MyPot TUTORIALS. This manual will give you tips for using and maintaining the smart MyPot growing system.

Transcription

1 This manual will give you tips for using and maintaining the smart MyPot growing system. MyPot TUTORIALS User manual, maintenance and tips for MyPot growing systems. New Garden System MyPot - info@mypot.eu

2 Contents 1- GETTING STARTED WITH MyPot 1-1- How do you assemble your MyPot system and install the recirculation pump? 1-2- How do you plant in a MyPot system? 1-3- How do you prepare the nutrient solution and stabilise the ph with MyPot fertiliser kit? 1-4- Why do you have to stabilise the nutrient solution ph? 1-5- Recommended fertilisation dosage according to the plants grown 1-6- How do you expand the tank s capacity and gain watering autonomy? 1-7- How do you install the water level indicator in planting modules? 2- RECIRCULATION SYSTEMS 2-1- Why do you need to recirculate the nutrient solution to grow fruit and vegetables in a MyPot hydroponics system? 2-2- Maintaining a recirculation system 2-3- How do you wash the roots and decrease electroconductivity (EC)? 2-4- Why should you do washes of the roots? 2-5- What do you have to do after each harvest? 2-6- Problems with the recirculation pump? 3- SYSTEMS WITHOUT RECIRCULATION 3-1- Which type of plants can you grow? Indoor ornamental plants Outdoor ornamental plants Small-sized and aromatic vegetables 3-2- When do you have to feed your plants? 3-3- Tips for using designer pots and vertical gardens 4- THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT MyPot 4-1- MyPot is modular and can be converted 4-2- MyPot is BIO-constructive 4-3- Stratified and compact garden with MyPot 4-4- Practice aquaponics with MyPot. What is aquaponics? 4-5- Hydroponics and bioponics growing system (live hydroponics) 4-6- MyPot can be customised 5- GREAT INSTALLATIONS 5-1- MyPot for large professional installations 5-2- Great watering autonomy for your Family Garden with the Store Water kit

3 MyPot offers endless possibilities. The use and maintenance of the MyPot Growing System is very easy and intuitive. In this book we explain step by step how to use MyPot efficiently, from the first steps required for its settingup, its possibilities and maintenance. 1- GETTING STARTED WITH MyPot MyPot provides written and online (download the pdf tutorials) advice through video tutorials available on the YouTube CHANNEL MyPotGardening ( Once you are in you can select your language on the "playlists" and enjoy the following tutorial videos among others: 1.1 How to assemble your MyPot system? 1.2 How to plant your MyPot system? 1.3 How to prepare the nutrient solution and stabilise the ph with MyPot fertilizer kit? 1.4 How to install the viewer level in the planting module? 1.5 How to increase the capacity of your tank to gain autonomy with the "Store Water Kit"? 1.1. How do you assemble your MyPot system and install the recirculation pump? MyPot is modular. It consists of three basic modules (Planting module, Tank module and Separator module) that are combined together to create different growing kits. Recirculation Systems 1

4 Video-tutorial link: How to install a recirculation pump =10 2

5 SYSTEMS WITHOUT RECIRCULATION Install the water level indicator (see section 1.7): 3

6 1.2. How do you plant in your MyPot system? Video-tutorial link: How to plant How do you prepare the nutrient solution and stabilise the ph with MyPot fertilizer kit? Calculate the initial amount of nutrient solution you will need according to the Growing Kit: 4

7 Prepare the nutrient solution Video-tutorial link: How to water Why do you have to stabilise the nutrient solution ph? The ph influences the biological process of all living beings. Its balance is very important to prevent the onset of diseases and for living organisms to work properly. The ph has a scale ranging from 0 to 14, where 0 is an extremely acidic ph, and 14 very basic (or alkaline), ph 7 is ph neutral. Most plants have evolved to develop roots in a ph ranging between 5 and 7, although there are acidophilic or basophilic plants that prefer a slightly acidic ph (ph <7) or alkaline ph (ph> 7). Most horticultural and ornamental plants need an optimum ph value, which is approximately 5.5, to provide nutrients properly. 5

