| Written by Luke Williams, on 06-10-2008 14:48 |
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It is very important to sanitize the AeroGarden
between Seed Kits, not only to flush out dead plant material, but also
to flush nutrient residue from the Pump and Grow Surface channels and
to kill any pathogens. Follow this procedure at the end of every Seed
Kit, even if (especially if!) you are planning on storing your
AeroGarden for awhile before planting your next Seed Kit. It is very
important to flush the nutrient solution from the AeroGarden before
storing it for any length of time to prevent the solution from drying
into crystallized mineral deposits within the Pump and water channels.
1) Unplug the AeroGarden.
2) Carefully remove the Bowl and Grow Surface from the
Base and take them to a sink. (Whenever you lift the Bowl from the
Base, be sure to lift it up before lifting
it out so that you do not inadvertently bend the electrical contacts on
the front of the Lamp Arm.) Set the Base and Lamp Hood aside. (Note:
Never submerse the Base/Control Panel in water.)
3) Remove the Grow Surface from the Bowl and place on a counter near the sink (be prepared for dripping water).
4) Empty the contents of the Bowl into the sink. (Note:
Don’t use this water on houseplants… the nutrient mixture may be too
concentrated for them).
5) Remove the Seed Pods and plants from the Grow Surface:
Pull the Seed Pods
out of the Grow Surface openings. You may need to cut away the roots
from the bottom of the seed pods in order to be able to remove them
from the Grow Surface. Throw away the Seed Pods and plant debris (plant
growth and roots). The Seed Pods cannot be reused (unless you are using
the Master Gardener Deluxe Kit, where you can sanitize the split-apart
baskets. The Grow Sponges cannot be reused). If you compost, the plant
debris can be composted.
6) Rinse and clean the Pump Stand and Pump Filter:
Use a soft scrub brush to clean tangled roots from the Pump Stand.
Remove the Pump Filter from the Pump Stand. Gently scrub the roots from
the Pump Filter. Holding it under running water is often a helpful way
to flush out debris.
Place the Pump Filter back into the Pump Stand.
7) Clean the Bowl and Grow Surface:
Use a soft cloth or sponge to thoroughly wipe the Bowl and Grow
Surface. A mild soap may be used if desired, but it is very important
to rinse it thoroughly before proceeding to the next step.
Sanitize the AeroGardenFill the Bowl ¾ full with water.
Add 1/4 cup of chlorine bleach.
Replace the Grow Surface on the Bowl, place the Bowl on the Base and
plug in the AeroGarden for 2 minutes. If you have an AeroGarden Classic
or Deluxe, select Salad Greens on the Control Panel. If you have the
AeroGarden Pro, set it on the Super Grow cycle (to do this, set it on
Strawberries, and then press and hold the Select button until the LED
light starts blinking, then release). On these settings the Pump is set
to run continuously, and this assures that the water is flowing.
Unplug the AeroGarden and empty the bleach water from the Bowl.
Refill the Bowl with tap water and replace on the Base.
Plug the AeroGarden back in and run with the clean water for another 2
minutes to flush the bleach water through the system.Repeat the rinse
cycle again to completely flush the bleach from the system. Towel dry
the Bowl and Grow Surface before putting them back together and setting
them back on the Base.
Your AeroGarden is now ready for replanting.
Last update: 18-11-2008 10:05
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