Hydroponic Jalepenos!
© a.k.a. MBR
I set up a small grow-room ~4' x 4' and covered the walls with clean, reflective white plastic. I erected a 3' x 3 & 1/2' ebb & flow tray on top of a piece of plywood supported by empty 5 gallon pails, with a 15 gallon reservoir underneath to hold the nutrient solution. Inside the reservoir was placed a small aquarium water pump with hose to feed the grow-tray through a thru-hull fitting which was purchased from the boating supply section of a local hardware store.
The lighting system I used was one 400 Watt Metal Halide standard bulb in a vertical (base-up) reflector fixture with remote mounted ballast. I didn't bother to measure the light levels throughout the room as I presumed I would have enough light, and could always add some fluorescents if need be.
The substrate chosen in which to anchor the plants roots was pure medium-grain sized horticultural-grade Vermiculite because peppers require and flourish in moist areas.
The media was flushed with 1/2 strength fertilizer solution to "charge" it with nutrients as it had none to begin with and would have depleted the first batch in the cycle if this was not done.
Pepper sprouts which were incubated under fluorescent lights for a week were transferred to the hydroponics tray and left to grow under 16 hour light "days" and the tray was flooded once a day with solution initially and twice after 3 weeks when the plants were larger.
The pH of the solution was checked once a week using an aquarium test kit and it did not require adjustment due to the Vermiculite's natural neutral state combined with the slight acidity of the fertilizer which kept the system's level at the optimal value of pH ~6.
The fertilizer used was a commercial-grade powder type and it was mixed according to the directions, using 1/2 strength for the first week and regular full strength after that. The EC was not checked and the system was flushed with clean water every 3 weeks and replenished with fresh nutrients.
Due to the cleanliness of the room, no problems with fungi or pests such as whiteflies or spider-mites occurred and a huge batch of plump, succulent peppers was harvested with 8 weeks.
Goto Best hydroponics http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/~de440 for more info..
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