8 In hydroponic systems, plants rely on the ph of the nutrient solution they have available in their roots, which is why it is very important to adjust the optimal ph ranges of the growing medium for plant nutrition (see table of nutrient availability in relation to the ph). Stabilising the ph in other systems can become a difficult task and a limiting factor for the success of the culture. These illustrations show the availability of nutrients for plants relying on the ph of the nutrient solution. The thickness of the bar indicates higher nutrient availability, and as it becomes thinner, it indicates lower availability. It can be seen that nutrients vary their availability depending on the ph they have. The MyPot CHROMATIC ph STABILISER (ph down) solves the problem of stabilising the ph easily. Our stabiliser, which is included in the MyPot fertilisation kits, or which can be purchased separately from our online shop, changes the colour of the nutrient solution to BRIGHT ORANGE when the ph is stabilised in the range With our stabiliser you will not need any ph meters to determine the optimal ph, but if you do have a meter, we recommend using it. Once the nutrient solution is prepared with the stabilised ph, you will only have to place it in the MyPot tank module in your urban garden (growing table, vertical gardens or vertical orchard) and recirculate the water with the fertiliser manually or automatically. As it is a closed system, the ph is not destabilised. You can also use this irrigation water in other hydroponics systems or in cultures on land (soil or pot). In water with average hardness, you need to use approximately 1 ml / L of stabiliser to balance the ph. If you use more than necessary and the water turns fuchsia, add more water until it becomes Bright Orange Recommended fertilisation dosage according to the plants grown To help prepare the nutrient solution correctly we have created a video that is available on our YouTube channel "How do you water your MyPot? We recommend that you watch it to prepare the nutrient solution correctly. You can also see how to prepare the nutrient solution in section 1.3. in this tutorial. To understand the perfect functioning of the system we recommend you see section 2 of the tutorials, where the peculiarities of the MyPot recirculating systems are explained. Video-tutorial link: How to water 6

9 - HORTICULTURAL PLANTS: Solanaceae (tomatoes, aubergines, peppers...), cucurbits (zucchini, cucumbers, pumpkins...), Brassicaceae (Broccoli, Florets, Cabbage...), Fabaceae (Beans, Peas...), Green leafy (Lettuce, spinach, celery...)... Horticultural plants produce fruits and have high nutritional needs to produce good harvests. Because of this peculiarity they require a higher dose of fertiliser than other plants and periodic recycles (automatic or manual) in order to always have optimal conditions as to moisture, nutrients and oxygen in the roots. HORTICULTURAL Fertilising Universal A Universal B PH colour stabiliser Dose of fertiliser 5 ml/l 5 ml/l Approx. 1 ml / L or until reaching BRIGHT ORANGE - ORNAMENTAL PLANTS, flowering plants (roses, geraniums, carnations...) or evergreen (ferns, fruit salad plant, pothos...) As Ornamental plants do not produce fruits, they need a smaller amount of fertiliser. You can grow them in systems with or without automatic recirculation, since due to their low demands, our system, which acts as a self-watering pot, keeps them in optimal condition in terms of moisture, nutrients and oxygen. The recommended dosage of fertiliser is specified in the chart, but you can alternate irrigation and nutrient solution and/or running water only according to the needs of your plants. ORNAMENTAL Fertilising Universal A Universal B PH colour stabiliser Dose of fertiliser 1 ml/l 1 ml/l Approx. 1 ml / L or until reaching BRIGHT ORANGE - MEDICAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS (chamomile, marigold, cannabis...) Medicinal and aromatic plants concentrate the aromas and healing substances in their flowers and resins. Because of this they have a special fertilisation treatment. For this type of plants, it is necessary to differentiate the phases of growth and flowering when preparing the fertiliser. Growth dosages are applied during first and second week, which can be lengthened or shortened depending on the culture conditions. In the final phase, Universal A can be suppressed and you can add a fertiliser that is rich in phosphorus and potassium (PK) to enhance the size of the flowers and the amount of resin. A few days before harvesting your medicinal plant, we advise you not to add any product to the irrigation water and leave running water recirculating until the time comes to cut the plants for consumption. In automatic culture we recommend placing 4 medicinal plants on the sides of the planting modules with canes so that they occupy the entire system, in culture systems with manual recirculation up to 8 plants can be placed, the 4 external plants with canes and the 4 indoor plants without canes. 7

