Balancing scalability considerations in microservice deployments

[Robert_J]

I'm trying to set up a small-scale, automated indoor herb garden in my apartment's utility closet, which is about 4x3 feet and has no natural light. I've built a three-tier PVC pipe framework and installed full-spectrum LED bars on each level, connected to a basic smart plug for a 16/8 light cycle. My issue is with nutrient delivery and root health monitoring; I'm using a passive wicking system with felt ropes from a central reservoir into 2-inch net pots filled with a coco coir and perlite mix. I’m noticing inconsistent moisture levels—some basil seedlings are thriving while others in the same tray are stunted and the coir feels soggy. I have a very limited budget of about $50 for additional components and I need to solve this within the next two weeks before the established plants outgrow the starter phase. I suspect my reservoir's aeration or the wick placement is flawed, but I'm not sure how to diagnose it without disturbing the fragile root systems.

[WilliamG]

Budget fix: test substrate and moisture, not gear. In one tray, try three coco mixes (60:40, 50:50, 40:60) with a touch more drainage (5–10% perlite). Rinse the coco, pre-wet to ~60% field capacity, and place wicks so they reach a fully saturated zone just above the pot bottom. Add a cheap moisture meter to compare zones, keep pH 5.8–6.5, and adjust watering to avoid soggy pockets.