Changing Hydroponics Forever

Starting my journey to a more sustainable hydroponic grow system with new resin endcaps that fit standard 3" x 4" vinyl downspouts.
My online shop with my NEW RESIN ENDCAPS and ebook: www.etsy.com/s...
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Amazon Endcap Set of 4: amzn.to/3qjh0nq
Online course special. Now only $9.99 (reg $39.99)
kog.thinkific.com
This will save you time, energy and money. Instead of watching hundreds of KZbin videos and getting conflicting opinions from several gardeners, you can get all the info you need to start growing with hydroponics the easy, inexpensive way. For the price of a couple of cups of coffee you can save yourself from watching hours upon hours of videos and start growing today. Once you take the course, you can always come back to it for reference. Don't wait!
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True Leaf Market Organic Seeds: www.pntra.com/...
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Supplies and seed that I use that can't be found at local home improvement stores: amazon.com/sho...
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#mrduzee1 #diyhydroponics

[@robinsong7298]

Or add the shavings to the resin for the end caps , it would keep it out of the land fill and possibly save on the amount of resin needed for the end cap.

[@Coconutoilcrazy]

That was my thought

[@karenreaves3650]

Would the shavings also block out the light?

[@KeepOnGrowin]

That's a good thought!

[@threeowls369]

Wow I was thinking to same thing.

[@GinaBeana_Tootsie]

It may change the cure time … you have to change the amount of resin being used + the shavings can cause air pockets in the resin may compromise the strength of the resin but I’m sure it can be tried 👍🏼

[@darla123]

You are such a sweet, generous man. If only the world had more people like you!

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thank you Darla. I am just a normal guy, we can all do this together.

[@Mimeh53]

A few non-plastic thoughts occurred to me with the last video, but I wanted to try them out before I said anything, just to see if they worked. I am another home grower who worries about our overuse of single-use plastics, but I have seen plastic bottles put to good use as drip irrigators for gardening in soil, and I have put this to good use myself on particularly hot days. I keep the bottles and use them over and over until it's time to toss them into recycle. Aluminum soda and beer cans have a rim around the top that can be clipped with a small wire cutter and pulled out of the can, and behold! A 2-inch net cup or pool noodle fits into the opening perfectly. I'm on a week's worth of Mizuna that I started as a microgreen, and so far the light is reflected off the can and the nutrient mixture is still good. You can take netcups of varying sizes to any Goodwill or other Thrift store and see if the pot fits into a particular size glass jar--large or small--and use that jar for Kratke growing. All you need is aluminum foil to wrap the jar, or like you mentioned, a layer of socks over the jar would block the light. I have some Merlot Lettuce growing like this that seems to be doing well. I am astounded at how much material is under our noses that is usable for Kratke. Gosh, Mike, you have access to COCONUT shells in Fla! They hold liquid, have a somewhat antiseptic property in the wood, and could be a great Kratky vessel. I'd bet they wouldn't grow algae, because the shells are impermeable to light. Just some ramblings I wanted to put forward that sounded like good alternatives to plastic use. But you're right; plastic isn't going to disappear in huge numbers anytime soon. I hope this helps. Thanks for shedding light on this issue which is so important to share if we are going to be able to grow our own food and teach others to do the same. There's an old saying: If you buy someone a fish, you've fed them for a meal or two. But if you TEACH them HOW to fish, you've fed them for a lifetime. Thanks, Teacher Extraordinaire and Venerable Hippie! 👍🏼

[@robinsong7298]

Love the everyone share attitude, truly another old Hippie. As long as all prosper and do well, all is good.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Hippies unite!

[@jeng1395]

Haha, Mike is WAY too young to be a hippie! 😊

[@robinsong7298]

@@jeng1395 Hippie is a state of mind LoL my kids always called me an old Hippie and I to am to young for the title and didn't subscribe to all of the things associated with it either. 😂

[@opinionatedtatertot815]

Email sent off. It's 107 here in California today, I'd love to try out to see how well the end caps hold out here. I just want to say I appreciate how you encourage people to take what you've shown us to try to make a living from it if we can.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

We are all better together than working against each other. Did you tell me in your email that you were the Opinionated Tatertot. If not, reply to it so I know who you are.

