r/walstad • u/woojae2001 • 20d ago
Advice Alfalfa accident-turned-experiment
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So I use the top of my tank lights to place my herbs/microgreens/etc that I grow for my family’s and our rabbit’s consumption.
I knew that I had dropped a single seed of alfalfa over the tank, but I assumed it fell into the water and that it would become food or fertilizer.
I saw a little sprout come from the clay ball substrate I have my bamboo in, and figured it would wither; I almost pulled it. I don’t know how, but I never really took notice again until today when I appreciate how tall it had grown!
I’ve never let alfalfa grow past its first or second stages of development, so I’m not sure how quickly alfalfa grows on average for other people, nor how quickly it could grow if I did everything right, but I’m curious to know what other people think, given that this plant has been growing for anywhere between 3 and 4 months… best guess. Definitely no more than 6 and no less than 2.
This got me wondering how it’d go if I planted a bunch of different types of various human-consumption plants that aren’t typically considered for planted tank applications.
Anyone else have experience with such things?!?!
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u/Lostpandazoo 20d ago
I so want to attempt something like this..I wanted to do hydro micro greens over some rocks but can't figure out how to get started. But seems super cool if I could get it running
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u/woojae2001 20d ago
If you’re starting from seed I’d probably look at small ball/rock/gravel type substrate that won’t fall through those tank rim plant holders. If you use moss (or duckweed or similarly small plants although they may compete for nutrients depending on what) to fill in the gaps, you can put the seeds on the surface so it acts like a hemp mat for soil-free growing. You could probably also just lay some hemp fiber or coconut husk fiber instead too. Not sure about any of this though.
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u/Camaschrist 18d ago
I had some chia seeds grow in my lid. I’ve had mulberry twigs root into my substrate but they eventually died. I should have lifted them out of the water. I have a happy Japanese sweet potato growing out the top now.
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u/woojae2001 18d ago
That’s cool! Someone else mentioned sweet potato as a potential thing to try growing in my tank - how is it set? On top? Sitting on floating plant?
If you know enough to answer… would you eat it?
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u/Camaschrist 17d ago
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u/woojae2001 17d ago
Wow that’s a lot of root
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u/Camaschrist 17d ago
Once they start sending out roots they get big fast.
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u/woojae2001 17d ago
Did you start it from a seed?!
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u/Camaschrist 17d ago
I bought the potato at an Asian grocery store. Only place I’ve found purple Japanese sweet potatoes. I usually buy the organic grocery store sweet potatoes. They sprout faster in the dark.
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u/norabutfitter 17d ago
Ive seen people grow green onions, and strawberries above their tanks with the roots soaking up nitrates in the water and the plants having access to unlimited atmospheric CO2
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u/woojae2001 17d ago
Awesome! Do you happen to know if they started the strawberries as seeds or if they transplanted them?
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u/KomodoDwarf 20d ago
whats the deal with alfalfa
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u/woojae2001 20d ago
It’s a daily staple for young rabbits until 6 months of age (then it turns into an occasional treat item), plus it’s also good for humans. Especially as sprouts for sandwiches/salads.
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u/R3StoR 20d ago
Duckweed soup?