Cybernetic Meadow

or Edinburgh Plantlab

Person responsible: River

Last update: 20 Feb 2023

There is a small hydroponic garden / greenhouse / cupboard growing in G11.

It currently contains several varieties of chillies in Deep Water Culture (DWC), and coconut coir.

There is a degree of environmental control by the PLC (Plantlife controller), which can switch the lights, fan, humidifier, and soil heater when needed for germination.

It is important to keep the area clean to avoid any pathogens or pests infecting the plants or growing media. Please do not disturb the area unnecessarily.

If you are interested in doing a project, working on the todo list, or growing something please contact river.

• Fit door properly with hinges, and seal around top and edges.
• Add filtered forced air ventilation. Needed if door sealed properly.
• Obtain and fit air hose to both tanks. Air manifold and stones are present.
• Make a driver for the large pink LEDs. They need 4A at about 15 volts each.
• Build another of River's (max 2A) LED driver boards, and maybe more LED panels.
• Laser cut and illuminate sign.

• Make hydroponic solution monitoring and control system - for solution level, EC, pH, and temperature.
  • Design / build or buy EC probe.
  • Design / build or buy pH probe.
  • Suitable arrangement of pumps and controller.
• Try different hydroponic methods - e.g. ebb and flood recommended by fatali for chillies, or NFT tubes for lettuce.
• Organic hydroponics. Synthetic fertilisers are made with fossil gas by the Haber process. We need to move to a circular economy of nutrients.
• Experiment with crop steering - controlling plant life stages - when they flower and fruit - by changing light, nutrients, temperature.
• Design and build a music synthesiser to play to the plants and make them happy. Also could use biofeedback / sonification on plant data.