10 Fertiliser dosage Growth Phase Fertiliser dosage Flowering Phase Fertiliser dosage Completion (from the 3rd - 4th week of flowering) Universal A 3.2 ml/l 2.8 ml/l 0 ml/l 0 ml/l Fertilising MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS 1 week before harvest Universal B 2 ml/l 4 ml/l 4 ml/l 0 ml/l PH colour stabiliser Approx. 1 ml / L or until reaching Approx. 1 ml / L or until reaching Approx. 1 ml / L or until reaching 0 ml/l BRIGHT ORANGE BRIGHT ORANGE BRIGHT ORANGE PK fertiliser 0 ml/l 0 ml/l Recommended dosage for Hydroponics 0 ml/l 1.6. How do you expand the tank s capacity and gain watering autonomy? Gaining watering autonomy and being able to go away from home for a few days without having to worry about watering the garden is possible with the MyPot culture system. The "Store Water Kit has been designed to gain watering autonomy in automatic culture systems (with recirculation). This kit has a level buoy with connections, which is easy to install, and connects the MyPot tank module to a larger reservoir or tank where the nutrient solution required can be prepared for the plants directly. The "Store Water Kit has everything you need to connect a tank module to a central tank, but if you need to connect more culture systems you will need to purchase a MyPot "Water" kit for each MyPot tank module that you need connecting. The water kit includes a buoy level for the tank module and necessary connections, but it does not include a filter or connections to the central tank. Video-tutorial link: How to install the Store Water Kit 3T 8

11 1.7. How do you install the water level indicator in planting modules? The level indicator will show the amount of nutrient solution existing inside the planting module, and this indicator will enable you to see if it is necessary to water your growing system manually. There is no need to install it on systems with automatic recirculation since the internal tank of the planting module will remain full whenever a recirculating nutrient solution occurs. Installation is very easy, place the rod into the hole in the water level indicator in the dosing tray. Once inserted, enter the float of the level indicator inside the inner tube in the drainage grid and fit the dosing tray into the MyPot planting module. Finally, place the transparent cap fitted into the hole of the level indicator of the dosing tray. Video-tutorial link: How to install the Water Level Indicator =8 9

12 2- RECIRCULATION SYSTEMS 2.1. Why do you need to recirculate the nutrient solution to grow fruit and vegetables in a MyPot hydroponics system? Fruit and vegetables are plants that have a marked root and foliage development. They produce large amounts of fruit (which are removed for consumption) throughout their life cycle, which is short and intense. Because they develop a large leaf mass, which is heated by the sun, they suffer a very intense evapotranspiration (foliage evaporation), so they dehydrate quickly in the event of lack of water. These features turn them into very demanding plants in water and nutrients and they become quickly stressed when these resources are lacking. Automatic recirculation Manual recirculation MyPot has designed a compact flowerpot (planting module) with advanced technology inside, which although it has a watertight compartment and uses water to 99%*, it needs periodic recirculation of water and nutrients (manual or automatic) for growing up to 8 horticultural plants. Each MyPot planting module, regardless of being used in an automatic or manual vertical garden-orchard or growing table, it includes an internal reservoir tank for 4 litres of water after each watering cycle, and although it is generally a sufficient amount of nutrient solution, in very warm periods, 4L may be insufficient to prevent them from suffering any water stress. Recirculation ensures that the evaporated liquid in plants is replaced automatically, that roots are oxygenated, that the planting module is cooled in warm periods and also that nutrients are renewed. This way, plants will continuously be in optimal condition for their development. You should also know that: - Automatic Growing Tables and Automatic Vertical Gardens are bioponics culture systems (live hydroponics) that can be grown with perlite or a 50-50% mixture of perlite and peat. - The MyPot modules of our vertical gardens are purchased with Bio-perlite substrate, which in combination with the MyPot nutrient solution provides your plants with the perfect growing conditions (moisture, oxygen, nutrients, temperature...). - With bioponics or hydroponics, the watering nutrient solution must have a stable ph between 5.4 and 6.8 for plants to make a proper absorption of nutrients. - With the MyPot Kit the ph stabilises easily while the nutrient solution is prepared, without using any electronic device. * MyPot is watertight and prevents water from evaporating and nutrients from volatising due to the sun, wind or other climatic factors. 10

13 2.2. Maintaining a recirculation system FIRST MONTH: 1- Keep the tray clean, making sure that the holes are not clogged with dirt. 2- Prevent your plants from suffering water stress by replacing the nutrient solution in the tank module whenever necessary. 11