[@opinionatedtatertot815]

@@KeepOnGrowin I mentioned the 107 degree temps in California and the drought we have been dealing with here. But I'll send a follow-up. :)

[@johnmcginnis5201]

Nice idea on the end caps. Better way of makin'. I have found another trick. I drill a 1/4" hole on the side of downspout at exactly the height to provide the air gap Kratky recommends. So even if I over fill it weeps till its the right level.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Awesome tip. I keep meaning to do that but in 8 years I keep getting side tracked, lol. Have a great day John! Thank you.

[@WhatDadIsUpTo]

After doing hydroponics for over 50 years, I have decided to switch to wicking growing boxes using soil again. I still grow within as well as without my greenhouse, but Texas is just too HOT to stay on top of hydroponics. By the time I'm done filling all my Kratke containers, the first ones are dry again and the plants die. I can't leave my property for any more than a day, thus, the changeover.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

I understand. Here in June, we were hitting 100F some days. It does get very challenging.

[@Holodomor4.0]

Why don’t you set up auto fill reservoirs? That’s what I’ve done in Australia. Doesn’t get much hotter than australia.

[@WhatDadIsUpTo]

@@Holodomor4.0 That's a good idea, but I have about 60 cratky trays and to put them on autofill would mean I would have to have an elevated tub, like 20 ft in the air with 100 or more gallons of makeup nutrient solution, sitting there in the midday Sun getting boiling hot. I think the grow boxes will be just the ticket for me. We often have stretches here in North Texas of 100 days with temperatures 100° or more. It stays pretty green even so, but it's super hot most summers. Thanks for your input.

[@latriciacagle4873]

I’m in Arizona and we’ve been having a few of our 115 days. I use grow bags and all my plants are on a drip system with a timer. I have some outdoors plants in wicking beds but I will transition all of them to wicking. But, I will be reducing the number of plants I grow outdoors. I have a spare room that used to been my home office. I’m turning it into my hydroponic grow room.

[@macrumpton]

Instead of making endocarps, you just put the drilled gutter end up on a piece of silicone and pour some resin into the closest hole and let it cure bonding it to the gutter. You could even make the bond even stronger by poking a hot nail into the end of the gutter around the edge so the resin can lock into the dents made by the nail.

[@erickanorris567]

can you be more specific

[@macrumpton]

@@erickanorris567 Im not sure what isn't clear. Imagine you have an open ended pipe standing so one of the holes is on a table. Then your some resin into the top of the pipe and it fills the bottom ¼" of the pipe. When it hardens you have a pipe with one end plugged by a perfectly fitting resin plug.

[@karenreaves3650]

Thank you Mike, enjoying learning more about different ideas for growing hydroponically.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thank you Karen! Have an awesome day!

[@snakejawz]

one thing i found is a useful way to recycle is those small gatorade bottles, if you have kids you have a ton of them, cut the tops off and use a small soldering iron or wood burner to make holes, free net cups!

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Awesome tip!

[@charlottebynoe3518]

Hello. I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate you and your videos. I’m wanting to get started with hydro gardening so I’m really enjoying all of your content.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Awesome! Thank you Charlotte!

[@AnnasChickenRanch]

You are such a generous soul. I bought a set of your end caps and they fit perfectly! Now I want a to buy your mold so I can make myself some fun designs end caps to perk up my grow room. ☮️

[@KeepOnGrowin]

That's awesome Anna! I will make a few videos on how to make the endcaps, it will be helpful for those that want to make some. Take care and have a great day!

[@uscitizen5656]

I am using 4" PVC pipe we were tossing at work. 10' long with Pool noodle holes thanks for that idea.. Tomatoes, peppers & Bok Choy growing. 1 end cap 1 90 on each of the 4. The 90's are covered but allows for easy water top off.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Awesome! Reusing stuff and adapting!

[@benthere8051]

The chocolate bar was in the guy's pocket. He was working on a microwave transmitter standing in front of a horn antenna.

