Hydroponics

Professor Struan Sutherland is the man who developed the antivenene for the funnel web spider bite and also antivenenes for many of the key Australian snakes. He has recently written his autobiography and has a lush garden based on hydroponics. Sadly he is now suffering from Parkinson's disease which weakens his muscles and makes speaking and swallowing difficult. However Struan has turned the difficulties into a positive, enjoying the later years of his life writing and gardening. He claims that his garden of herbs and flower baskets could not exist without the new hydroponic system that has been installed which incorporates the smart-valve.

Smart-valve

Smart-valve is a mechanical device which has been developed over the last 20 years by Jim Fah. The smart-valve is at the heart of a new hydroponics system, which is one of the biggest horticultural developments in the last 30 years. The smart-valve waters the plant, then allows it to dry a little thereby avoiding root rot. When the reservoir is empty, the smart-valve opens and meters in sufficient water for replenishment. The smart-valve works without electricity or battery and is connected to a water source (water chamber within a pot, tap or external reservoir) via 4mm tubing. It responds to the plants requirements so in warm weather the smart-valve will re-supply water to the plants more often.

The twin-wall planter uses the smart-valve and it will look after your plants almost automatically. It is a free standing self-watering pot which has a double skin forming a chamber where the water is stored. The chamber stores enough water to keep the plants alive for as long as four weeks so you could go away on holiday and the plants would be looked after perfectly while you're away. These planters are comparable in size and appearance to other plastic or terracotta pots. A large oblong twin-wall planter now costs $180. Twin-wall pots 60cm (2') diameter cost $150 and 40cm (16") diameter cost $95.

The other system is an Auto-pot hanging basket that works on reduced tap pressure and gravity and then waters according to the plant's demand in any weather conditions. It is efficient in water usage and there is no waste from run off, no wet floors from hanging baskets or window boxes and so is also suitable for indoor use. Once set up the system will look after the plants for months which makes it ideal for long holiday periods. The Auto-pot hanging basket comes in one size 25cm (10") which costs $35 and the 4mm poly tube costs $8 for 10m. A pressure reduction valve for the tap costs $75 and will handle up to 100 pots to a height of 8m (20'). The advantage of gardening hydroponically with the smart valve is that it waters the plants perfectly, a skill which is difficult to master manually.

Hydroponic pumping system

For commercial operations or for hobbyists with huge plant collections, there is a pressure switch pumping system which can water and fertilise up to 2000 pots perfectly. The system consists of a reservoir for the water, concentrated liquid fertilisers and a pump which automatically pumps the nutrient solution to the plants at reduced pressures. Each pot has a smart-valve in its base which connects directly to the general supply from the reservoir. Whenever an individual pot is thirsty nutrient solution is pumped from the reservoir. The complete pressure switch pump kit for liquid feeding costs $475. Pots with the smart-valve are extra. So whatever set up of pots you have the smart-valve and pump can maintain them perfectly.

Capillary watering system

There is also a capillary watering system which consists of a capillary tray module with a ribbed base and built in smart-valve and capillary matting. The smart-valve controls the flooding of the gullies in the tray and the capillary mat draws up the water from the gullies, like a wick. The tray can be connected by poly tube to a gravity tank, pressure reduction valve on a garden tap or a pump. CapPlus trays including Smart-valve, matting and 5L water container costs $225. This system is particularly suited to leafy vegetables, herbs and plants that don't like overhead watering. It is water efficient, minimises root diseases, saves fertilisers and is easy to install.

Further information

The smart-valve hydroponic pots and systems are available nationally from GardenSmart (CapPlus), Shop 28, Gardenworld (where our segment was filmed), 810 Springvale Road, Keysborough, VIC, 3173. Phone: (03) 9701 8811 or fax: (03) 9701 8822. Email: autopot@bigpond.com (Mail order available).

NSW Hydroshop Corporation Pty Ltd, displays at Unit 2/585 Maitland Road, Mayfield West, 2304. For more information contact Danny on (02) 4960 0707. Website: www.hydroshop.com.au or email: excellence@hydroshop.com.au Swane's Nursery, 490 Galston Road, Dural, 2158. Phone: (02) 9651 1322, Fax: (02) 9651 2146. Tim's Nursery, Irrigation section, Mt. Annan Road, Mt. Annan, NSW, 2567. Phone: (02) 4647 1122.

NT Katherine Hydroponics, 17 Rundle Street, Katherine, 0850. Contact Ross Grigg on (08) 8972 2600.

QLD East Coast Hydroponics, Shop 11, 105 Old Cleveland Road, Capalaba, 4157. Phone: (07) 3245 7777. A Happy Medium Hydroponics, Unit 2/10 Central Court, Browns Plains, 4118. Phone: (07) 3809 3322 or fax: (07) 3809 3377. Hydroponics Today, PO Box 785, Stanthorpe, 4380. Phone/fax: (07) 4683 3133.

SA GardenSmart (CapPlus) - see details above Hygrow Distributors, Unit 16, 60-66 Richmond Road, Keswick, SA, 5036. Phone: (08) 8293 8433.

TAS Garden World, 322 Bass Highway, Sulphur Creek, 7316. Phone: (03) 6435 4411 or fax: (03) 6435 4153.

VIC GardenSmart (CapPlus) - see details above Elmac Hydroponics, Princes Highway, Allansford, 3277. Phone: (03) 5565 1601 or fax: (03) 5565 1606.

WA Hydroponic World, Unit 3/459 Scarborough Road, Osborne Park, 6017. Phone: (08) 9443 7993 or fax: (08) 9443 7994. Growth Technology, 1/5 Stockdale Road, O'Connor, 6163. Phone/fax: (08) 9331 3186. Great Southern Hydroponics, Shop 1, Old Mill Centre, 21 Hennessey Road, Bunbury, 6230. Phone: (08) 9721 8322 or 1800 256 888.

Further reading

Struan Sutherland has written a book on hydroponics, Hydroponics for Everyone, 1996. (ISBN 18 7 5657398, rrp. $29.95). Also his autobiography, A Venomous Life, rrp. $29.95 and is available after 16th November 1998. Both books are available from all good bookstores or directly from the publisher, Hyland House Publishing, 387 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne, VIC, 3205. Phone: (03) 9696 9064, fax: (03) 9696 9065. Email: hyland@peg.apc.org

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