It starts with the pump, that supplies water to a drip irrigation system. The water drips into a dried clay-ball medium that houses the tomato plants. The water runs past the roots and into the bottom of the bucket, then flows back into the reservoir with the water pump. This system is superior to using soil because you can conserve much more water. Each plant may use a total of 1/2 gallon per month, much less than watering soil ever other day in the hot dry summer. The roots are always aerated because the water is constantly dripping and the clay balls are formulated promote a healthy environment for the roots. Nutrition is conserved because there is no run-off loss.You can also monitor the PH balance and nutrition level and adjust accordingly. I am using pure worm castings mixed in the water to have a completely organic system. I may mix in bat guano later on. I built a horizontal chain link fence that the tomatoes will grow into and will hang onto when the fruit weighs them down.
The system uses 20 watts of electricity for 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off in the peak of the day and then less often over night.
Probably 5-10 gallons of water per month.
Probably just several handfulls of worm castings or compost per month.