[@colinstace1758]

And before food, it was used to set glue in veneer presses

[@maxibake9323]

That's Cool, to be able to see the Roots & the Water level.👍 Could you put a sort of flap on the end of the downspout, with a hinge. You could just lift it up to peek inside. Or you could put a Black Trainer sock over the end, like I do with my Mayo jars, I cover them in a trainer sock, No Algae, & White roots. Even tin foil might work. You've probably tried all these anyway, so just ignore my ramblings. Lol. TFS Mike, & take care too everyone. ❤🙂🐶

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thank you! I was trying to remember who used the sock!

[@maxibake9323]

@@KeepOnGrowin Yep, Twas me. Don't tell hubby. Lol. 👍🤗🧦

[@latriciacagle4873]

I like the sock idea. Definitely will try it.

[@maxibake9323]

@@latriciacagle4873 Good Luck Latricia. 👍🌱🤗

[@karenburrell5188]

Thank you for sharing your wonderful journey with helping people grow food. I love your honesty and humble videos.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thank you Karen, that means a lot to me!

[@eiyumats6218]

Generosity is Mike's strength!

[@KJ7JHN]

Hey Mike 1/8" flat die cut caps. Oven @ 350 for 10-15 minutes. Flatten out and use a cookie cutter while the pvc(gutter) is soft. 24" per length in the oven x 4. Just an idea. Keep up the great work. Pvc glue /silicone the end caps.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thanks for the idea Damon!

[@sparxidigi]

@@KJ7JHN can you please explain more what u mean. I'm not following. Ty

[@suicidebetties]

I rather buy stuff from you then trying to make the stuff myself. It's my way of supporting you and your channel. I learned a lot from watching your videos and I appreciate you sharing your knowledge... For the algae problem. My thoughts on the caps. Make a clear cap that fits inside, and then make a 2nd cap in black that you can pull off and see your water level inside, etc...

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thank you! I had to stop selling them. It was taking all my time and I was producing more products than growing in my garden, lol. I really appreciate your support, you rock!

[@randallwithee2189]

This gave me an idea. You want to see the water level, but don't want algae to grow from sunlight coming through the 'window'. If you created a 'cofferdam' type thing to make it possible to pour the black resin on the sides and clear resin down the middle, that can be removed after pouring and before it cures. That would create a resin end that blocks most light but had a small window that would show the water level. Just a thought.

[@carrolwright7915]

Just an idea. Since you have the shavings from the down spouts. Try putting some of those shavings into the epoxy end caps. Save a tiny amount of epoxy. But it gets rid of the shavings in a productive manner.

[@maggie.j.mclean]

Put the shavings in the resin. I actually had the idea of using resin to seal off the ends I am glad to see you actually doing it!

[@margarettekanealii4101]

I so appreciate you and love your channel . I’ve learned so much. I’ve started my hydroponics using recycled food grade containers. Next project will be starting the downspouts. I’ve shared all I’m learning with family and coworkers. You’re so right, we all need to start growing our own food. Thank you so much. Can’t wait for the next video.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

That is awesome of you to share! I am proud you are part of it! Keep on Growin'!! 😀👍

[@pg13goatlord]

First off - Dude, Thank you! I just started looking into something better for me here in NM. We are so dry here you can fart and start a fire. Watching your older vids now, I need to come up with a grow system that I can use without needing to water daily. I live in the middle of nowhere and high desert on top of that, so getting anything worth the money is a luxury. I wanted a green house here, because the UV's are so high that just an hour can fry most plants ( I just got a shade net now and it helps). I am looking into what my friend described as a grow bunker ( half underground green house/ pit) with a hydroponic system. I tried something like that, but it was just a hole with a plant that need to be watered. Sure it helps shade the stem and root, but again the watering. I think I am going to try a combo of the pit with a spout pot like yours. Also resources here a very limited, so what ever waste I make winds up here and goes nowhere less I haul it somewhere or worst burn it.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Awesome! It is definitely a challenge during this heat. Keep me updated, good luck and stay cool.

[@cathibeastevenson634]

Toilet float attached to a reservoir to keep the water level at the same height, Larry in brainerd Minnesota does it he started kind of started the ring stuff hutto in Australia desert so that looks like a good way to go

[@slicktmi]

I'm from nm too summers are brutal. Abq nm

[@dingdongdaddy589]

Pretty cool. I recently started a kratky bakers rack of 40 plants in tubs - I think the downspout route is great and I will give it a try with the next rack. The clear end caps are awesome! Will check back in a while, hopefully you keep making them…

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Sounds great! Keep up the great work and Keep on Growin'!

