Central’s library recently installed a new plant nursery–a hydroponic system–and if students like, they can be involved in using it.
Central High School has installed a hydroponic growing system in the library, a way of growing plants indoors without soil, no matter the season.
Seeds are sprouted and grown in what is essentially man-made lava rock; a continuous stream of water underneath the plants provides everything they need to grow. A panel of LED lights and a fan also help to imitate an outdoor growing environment.
Jayne Leusink, CHS’s head librarian, was the one who decided to install the hydroponic system. “I want to create a new culture of learning in the library,” she said, “where we all have room to grow in some way or form.” She sees the plants as a way to show growth, like a mascot for the library.
Because plants grown in a hydroponic system do not need to expend any energy looking for water or nutrients, they can devote all of their energy into growing and producing a crop. Depending on the variety of plant, they could grow from seed to harvest in as little as 45 days.
Plants in the library’s hydroponic system include broccoli, cauliflower, multiple varieties of lettuce, and herbs such as cilantro, basil, and sage. The soil beds by the windows contain peppers, herbs, and flowers.
Plants grown in a regular garden or pot can survive for some time without being watered, because the soil retains the water. But if the water flow in the hydroponic system is halted you would “see devastation in 24 hours,” says industry expert Bradley Mikkelson, because the lava rock has very little water retention. The water reservoir underneath the system needs to be refilled approximately every two days, at which point supplements and nutrients for the plants are added to the water.
Any students who are interested or would like to be involved should reach out to Mrs. Leusink. Her vision is that students can have a hand in maintaining and using the system, and would love to have students helping with the hydroponics.
As yet, there is no plan for what will happen with the plants once they are ready for harvesting.
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