 25ml of SNAP B to your 10 liters of water with SNAP A solution.  Then mix it well again.

You can use either the SNAP A first or the SNAP B first.  Just make sure not to pour them both at the same time.  I have not tried it yet, but they say it will have a chemical reaction and your solution will turn to white stones.

That is also why they came in separate bottles.

Most of the SNAP Farmers/Gardeners use a styrofoam box.  The used styrofoam box that is used to transport grapes is the most economical.  One can even get it for free, just ask your friendly fruit stand seller for some.

University of the Philippines Los Baños is giving seminars about SNAP.  I hope I can attend one of those seminars this year.

I will make an update of this post, once I learned some more new things about SNAP.