[@susandoyon282]

i love your attitude of sharing

[@sharps1759]

Thank you for sharing an affordable way to garden. My rototiller went out and I'm exploring other ways to garden. I like to find ways to do things without spending a fortune. I'm watching all your videos. Again, thanks for sharing.

[@esthersalgado8738]

I love to try out,with my pepers plants , I love you idea. And the mold.

[@harmonysalem9377]

Merci from Montreal, Canada.

[@lennybeaumont9006]

The struggle is real 😫 but the only way to learn is from failure

[@Junzar56]

Awesome! I will have to get the molds and some some resin!

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Awesome! Let me know if you have questions if you have not worked with it before. Does Home Depot out there carry the 3 x4? I know one of my viewers in California can't get them.

[@Junzar56]

@@KeepOnGrowin I will have to check it out tomorrow!

[@Narrowroadpenn]

Cool idea, I've really enjoy your channel. I ended up 3D printing my end caps.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Awesome! I was going to use one of those but I have to make hundreds of these, Would you like to share your code with others who have a 3d printer?

[@jackielambert7980]

I would live to try that. I got my hubby a 3D printer for his Bday and he said he would try it for me. Do you have a file for it that we could use?? TIA!

[@aprilolson8209]

I love the way your mind works Mike! So creative & I love how you focus on what you can do to help others. The resin is a brilliant idea, and providing clear end caps is an epic educational opportunity! I began gardening this year & Im always showing my son all the new growth & teaching him about the plants & everything thats in the soil. He loves watching things grow, & our fav thing to watch grow was a preying mantis 😍 I was wondering if the plastic waste you were producing could have been recycled. I understand you cant turn it in to a recycler, but if an indivual tried to melt it themselves would it melt & be able to form into a mold? Ive watched Brothers Make channel a little which is where my thought came from. This is just me thinking outloud, not a criticism in any way. I think you are amazing!

[@KeepOnGrowin]

I would not think of that as criticism. I love having the conversation. That channel is very cool, I have thought about it. I am concerned about smelling the fumes, and the extra energy it takes to convert them. I am always thinking, watching and learning so keep throwing ideas my way! Have and awesome day and thank you again.

[@opinionatedtatertot815]

@@KeepOnGrowin I thought about ways to use the plastic waste too. Maybe rather than melting it down you could mix it into the resin so it helps bulk it out? While watching the video I was thinking about things I toss out that I could potentially do that with. I've seen people take a hole punch to plastics like yogurt tubs and drink cups, and use the little bits for various crafts.

[@blazer859]

Hi Mike, "No mistakes, only happy accidents".- Bob Ross, RIP.

[@GinaBeana_Tootsie]

Great video mike getting the people involved some great ideas in here 😄♥️😸✌🏼

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thanks Gina! Hope you are doing well.

[@GinaBeana_Tootsie]

@@KeepOnGrowin yes trying to stay cool ♥️

[@mikesgamedomain8202]

im pretty sure you could color the water purple instead of black and still prevent algae, it needs red and blue light to grow, that way you can still see through it

[@KeepOnGrowin]

I will try that.

[@ConsciousnessCobbler]

Thanks for the ideas. Starting my journey into hydro, and I'm broke so this helps alot

[@learningtofly6675]

not sure how i missed this video but other day was looking at how i could make down spout and i find this video well went over and bought the that mold and ebook you are awsome!!!!! thank you!!!!!! 😃

[@georgedeysel8882]

Greetings from South Africa Mike! Be the change! I love your work!

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Nice to meet you George! Be the Change!

[@bclark1289]

Get you one of the 3d printer filament recyclers and turn your scrap into 3d printer filament and sell it to people with printers? Idk if it's something that would work or not just a thought

[@barbarastefani254]

It is so much fun to do love this hobby

[@KomekoroKoa]

In terms of checking for algae, you could always just strain the water through cheese cloth or paper towels and see if you catch anything. I’m looking forward to experimenting more in my own hydroponics. Speaking of experiments, did anything come of the cheap $20 led work lights as grow lights you found at the hardware store? I won’t be able to grow outdoors at my new place, and grow lights are somewhat expensive. But I can always experiment too and report back 😁

[@KeepOnGrowin]

They work good. I got them on Amazon but as soon as orders started flowing in, the dealer raised his price to $29, lol.