14 3- Check regularly that the pump works properly, to do this switch the timer to manual mode and check that the water reaches your growing table. ONE MONTH AFTER PLANTING: After the first month it is advisable to continue with basic maintenance and to wash the roots of the culture system periodically. The purpose of washing the roots is to decrease the concentration of mineral salts (EC = electroconductivity) in the system, because over time the system is salinated due to the accumulation of nutrients that plants are unable to absorb. Root-washing periodicity will depend on the amount of water lost by evapotranspiration through the plant leaves, which varies depending on the weather or types of plants grown. Thus, there are plants that tolerate higher salinity levels than others, and there are warm periods of the year when salts are more concentrated than in cold periods. In general, if you do not have an EC meter we recommend doing washings every 7-15 days after the first month. There are two alternatives to reduce EC: a) Performing a washing of roots with 30L of water (approx.) per MyPot planting module. b) Placing only water in the tank module to allow plants to absorb the nutrients that are still present How do you wash the roots and decrease electroconductivity (EC)? The New Garden System recommends periodic washing to optimise the culture system. However there is another alternative to reduce salt concentration in the hydroponic system. This involves adding only water in the hydroponic system s tank during one watering cycle and thus allowing the plants to have time to absorb the accumulated nutrients. When the added water runs out, prepare and add another normal nutrient solution. However, even it you chose this latter option to decrease EC, over time root washings will be required to remove the salts that plants do not really need and that inevitably accumulate. To prevent wasting of the fertiliser, when performing root washing it is advisable to wait for the deposit module of your growing system with recirculation (growing table, vertical garden...) to be empty and in need of being filled. In MyPot growing systems without recirculation (vertical garden, designer pots...) it is also recommended to perform root washings regularly, and water will be drained from the bottom of the culture system. 12

15 Steps to follow for root washings in automatic recirculation systems: 1) Place a continuous flow of running water at the top of your MyPot growing system (growing table, vertical garden...). You can use a conventional watering hose which will be placed above the metering system dosage tray. If you do not have a hose you can add it manually gradually (approx. 30L per planting module). Then you must open the hose s water flow and regulate it so that the flow is approximately the same as that of the microtube that is connected to the recirculation pump. After opening the running water flow, connect the timer in manual mode for the pump to eject the water that has circulated through the planting module. 2) Take the microtube to a container in order to take advantage of this water, which is rich in salts, and take the opportunity to fertilise other plants you have inside the house or in the garden. It takes approximately 30L of running water per planting module to complete the washing of roots. So you will need 30L to wash the roots in a Growing table and 60L in a HidroTower vertical garden. You can place running water (30L approx.) in the system manually with a watering can if you do not have a hose. 3) When you finish doing the washing, you should leave the module tank empty to add the MyPot nutrient solution with the appropriate dosage of fertiliser (see dosage by type of culture) and the ph stabilised. Connect the timer on automatic mode. 13

16 Steps to follow for washing the roots in systems WITHOUT automatic recirculation: Systems without automatic recirculation (vertical gardens, designer pots...) generally have a lower dosage of fertilisers, although over time they will also need to do root washings to prevent salinization of the substrate. In the same way that it occurs in recirculating systems, gradually add 30L of running water per MyPot planting module and make use of this nutrient-rich water for watering other plants. Video-tutorial link: How to do a root wash VP0HoM4&index=5&list=PLY8oPzfDiNTCGLdBRmBlP2w9A5h8BT83T 2.4. Why should you do washes of the roots? As briefly explained in previous sections, mineral salts accumulate in crop substrate over time. Hydroponics cultures, whether practised with traditional hydroponics or bioponics, are no exception to this rule. Thus, minerals that plants have failed to absorb because they have too much of, or because they do not need them, can cause the problem of dehydrating vegetables, causing them to shrivel, even with the presence of water. There are several ranges of salinity tolerance in plants, although all are affected in their performance when certain limits are exceeded. Electroconductivity (EC) is measured in ms/cm (microsiemens per centimetre), which determines the concentration of salt existing in a liquid medium. To set an example for those who find this concept to be new, pure water has EC = 0 ms/cm and seawater can reach 60,000 ms/cm. Generically, values between ms/cm are considered free salts soils, between ms/cm low salt, between ms/cm moderately saline and over ms/cm saline or highly saline. Most plants will be in good condition to values of ms/cm. When these values are exceeded sensitive plants begin to suffer stress, and when they exceed 4,000 ms cm the performance o all plants is affected by salinity. Very sensitive plants such as strawberries require a salinity below 2000 ms/cm, whilst vegetables such as tomatoes may reach concentrations of ms/cm without this having a serious effect on their production. Our MyPot fertilisation kit comprises a great Universal fertiliser that nourishes plants providing them evenly with all the micronutrients and trace elements they need. This fertiliser is suitable for growing any type of plant, the only thing needed is to change the dosage of fertiliser used. However not all plants require the same type and amount of nutrients, so the root area gradually accumulates the amounts that have failed to be assimilated. At the same time, the water used to prepare the nutrient solution may contain a salt concentration that can be up to 1 ms/cm depending on its hardness. 14

