Kedai Bukit Rhema’s Hydroponic Harvest: From Seeds to First Harvest!

Hi everybody! Finally, the day we had been waiting for arrived. It still feels like a dream, seeing rows of lettuce and fresh green bok choy ready to be picked at the installationhydroponicswe. This is the momenthydroponic harvestingFirst at Kedai Bukit Rhema, and I want to tell you all about the journey. Starting from zero, from just an idea, to now these 100 planting holes have provided extraordinary results. For those of you who are curioushow to grow hydroponically, or maybe you’re looking for a cafe with a different experience in Magelang, let’s read my story! Who would have thought, from here we would have bigger dreams.

The Beginning of the Green Dream at Kedai Bukit Rhema

It all started with a simple desire: to serve food that is not only delicious, but also fresh and healthy for every visitor to Kedai Bukit Rhema. We want our guests to be able to experience the sensation of eating vegetables picked straight from the garden. But, with limited land, conventional gardening feels difficult. That’s where the ideas arehydroponicsappear. A modern solution that allows us to grow more with less land, saves more water and is pesticide free.

From chatting at the shop, we started researching, learning, and finally had the courage to build our first installation. Our initial target is not ambitious: 100 planting holes. We choosehydroponic lettuceAndPokchoy hydroponicsbecause these two vegetables are the most popular and are suitable for beginners.

The Process of Leading to the First Hydroponic Harvest: Ups and Downs & Learning

This is the most exciting part. I will share the process step by step, complete with tips based on our experience. It turns out,how to grow hydroponicallythat’s really exciting!

Stage 1: Sow the Seed, the Beginning of Life Begins

It all starts from a small seed. We choose the type of lettuce seedsromaineand pokchoy typesnauli. We use the planting mediumrockwool.

The process is like this:

1. Rockwoolcut into cubes measuring approximately 2.5×2.5 cm.
2. Wet itrockwoolwith clean water until completely damp.
3. Make a small hole in the middle with a toothpick, then insert 1-2 seeds into it.
4. Store in a dark place for 1-2 days until the seeds burst (sprout).

Tips from My Experience:

• Don’t Get Too Wet:Make surerockwooljust damp, not waterlogged. If it is too wet, the seeds can rot.

• Patience is Key:Sometimes there are seeds that take longer to sprout. Do not panic!

Stage 2: Switching Planting to a Hydroponic System

After the seeds sprout and 2-4 true leaves appear, it’s time for them to “move house” to our DFT (Deep Flow Technique) hydroponic installation which has 100 holes. This is where they will get nutrients from the water.

The process is quite simple:

1. Prepare the AB Mix nutrient solution in the water reservoir according to the instructions.
2. Move itrockwoolwhich already has plants insidenetpot.
3. Put it downnetpotin each planting hole in the installation pipe.
4. Make sure the plant roots touch the nutrient water flow in the pipe.

Tips from My Experience:

• Check PPM Nutrition:In the beginning, use a lower PPM (Parts per Million), around 600-800 PPM. Increase gradually as the plant grows until it reaches 1000-1200 PPM.
• Planting Time:Do this in the afternoon to reduce stress on the plants.

Stage 3: Daily Care, Key to Fertility

This is our daily routine. Every morning, we greet our “green kids.” What we do is:

• Check nutrient levels (PPM) and water acidity (pH) using TDS & pH meter.
• Ensure the water pump runs smoothly and there are no clogged pipes.
• Check the plants one by one for pests or signs of nutritional deficiencies.

Most Anticipated Moment: First Hydroponic Garden Harvest!

After about 30-40 days of hopeful care, the time finally camehydroponic garden harvestwe are the first! Looking at the crunchy lettuce leaves and fat bok choy stems, it felt like all the tiredness had paid off. The harvest process itself is very satisfying. Just pick it upnetpot, cut the roots, and super fresh vegetables are ready to be processed.

The sensation of picking vegetables that we grow ourselves is very different. Crunchier, sweeter, and of course, worry-free because we know these vegetables are 100% pesticide free.

Why Should You Try? Benefits of Fresh Vegetables & Unique Experience

For those of you who are visiting Borobudur, stop byBukit Rhema Shop. Here you can not only drink coffee or eat, but you can also see our hydroponic garden directly. This is an added value, aHydroponic cafe in Borobudur Magelangwhich offers a different experience.

Eating fresh vegetables has lots of benefits, you know. Apart from being rich in vitamins and minerals, fresh vegetables also have a high antioxidant content to fight free radicals. It feels like? Much better!

Also Read:Looking for a Cafe in Borobudur? Taste the Bukit Rhema Chocolate Cake

Next Dream: From 100 to 1000 Planting Holes!

The success of this first harvest fueled our bigger dreams. We don’t want to stop at 100 holes. Our next dream is to expand this garden to reach 1000 planting holes! We want to grow more varieties of vegetables. Maybe kale, spinach, or even hydroponic strawberries.

So, I want to ask those of you who are reading this. From the garden of our dreams later,what vegetables would you like to eat?Try writing in the comments column, who knows, your favorite vegetable will become a new resident of our garden!

Want to Learn Hydroponics Too? Very possible!

Many people ask, “Is it difficult to start hydroponics?” The answer: not as difficult as you imagine! We also learned from zero. If you are interested and wantlearn hydroponics, don’t hesitate to ask when you stop by the Bukit Rhema shop,cafe in Borobudurwhich is on the hill, after studying you can hang out while eatingcakefresh from the oven. We are very happy to be able to share our experiences. Who knows, after this, it might be your turn to harvest fresh vegetables at home. Come on,Learn hydroponics with Kedai Bukit Rhema!

A Promising Start

This first harvest isn’t just about vegetables. It’s about a process, about patience, and about the joy of seeing something grow from our own efforts. This is proof that with will, we can create something useful, even on a small amount of land.

Thank you for following our journey. Hopefully this story can inspire you, either to start your own garden or simply to better appreciate the food you consume.

If you find this article useful, don’t hesitate to share it with your friends on social media! And don’t forget, leave a comment below, what vegetables would you like to see in our 1000 hole garden in the future! See you at Kedai Bukit Rhema!

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