raising/lowering beds

[trichy]

What would be the best way to go about raising and lowering beds of soil (2'X3') while keeping the light at a constant? It is a perpetual and the bed that is in the longest will have taller plants (duh) as opposed to the new ones. The beds are heavy and would like to not have to pick them up often. The only way I know to do would be to put 2X4's under the new beds, removing them as they needed to be lowered as the plants get taller. They are under a 1Kw HPS. I will have 2 beds at any one time under it (the cement mixing trays at lowes).

 

[yamaha_1fan]

Set the bed on some wood making sure you have enough roomto get a floor jack under it. Then use the jack to raise it a bit, remove some wood, and lower the jack.

I feel pretty strong and manly but I wouldnt want to mess with a soil bed full of plants.

 

[Groucho]

It would be lots easier to move the lights instead of the planters. you do not want to move a 2x3 tray full of dirt and3ft tall plants. one spill dump manuver will solidify that. pulleys and string. piece of cake

 

[trichy]

perpetual

perpetual

The reason for moving the plants is b/c it will be a perpetual garden, meaning one tray of soil will have been in there a month and they will be much taller than the ones going in. So you either have to tie a bunch of plants down in a SOG garden or just move all of the plants up or down. I guess I will have to build some kind of base to put on the bottom of the tray to transfer the load from the floor jack. I will also have to redesign my tables to allow the floor jack to be there. Thanks for the tip.

 

[metamorf]

The floor jack sounds like an accident waiting to happen IMO. Get more (smaller) lights and light each tray individually.

 

[kaljukajakas]

You could put the bed on a strong flat frame that has 3/4" threaded rods going vertically through holes in its four corners, from the ceiling to the floor. You could then raise or lower your plants slowly and safely by fitting the threaded rod with nuts (preferably wingnuts) and washers for supporting the frame.

 

[dontstepongrass]

how large are these beds that a wooden pallet wouldn't work?

and kaljukajakas - slowly is right, so slow no one would probably do it like that.

 

[kaljukajakas]

and kaljukajakas - slowly is right, so slow no one would probably do it like that.

An inch a day It's an option if you want to keep the light at a perfect distance without a lot of construction work. Otherwise scissor jacks, which can be home made, would be much better.

 

[Onepunchko]

Wheels!