17 There are electroconductivity meters that allow to know the exact amount of dissolved salts in a system, these are conductivity meters. If you have one, you should make sure you wash the roots when EC values are, generally, around 3000 ms/cm. If you do not have this appliance, washings should be performed regularly preventively at intervals of between 7-20 days depending on the type of plants cultivated and on the temperature. When performing washings and recirculating water with lower salt concentrations, the salts concentrated in the system are diluted and discharged with the clean water, which can be used for watering other garden plants. Thus, the perlite substrate or soil that has been used to grow in the MyPot hydroponic system restores the initial concentration of salts, the plants are free of stress and consequently its production is reduced What do you have to do after each harvest? Horticultural plants generally have a short life cycle, ranging from one month for lettuce, up to 6 months for tomatoes or aubergines. MyPot growing systems planted with low root development vegetables such as lettuce can give several harvests without changing the perlite or emptying the pot (planting module), so when the plant is ready to harvest, it is uprooted and another plant fills the gap that was left. On the other hand, there are plants with strong root development such as broccoli, tomatoes... which fill the planting module with roots that must be removed before planting the new one. Thus, once the plant has completed its life cycle, you will prepare the MyPot planting module for the next harvest. Generally, the following steps must me followed: 1. Remove the wilted plant debris (stems and leaves) from the plants and remove the dosage tray from the planting module in the Growing Table or Vertical Garden or Orchard. 2. Empty all the perlite from inside the module, which will be full of roots

18 Perlite is a substrate that can be recycled, even if a portion of the perlite is colonised with roots, it can be mixed with soil from pots of from ground crops to improve its physical properties. Perlite in good condition can be used again in the culture system, although it will be necessary to replenish the amount of discarded perlite. 3. Along with perlite, anti-root filters must also be removed from the hydroponics growing system. These filters can be reused if they have not been seriously deteriorated by the plant s roots. If they are not suitable for use, you can buy anti-root filter spare parts on our online shop, along with the perlite and accessories you need Remove the "Drainage grid" to clean inside the MyPot planting module by removing the remaining roots that have grown. 5. Once the parts are clean, replace the drainage grid inside the MyPot planting module. 6. Place the anti-root filters on the drainage grid to prevent the perlite from entering into the internal tank when filling the MyPot planting module with perlite Finally place a paper or plastic on the draining grid tube and refill the planting module with MyPot bio-perlite to the indicated level, remove the paper or plastic once the module is full of perlite. 8. Clean the MyPot tank module and the recirculation pump to complete the process. 16

19 9. After completing this step, fit the planting module back into the tank module guiding the microtube through the internal ducts so as to not interrupt the flow of nutrient solution After these steps, the MyPot hydroponics growing system is ready for new planting. Video-tutorial link: How to replant your MyPot Problems with the recirculation pump? 1. Rule out the possibility that the problem is not the automatic timer. To do so, connect the pump directly to the power supply to check. 2. Check that the microtube in the pump (where the nutrient solution of the planting module tank circulates) is not bent inside the growing system. To check, disengage the planting module from the tank module on your growing table or automatic vertical garden. Check that the microtube has been conducted correctly through the system s internal ducts and that the cylindrical part that guides the microtube is positioned properly. Fit the growing table again and check if the pump is working properly. 17

