Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Grow Spirulina Algae
How to Grow Spirulina Algae. Spirulina is a salt-water plant that was discovered in the natural alkaline lakes of South America and Africa. It is a well-known type of algae that is used by many people as a dietary supplement that contains three to four times the amount of vegetable protein than fish or beef, three to four times more vitamin B12...
Spirulina is a salt-water plant that was discovered in the natural alkaline lakes of South America and Africa. It is a well-known type of algae that is used by many people as a dietary supplement that contains three to four times the amount of vegetable protein than fish or beef, three to four times more vitamin B12 than animal liver and a wide range of minerals such as magnesium, iron, potassium, calcium, sodium and phosphorus. It also has five times the amount of beta carotene that is found in carrots and 40 times the amount that is found in spinach. In order to successfully grow spirulina algae in your own home pond, certain factors need to be considered.
Things You'll Need
Water-tight, open container
Aquarium pump
Minerals
Halogen lamp
Spirulina
Determine the location for your grow site. Four major conditions are required for growing spirulina: tropical weather, pure water resources, strong sunshine and a pollution-free environment. Make sure that your location receives consistently high temperatures. The growth of spirulina ceases in temperatures below 20 degrees Celsius, and the temperature should be no higher than 38 degrees Celsius.
Place alkaline water in a water-tight open container. This container must be non-toxic and resistant to corrosion. It should not have sharp angles and should be twice the size of the culture, which is usually 40 cm. Make sure the water has a composition of all the micronutrients, including potassium nitrate, sodium carbonate, magnesium sulfate and lime, that are needed in order to support plant life.
Agitate the surface of the culture with an aquarium pump.
Add three grams of dry spirulina per liter of water and aerate at least twice each day. When the temperature is adequate, the spirulina algae will grow at a rate of 30 percent each day. Maximize the area that is exposed to light because it will directly affect the algae’s growth.
Harvest the spirulina early in the morning. The process is easier in the cooler temperatures, and the spirulina has the highest percentage of proteins at this time. Once the spirulina has been removed from the pond, it is ready to be dried or consumed.