[@lauralee4395]

I bought 2 and LOVE them! They don't get hot and are easy to move so you get the correct direction. I turn them on during the day and off at night. I'm on a limited budget and not very mobile and found them affordable and gentle on my electric bill.

[@nizarahdragon3973]

I have moved and now my outdoor space gets no sunshine so my growing has grown to a halt but I still like to watch

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thanks for watching. I know how you feel, our new place has tons of trees. I am renting, so I can't cut them down.

[@SandcastleDreams]

@@KeepOnGrowin We grew tomatoes in the shade when we lived Orlando. Kept the tomatoes from cooking on the vine. So, as long as it isn't dense shade you should still be able to grow there. Also, trees need trimming from time to time.

[@vampeve82]

in centrel fl hello nieghbor great info you are doin great making everyone at ease when talk to everyone here i might give this techique in the future thanks for the share of wealth of info wish you all the best

[@rodgom227]

Love your knowledge and attitude. Thank you for sharing

[@alssupersadgarden]

You are a wonderful person.

[@CraftEccentricity]

We R Memory Keepers does an affordable vac forming machine. It takes dental sheets that are cheaper than resin, and you can vac form as many as you want. Love your channel!

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thank you very much! I will look into that! Have an awesome day!

[@christisstanley2348]

As always, your expertise, knowledge and willingness to share are amazing! Am I the only one not seeing your endcaps or molds on Etsy? Seriously, I've looked twice. Love adding the food coloring, hopefully you'll reproduce the same positive results. Are you growing anything that produces a white flower? If so, the dye will/should change the color of the flower to the dye added to the water. Thank you for all you do and stay cool in FL

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thank you. I stopped making them.

[@barbarastefani254]

Thank you for showing me how to make my own mole awesome can’t wait to try it I have some resin

[@KeepOnGrowin]

That's awesome!

[@flamenco1961]

Have you ever considered Zinc Gutters and Downspouts. A lot easier to recycle.

[@Coconutoilcrazy]

Hmm I have not heard of zinc gutters. Interesting

[@KeepOnGrowin]

We only have aluminum and vinyl I think.

[@mikeschaoticgardening]

Could you use the shavings with a strong resin to create things like legs and stands and brackets?

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Now that's a cool idea. I really appreciate that!

[@auroraringz]

If you use alumilite clear slow and a pressure pot you could do larger batches and have them cured in 2hrs or less.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Cool, I will look into that.

[@KODArunner]

Hello there Mr. Mike, J ust a thought on what to do with your Shavings, gather them all up and put them in a few cans ad put those cans i the oven @ 500 degrees, or burn some cardboard outside and place the cans i the fire to melt the shavings down. Then send them to recycling and let them figure out what to do with them.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thanks Richard but that is way too much time and energy. I am using my CNC machine for wood where the shavings go into the compost heap. I appreciate the input though, you are a cool cat. Happy Thanksgiving!

[@matthewsteitz7296]

maybey try a polyurethane based resin like task12. that stuff sets way faster and you can get much more done in a shorter time frame.

[@KandisStarr]

Yessss i love this

[@cstamps1375]

Now you've taken the downspout & end caps to Stratosphere!

[@Lichinha87]

Hi sir I love your videos (watching from south texas). I have a suggestion. Maybe do a test with orange or red food coloring in the water. In your previous video you used the orange Home Depot bucket for the food tower and demonstrated minimal algae growth in the bucket /water (compared to on the pool noodles). This way orange would allow you to see the green algae growth (if any) and block out the blue/green spectrum liken you and your wife determined based on the complimentary color wheel. If you do this test please share it in a video :) thank you for your hard work.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

I will give it a try! Thank you for everything.

[@fletchybabe6172]

If the plastic is re-mouldable then it is recyclable as it's probably thermoplastic 😁🌱☀️

[@KODArunner]

Hi there Mike, instead of making the end cape out of plastic, why not use wood? It is natural and will decompose over time.