20 3. Check that the microtube in the pump is not jammed; to do so, you just have to blow into the microtube (with the pump being turned off) and check that air bubbles are coming out of the pump to ensure it is not obstructed. 4. Remember that each of our automatic growing systems (Growing table, Vertical Garden...) includes a specific recirculation pump which raises water to a height that is appropriate to its design. In the event of extending the system vertically by adding more MyPot planting modules, you must replace the recirculation pump with another one adapted to the pumping height required. Our online shop has different pump models available to suit the desired pumping height; gardens with heights above 2m can be set up. 5. Some pump models come with a flow regulator. Check that it is placed in the maximum flow position. 6. Make sure the pump adapter is well placed with the microtube, compressed in the recirculation pump hole to avoid losing water. 18

21 3- SYSTEMS WITHOUT RECIRCULATION 3.1. What kind of plants can be grown? Indoor ornamental plants Indoor temperature is more stable than outdoors, so plants consume a smaller amount of nutrient solution. The MyPot planting module alone can be considered an efficient self-watering pot, which stores 4 litres of water in the inner tank. The stored water with nutrients is made available to plants gradually by capillarity (perlite absorbs the water in the reservoir tank by capillarity), this coupled with a stable temperature makes it possible for the plant roots to be kept moist for several weeks, not needing to be watered in this time interval. Plants grown inside the home or office should be selected according to their need for light and temperature, these are the only factors that you will not be able to control with our designer pots, and that you will need to provide to ensure success. Some of the plants that can be grown indoors are ivies, ferns, pothos, bamboo, asparagus... Inside the home we recommend leaving the tank cap on to prevent any spillage on the floor. If water were to accumulate in the tank, you can easily empty it by removing the MyPot planting module and removing the accumulated water Outdoor ornamental plants Outdoor ornamental plants such as roses, geraniums and azaleas, more easily withstand temperature variations and grow faster in warm periods. Thus they have different water needs. The MyPot self-watering designer pots (planting modules) have a 4L watertight water-reservoir, with only planting holes for placing the plants. This feature creates a humidity chamber inside the pot that keeps plants hydrated for a longer period than other pots available on the market. In addition, our designer pots include a level indicator that indicates the amount of water in the reservoir tank, warning you that the plants should be watered. 19

22 If placed in a garden or terrace with drip irrigation system, you can automate your watering system by placing a dropper in the top part of the planting module of your MyPot designer pot or vertical garden, so that water is added periodically and automatically. In MyPot manual culture compositions including the tank (TowerPot, MiniTower...), it is necessary to remove the tank module cap when growing outdoors, to prevent rainwater or excess irrigation water from accumulating in the system. 20

23 Small-sized and aromatic vegetables Horticultural plants need more water and nutrients for growing (see section 2.1.); in automatic recirculation systems these demands are met with each recirculation cycle. However it is also possible to grow vegetables or aromatic plants in systems without automatic recirculation, for which periodic manual recirculation shall be made. Manual recirculation, like automatic, provides water and nutrients to the roots, providing them with oxygen and with the right growing conditions they need: the greater the number of recirculation cycles you do to your system, the better the plants will grow. We recommend doing at least one a day, increasing the frequency in warm periods or when the vegetables are very large. The water level indicator that is included in the top tray of the module will indicate the amount of water remaining inside the system, warning about irrigation needs. We have kits that do not include recirculation pumps which are suitable for vegetables, flowers or aromatic plants. With these we recommend mixing the perlite substrate with an organic substrate such as peat or humus 50-50%. In the inner base of the planting module you must leave a 2cm layer (approx.) of perlite, which will fill the absorption strips in the drainage grid* existing inside the MyPot planting module, and then put the remaining substrate with the humus-perlite mix. This will help avoiding capillarity problems and it will prevent drainage problems. Vegetables or aromatic plants will grow healthy and balanced in a small space, creating a mini garden that is suitable for any place. For proper plant nutrition we always recommend our MyPot fertilisation kit in order for your plants not to lack any nutrients. You can grow up to 8 edible plants per module (tomato, pepper, parsley, stevia, cucumber, broccoli, rosemary, thyme...) without electric power for recirculation of the nutrient solution. Optionally you can install these systems in your garden and place a drip on the top part for programming watering with the rest of the plants. * Drainage grid strip 21

