Grand Canyon School Week 1

Spirit of the Canyon is working with the Grand Canyon Unified School District to introduce students to Hydroponics Gardening as part of their Science Classes.

Our first day was with Mrs. Alvares’s 7th and 8th grade students, and it was a fun day for everyone. The students were first shown the Mobile Hydroponic Trailer that contains several different kinds of Hydroponic Systems.

Next they watched a Power Point Presentation that explained they history of Hydroponics, and examples of the many different ways that Hydroponics can be used in homes, communities, schools, cities and even in Space!

The fun really started when they began to start their first Hydroponic Plants.

  • Mobile Hydroponic Trailer
  • Mobile Hydroponic Trailer
  • 8th Grade Team Day 1
  • 7th Graders with Mrs. Alvarez
  • Students put coconut coir on top of the container.
  • Students place seeds over the coir
  • Students place seeds over the coir
  • 7th Grade Team
  • Seedlings on Day 5
  • Day 6 after planting

Coco Coir

Coco Coir is an organic compound, used in soil and soilless growing. It is made from fibrous threads that are located between the outer husk of a coconut and the coconut itself. Benefits include:

  • PH Neutral
  • High Water holding properties
  • More aerated than other options like peat
  • High Yields and Quick Harvest

Clay Pebbles

Clay Pebbles are made from clay, and the process to create them involves high temperatures that causes them to  expand and become porous from within. Benefits include:

  • Retaining Moisture by absorbing water and storing it inside for plants to take in as per their needs, along with nutrients present in the water.
  • Increases aeration by capturing air, storing it inside, and releasing as the plants need it. 
  • Prevents roots from being damaged from excess water, by storing the water and releasing as the plants need it. 
  • Environmentally Friendly, made from clay, minerals and natural components.
  • Can be rinsed and reused multiple times.

Rockwool Cubes

Rockwool Cubes are a type of media used in hydroponics. Similar in texture to steel wool, Rockwool was first developed in Denmark in the 1970’s. Benefits include:

  • Retains moisture and oxygen
  • Does not impede root growth
  • Chemically and biologically inert

 

Black Container-2
Rockwool Cube-2
EC and PH Testers-1 each
Net-Pot-Cup-Basket-1
32 oz. Glass Jar-1