[@bonilla2022]

Spray molds with a spray on "Pam" food grade!"

[@colinstace1758]

You can maybe find a fast cure resin on Amazon ? Great idea and much easier than the router.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Yeah, I have been looking. They get expensive. The one I used is $145 a gallon.

[@colinstace1758]

@@KeepOnGrowin 😱😱

[@Unremarkabler]

I gave my thumb up on first minute

[@darronharalson5802]

If the end blocks were just a little thicker with a groove for an O-ring to help seal it up once installed, less silicone would be needed to seal it and hold it in place.

[@sdrezrd]

Mike, you are AWESOME! Thank you! As. dietitian, my concern with food dyres/coloring are their toxicity and what they may change withe the natural chemistry of the plant and what the body would absorb. I'm going to try and make some and a silicon thin cover (if it will naturally adhere)that could be placed over the clear one to check water level. I may try adding some aronia berry juice instead of dye and that may also fortify the nutritional content.of the plants?

[@lorettastinnett6848]

If you slip over to brothers make they may give you some ideas of how to deal with the waste plastic

[@chuckburrows2082]

Great idea, been using your pool noodles and downspouts for a long time. Love the new end caps. I will email you to find out where to buy the end caps. Thanks for all you are doing.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thank you Chuck! Keep on Growin'!

[@amyb5339]

Can you re-melt the plastic and form it into more end caps? You could probably add the shavings to the resin to add bulk to the end cap and reduce waste? My friend in Vegas blew my mind the other day when she said they don't have gutters on their homes. 😳

[@KeepOnGrowin]

I am experimenting with the shavings in the resin. Don't really want to go the melting route because of the fumes and the energy consumption. Yeah, blows my mind Home Depot and Lowes won't even ship it to one of their stores either.

[@amyb5339]

Could you use a solar melter? It seems like such a logical step. I really get the waste of energy. You have helped me so much that I amazed my co-,workers by bringing them produce in March.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

You rock!

[@daphneraven6745]

Hi mike! Occasionally I’ve dropped a piece of pottery after it was fired. Shards are not a whole lot of use to anybody; they are certainly not very marketable. Lol. But when I want to make something of a sculpted form, instead of a thrown or built form, those pieces could be crushed finally enough to make some decent grog. Sometimes the grog is exactly what the project needs in order to be successful. So you probably have something figured out by now for dealing with that leftover bit of plastic. I’ve never done a blessed thing with resin before. Except for two-part Apoxsee resin for making a repair on something, and even that experience is really limited. I don’t know if it’s even possible, but if you’re able to use at least a percentage of that leftover resin that you machine or had to cut away from your project, but you might be able to use it to add visual surface interest to your end caps. I don’t know if it would affect the strength or not, but you might be in a position to judge that fairly. If it doesn’t affect adversely, then that would be a great way to use it up, keep it out of the landfill, and make some noise variation for a person’s wall garden. So, the other thing about that is that certain plastics can melt down, and be formed in a mold. I have no clue as to whether or not this is even possible with the resident you use. All I know is that I save the Soda pop covers that can’t be recycled, and if I melt those down carefully in a ventilated situation, I can put them in a silicone mould to make other little parts and gadgets that I need. Might that have an application in your workshop? About those white flies, I don’t know if you got the same pissed that we get on our brassicas over here, in the Garden Gallery but if it’s the same thing, if you wrap that growing pot that you’ve got made in a piece of cheese cloth, or curtain sheer, just until whitefly season is over, they don’t end up infesting and eating your brassicas. Since global warming has become a real bad problem, the frost in our area isn’t enough to kill them off in the winter time anymore, so every spring we have to do the same thing now. The ones in the ground, we more or less make a shower cap out of cheese cloth, and put over them. It saves the crop. I have one other thought. You could put one very thin clear strip of acrylic or resin in any part of your end plates, so that you have a way of seeing your water level.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thank you. All very good ideas. I am actually working on the see through strip as we speak, just poured my first test mold. Thank you for the advice on the white flies.

[@daphneraven6745]

@@KeepOnGrowin : It will be exciting to see how it goes. Inclusions can be tricky.