24 3.2. When do you have to feed your plants? Regardless of the substrate in your MyPot, we recommend continuous fertilisation in horticultural and/or medicinal plants, and regular fertilisations in ornamental plants, so they do not suffer nutritional deficiencies and so that you have splendid crops with a great appearance. In general, fertilise your floralornamental garden once a month (or each lunar cycle) and the plants will have an appropriate amount of nutrients. Watering or ornamental plants in between fertilisation can be done with water only, but this may vary depending on plant needs. For horticultural or medicinal plants, always use the recommended dose of fertiliser. If you want to ensure that all the nutritional needs of your ornamental plants are covered use the MyPot fertilisation kit, which incorporates all the nutrients and trace elements that plants need and also regulates the ph of the nutrient solution easily. You need to make root washings regularly (sections 2.3 and 2.4) for proper system operation. You can buy this on our online shop along with other add-ons you need Tips for using designer pots and vertical gardens - To cultivate ornamental plants, aromatic plants or small-sized vegetables you can choose our designer pots or vertical gardens (vertical systems with more than one MyPot planting module) which may include the tank module or not. The internal operation is the same, they do not have recirculation, the tank module is elegant and stable for out pots to grow vertically safely. - The inside of each MyPot planting module works as a self-watering pot which stores 4L of water inside after each irrigation. The intervals between irrigations increase requiring minimal maintenance. - The MyPot designer pots or vertical gardens include a water level indicator, which indicates the amount of water that is inside the pot. This feature alerts the user of the need for irrigation. - Some MyPot systems do not include the MyPot fertilising kit. However, we strongly recommend using this fertiliser when watering, so your plants will grow without deficiencies and very balanced. - The MyPot growing system is modular and grows vertically, so you can expand it at any time by multiplying the number of plants grown without increasing the growing area, which will use less than 1m 2. - Systems without recirculation are convertible; you can turn your designer pot or vertical garden into a growing table or orchard at any time by easily installing a recirculation pump. 22

25 4- THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT MyPot 4.1. MyPot is modular and can be converted The MyPot modular growing system is very versatile. With its modules you can adapt your orchard or garden to your needs. Our modules fit together so for example you can expand your automatic growing table to a vertical garden by adding more MyPot planting modules and placing a suitable recirculation pump to the desired height. Systems without recirculation have no need for a pump, and they can easily create floral columns of several meters high. Any growing kit without recirculation (designer pots, vertical gardens...) can easily be turned into a recirculation system (automatic growing table, urban gardens...) by adding more MyPot modules and a recirculation pump. Also the other way around, automatic recirculation systems may be used as manual recirculation systems simply by turning the pump off. Video link: MyPot is modular 7Cj Other supplements may also be added to the growing systems, such as wheels for easy movement, levelling legs to improve stability on inclined surfaces and/or a canes kit to guide the growth of plants. You can purchase any desired module or complement on our online shop. Video-tutorial link: How to install the wheels kit 83T 23

26 4.2. MyPot is BIO-constructive MyPot modules are very resistant and fit together allowing the vertical growth of the system as a column. These columns are highly resistant and allow you to create multifunctional bio-structures. With MyPot it is possible to build (bio)pergolas and/or (bio)gazebos easily. This solid structure will provide a support for creating an intimate and shaded environment where you will be able to grow flowers or vegetables in its columns at the same time. With MyPot it is possible to create an integrated and functional architectural environment. For more information about bioconstruction possibilities with MyPot watch the video entitled "How to build a gazebo with MyPot " on our YouTube channel or ask us about it on info@mypot.eu. Video-tutorial link: How to build a Bio-Gazebo Stratified and compact garden with MyPot MyPot stimulates your creativity and helps you optimise space in your garden. MyPot urban gardens can be planted with the same kinds of vegetables or greens if you wish, but we recommend you have a high agricultural biodiversity, for several reasons. One is that the MyPot system allows growing up to 8 different plants per MyPot planting module, and this can be used for having a diverse garden that will provide much of the food you eat. Vegetables can be categorised into 4 groups: 1) Climbers, 2) Shrubs, 3) Creepers, 4) Small-sized. The first group includes plants such as tomatoes or beans; the second, peppers or aubergines; the third, cucumbers or pumpkins, and the fourth plants like lettuce or parsley. By combining these plants, which have different features, you will have a stratified vertical orchard. We recommend placing climbers at the top of the planting module, which will be guided with the help of MyPot canes so that their branches can climb safely. Shrubs should be placed on the sides, so they can grow horizontally on the side planting holes of the planting modules, which should 24

