I’m reviving this old thread because I was very inspired by it even though I didn’t post at the time. I ended up trying to DIY this and consider it a success, so I wanted to share. Photos of current plants (except catnip) attached.
I don’t have a green thumb. I somehow have killed all the spider plants but one that my boss has rooted for me from her office ones...Not to mention the dozens of plants that perished before them. (She took pity on me after I managed to kill a succulent because “you can’t kill a spider plant.” Apparently you can’t unless you’re me.)
I started slowly by buying seeds, hydroponic maxigro (nutrients), and rockwool to see if I could even get them to sprout. They did! Then I bought net cups and clay pebbles to insert in yogurt containers I had been saving. Once they seemed to be doing well, I bought some window shelves. These were the most expensive part, but I was trying to contain everything to one window with a cardboard barrier to block the cat. Eventually we took that down and the cat actually leaves everything but the lettuce alone. She nibbles on that but doesn’t destroy it. Soon I’ll probably buy another window shelf because I’m running out of ledge space and want to grow more lettuce and maybe buy some peppermint seeds.
I bought broccoli, catnip, basil, parsley, cilantro, romaine lettuce, buttercrunch lettuce, and arugula seeds. Only thing that didn’t work well was broccoli...I had no idea how big it gets and I couldn’t keep it watered fast enough. I do have south facing windows and was surprised at how well they did in winter even thought we have very drafty windows. Only the cilantro and some seedlings died in the polar vortex. I’m also surprised at how much abuse these plants can take. I remember to fill up the water again when they look wilty and sometimes I forget until they are very wilty. They come back quickly! One of the basil plants is an original from August 2018, despite many harvestings. Only thing is they don’t seem to do well two deep, need to be directly next to window.
Below are my costs (not including tax) from August 2018 to now. I still have some nets and rockwool left, plus a crap ton of maxigrow and seeds. Will likely need more clay pebbles soon as I expand. I’m not sure if I’ve broken even yet, prob not with shelves (I also like them as decoration tho soo...), but I’m having a lot of fun, it’s awesome having fresh stuff, and we’re now making a ton of homemade pesto (yum!!!).
Seeds: $14.51
Maxi Gro: $13.15
Rock wool (100): $9.44
Net cups (25): $8.88
Clay pebbles: $9.99
Mo’ clay pebbles: $9.99
Subtotal: $65.96
Shelves (2): $50
Total with shelves: $116 (and maybe $125 w/ tax)