[@Catatethemouse]

Inspires me to think about a ceramic direction

[@jennylowe4486]

Your videos are great. I tried looking on your etsy store for the end caps but seen nothing but e-books. Do you know where I can get them? TY

[@KeepOnGrowin]

808Innovate on Etsy sells the plastic endcaps as well as worldgraceproject.org

[@mercuryMAYAN]

You can try plaster of Paris for your master mold so it’s easier to unmold next time.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Thanks. I used to work a lot with plaster and don't know why I didn't think of that.

[@davyerni2136]

try morning dew nets and vertical hydroponics you would not even have to water the growing food then . the night will water the plants for the farmer. even more water saved .

[@KeepOnGrowin]

I saw those, pretty cool, but it would not fall into the containers.

[@endthefed_1913]

Love it!

[@ln3527]

If you are producing that much waste, are there not plastic recyclers that would take the materials? I'm thinking a manufacturer who could add your waste to theirs that may be geared to producing 3d printer filament ... and then you could 3d print your endcaps? just a thought?

[@Vantastictravels4ever]

Please 🙏 make 2x3 end caps. We are unable to find any 3 x 4 vinyl downspouts anywhere in Southern California. 💕 Your channel. Thank you! :)

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Will do. Email me at [e-mail] and remind me. I lose comments and forget, lol. Thank you and have an awesome day!

[@ronaldjones1274]

Didn't see the end caps on your Etsy store,

[@MsMary-mg3ho]

I just thought of another idea to keep the algae down...what about keeping aquarium snails in your rail systems? They eat algae...or would they eat the roots, too? Has anybody every tried it?

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Good thought, I don't know about the roots, will have to look into it.

[@dontbea7237]

Double boil the shavings until they're liquid and then add them to the end caps instead of buying resin

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Have you tried that?

[@lauralee4395]

I have asthma, so am always concerned about fumes, but if you have a grill or gas grill it might still work without the fumes getting trapped in the house. What do you think?

[@kathyhartje4143]

I’d love ❤️ to experiment

[@kathyhartje4143]

All winter ❄️ in my garage

[@gumbyElvis]

Has anyone tried white oak for the end caps? It is what they make wine and whiskey barrels from. Almost all of these barrels come from Missouri white oak. I live in Missouri and might try making some. I will try to make a template. It would look pretty and is somewhat waterproof and could be more waterproof sealed with polyurethane, mineral oil, or shellac. The waste products would be wood shavings and sawdust, both of which can be composted.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

That is an excellent idea!

[@runerang107]

What is your average grow time for kale from seed to harvest in the downspout?

[@KeepOnGrowin]

One week after germination and a few more weeks till we start harvesting baby greens. I keep them going for another 3 to 4 weeks sometimes.

[@robinsong7298]

If the downspout material melts easy could the shavings be melted into a end cap?

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Maybe, but I am trying to get away from the burning plastic smell too.

[@joshtaylor7787]

How is cleaning out the gutters between grows with the end caps siliconed in place?

[@KeepOnGrowin]

I usually just rinse them. Sometimes I spray a little bleach on them.

[@opinionatedtatertot815]

This is the issue that I've been trying to figure out that has had me holding off on making my own downspouts so I'm glad you asked. I was originally planning to use the heat gun method and kept trying to figure out how I would clean it between batches.

[@beasleymatt8100]

You shoiuld get a 3d printer and d3sign the molds. You can print them and design different types

[@KeepOnGrowin]

I have been looking but most affordable ones can't keep up with the volume I need.

[@garyhempel6316]

Radar, thus the Amana Radar Range microwave

[@vampeve82]

is there some kind of bracket that i can use to suspend the strips of downpour peace from my frence so i can use that space above the raised bed so space is wasted let me know that be great or other people out there that might know

[@blueroseyt]

Great ideas you have there, have you considered making wooden ones and water proofing them..... sawdust is biodegradable waste.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Yes, wood is the next direction.

[@shaunfrazier38]

I may have missed it, (and I’m sorry if I did) but what kinds of resin are you using? The reason I ask, is that I’ve done R&D in that field for several years and many of them will have a significant ‘off-gassing’ period where they could be a point of styrene contamination if not properly cured/sealed.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Give us your suggestions Shaun.