27 also be guided with MyPot canes. Creepers should be placed in the system s lowest module (in the event of having more than one planting module) on the side or central holes to allow the stems to reach the ground; and small-sized plants can be combined in any place that is left available, as they will be "stuck" to the MyPot growing system. Always consider interspersing small-sized plants with larger plants so that they can all grow conveniently. By planting this way, you achieve optimising sunlight by producing a variety of food in less than 1m Practice aquaponics with MyPot. What is aquaponics? Aquaponics growing systems integrate growing vegetables with fish farming, which is a type of organic farming where the waste produced by fish is used as nutrients for plants growing with hydroponics. Plant roots act as a biological filter and purify the water that returns clean and oxygenated to the fish farming tanks. Thus, fish waste, whose accumulation can become a problem and cause toxicity to aquatic animals themselves, meet the organic fertiliser function, as they are very rich in nitrogen. Aquaponics systems have several components including a breeding fish tank and a vegetable planting system. The MyPot planting module acts as filter where plants are grown; this removes coarse particles and dissolved plant roots. This will prevent the pond water from turning green with algae while 100% healthy vegetables are grown. It can also be installed immediately in any pond or small lake. The most appropriate vegetables for aquaponics systems are green-leafed vegetables such as chard, spinach or lettuce, vegetables such as beans, fruits such as strawberries and a wide range of aromatic plants. Fish can be either for human consumption or for ornamental purposes. The main advantages of aquaponics include the integrated and sustainable production of fish and vegetables, water is saved due to its reuse, a reduction in the environmental impact, it is very suitable for places where there is water shortage or fertile land available, water excreta are removed being filtered by the plant roots and thus water in tanks is cleaned naturally. 25

28 4.5. Hydroponics and bioponics culture system (live hydroponics) The MyPot growing system offers great versatility when it comes to growing, there are several modalities such as traditional hydroponics or bioponics. The growing system is the same, but it can be grown with several combinations of substrates. HYDROPONIC CULTURE Among the existing growing systems, hydroponic systems are the best and most efficient due to the intense control of plant growth conditions. With hydroponics, plants grow faster and more balanced than with any other growing system. If you choose to cultivate with this system, you will grow like professional farmers, with perlite substrate activated with micro-organisms that acts as a natural fortifier and improves plant nutrition. This is a very clean system as it uses no soil, and it is ready for planting. BIOPONIC CULTURE or for use with SOIL Bioponics (or live hydroponics) is a growing technique that integrates growing with soil (peat, humus...) in a hydroponics system. The system developed by MyPot allows cultivating mixing 50% of perlite substrate with 50% of soil (peat, humus...). Organic soil mixed with perlite contains a small amount of nutrients, which will initially be sufficient for plant nutrition during the first weeks. This system also includes micro-organisms, but we recommend fertilising with MyPot fertiliser to prevent plants from lacking any nutrients MyPot can be customised The white colour of the modules offers an attractive design that blends with any environment, while being covered with the exuberance of the plants cultivated in it, creating a beautiful contrast that will turn vegetation into the protagonist of the growing system. However, in order to continue offering versatility and possibilities to MyPot users, we have developed customizable bands, which fit the modules perfectly, with which it will be possible to customize the system with several available styles. Video-tutorial link: How to install decorative bands 26

29 5- GREAT INSTALLATIONS 5.1. MyPot for large professional installations The MyPot growing system is a great solution for farming areas with a limited surface area. Our system grows vertically, literally multiplying the surface area with each added module. For example one hectare of greenhouse becomes two hectares by placing two MyPot planting modules, saving space, time and resources. The MyPot hydroponics systems can be connected in series to a central repository, so that water is recirculated from the central repository for the entire growing system with a single recirculation pump Great watering autonomy for your Family Farm with the Store Water kit Having a family orchard in an urban environment is now very easy. With the Store Water Kit you can stop worrying about watering your urban garden for long periods of time, because it is designed to connect multiple MyPot hydroponics systems recirculating together. It keeps all tank modules connected and filled with nutrient solution at all times. The only thing you have to make sure is that the central repository does not run out of nutrient solution. The Water Store kit is composed of a float valve, which is installed in tank modules, and cuts off the flow when they are full. So you can go away for a few days without having to worry about watering your garden during your holidays. This system has been designed for any family to achieve food sovereignty through MyPot urban vertical gardens. Video-tutorial link: How to install the Store Water kit 27