[@shaunfrazier38]

@@KeepOnGrowin there are several brands of ‘food safe’ resins on the market and many of the multi purpose resins can be heat cured to limit the amount of future off gassing of styrene. Heating the resin once it’s cross linked (cured/kicked/hardened) will force most of the styrene out. Tho, depending on the type of resin will determine what temperature you’ll need to hit and for how long. Over heating (and at the wrong pressures) can damage the piece and under heating will not pull the styrene out. There are also several methods to seal the resin, but those can be relatively complicated and expensive when you’re working on a ‘budget’. I’m not an expert in the food aspect, so I’m hesitant to say what would be a ‘safe’ amount for this application.

[@danielt6689]

@@shaunfrazier38 Can you suggest some "food safe" resins?

[@papaluvspi]

Email Sent! Thanks for the inspiration -Peace

[@ethelb6023]

I'm just beginning and am curious why we are using plastic resins and melting plastics. I only have a hammer so everything looks like a nail to me. I'm a stained glass artist and I'm curious why some thick window glass is not cut by hand. I will watch this and find out what is so special about these resin windows. So don't everyone jump on me, I'm new, and don't understand exactly what is needed of this resin window. I'm guessing that the outer frame for it has to make it watertight.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Hey Ethel, I use the resin because that's what we are experimenting with right now. It makes it accessible to just about everyone. Heating and bending the ends was ok too and some people even 3D print them.

[@Capt4fitness]

I have metal downspouts that were donated to us. Have you grown in metal?

[@gloriaelliott7872]

Hey Mike I miss what the incaps are making from I like that

[@KeepOnGrowin]

They are made out of resin.

[@AquaponicandSoilGardens]

What about using the shavings as grow media for your plants?

[@wf2v]

Where do you buy the resin?

[@KeepOnGrowin]

This was the best I found so far: amzn.to/3o7ljBc

[@rufflifehydro]

Yeah I can not find any of the 3 x 4 Amerimax downspouts here in Southern Cali at either lowes or home depot!

[@KeepOnGrowin]

I'm sorry. I will make the 2x3s in the future.

[@Vantastictravels4ever]

I'm not sure which part of So Cal you are in but Lowe's in Highland, CA carries the 3 x4 downspouts in white vinyl .

[@lakeland4809]

Can you just use black tea to make the water black?

[@KeepOnGrowin]

You can try. The food coloring was a mess to clean up when I changed.

[@CastOnCalamity]

❤️

[@joyguimarasgreenthumbs2162]

Hello to you and your family I am Lee in the Philippines a expat from the UK . Love all you do sorry I am using my wife Joy phone we do this to save on money .. now back to you your end caps are fabulous love them question for you could you put on the end a stick on thermometer that will tell me how warm the water is in the NFT system would it work why I ask this as our temperature can reach 47 to 51 cells here in the Philippines plus the high humidity .. we can not us electric temperature system as they just die after 3 months and 10$ every 3 months cost a lot of money over a year .. You all stay safe love to you from the Philippines Joy and me Lee

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Yes, I put a stick on thermometer on a few of mine. I ever embedded a few in the resin when I made them.

[@mateocarlos2674]

Hey Mike, the resin downspout ends look like a great idea, but I don't see them or the molds on that link, and the Amazon link is a dead-end too. Please provide a good link for the ends and molds. Bless you!

[@KeepOnGrowin]

Sorry, that was years ago, I stopped. Looking into making them with my 3D printer.

[@mateocarlos2674]

@@KeepOnGrowin Thanks for the fast response. Did you ever make a video showing how to make the end caps? I'm doing this project today, and will just use the heat gun deformation technique if that's all that's available now. I have plants that need transplanting this weekend.

[@KeepOnGrowin]

@@mateocarlos2674 I would just heat and bend the ends. Silicone takes a while to cure. Up to you.

[@mateocarlos2674]

@@KeepOnGrowin As soon as I sent my last comment, KZbin played the video I asked about. LOL

[@KeepOnGrowin]

@@mateocarlos2674 Lol, they are listening.

[@gloriaelliott7872]

I would like buy some

[@KeepOnGrowin]

The link is in the description of the video.👍