Hydroponics

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Hydroponics is the process of growing plants with added nutrients, inside of water instead of soil; some departments might still include rooms with soil mounds.
A Botanist performs this role.
While this department exist primarily to help give ingredients to the Chef and feed the whole station, it also occasionally communicates with Chemists, Cargo and the rest of Service.

Starting the shift

The department in a high population station

The Hydroponics department involves using special machines to grow plants; these are the Hydroponic Trays HydrotrayMK3.png.
Most plants are readily available from the start of the shift, although you can obtain special seeds with the help of Cargo, Salvage Specialists or by exploring the maintenance hallways for leftovers, or hidden rooms.
The Chef will come visit the department often, as will Service Workers, but it's not rare for Chemists to come asking for medicinal plants.

Equipment

All of Botany's equipment has the single and only purpose to help the Botanist obtain plants as efficiently as possible. While some objects can have different uses, making sure that you get the desired outputs out of the seeds you plant is the main objective.

Machines and Tools

Appliances and utilities found within the Department
Image Name Usage
HydrotrayMK3.png
Hydroponic Tray
These oversized pots are where you plant seeds and grow plants into.
They require some degree of maintenance given to them, which is signalled through the various LED lights that blink on it; you can find their meaning in the Tray section.
They can receive water and food objects too, which will replenish the Water and Nutrient values respectively.
It can receive any liquid solution, with some being more helpful to the plant's well-being than others; the tray absorbs 1 unit of solution every 1 second, even when there is no plant inside.
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MegaSeed Servitor
Contains 5 of every common seed.
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Nutrimax
Dispenses all of the tools found in the Tools section, save for the dropper.
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Seed Extractor
Insert a plant's produce into this machine to extract 1 to 3 seeds[1]. Note that on all plants, you can alternatively use Plant Clippers on the plant before it dies instead, which will not waste one piece of produce.

As of more recent versions, the seed extractor doesn't reset the seed's genetics.

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(High Capacity) Water Tank
Contains a large quantity of liquid Water. Use a bucket or container on the tank and then on the tray that needs watering. Without water, plants will die. Normal Water Tanks contain 1500 units of water, while the High Capacity kind, which are found much more commonly in Hydroponics, contain 10000 units.
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Reagent Grinder
Always found in the kitchen and/or Chemistry lab, although some Hydroponics departments are found with one. A max. amount of 4 materials can be put inside, then either a drinking glass or a beaker in; all plants can be ground up to extract their inner chemicals (such as Vitamins and Nutriment), but some can be juiced too, to obtain specific juices.
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Microwave
Used for cooking, but also to dry out tobacco, cannabis, and aloe into more useful items.
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Hydrobe
Contains Hydroponics marked clothes, such as aprons and gloves. You can find a list in the Wardrobe section
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Botanist's Locker
Contains some useful items which aren't immediately found on the Botanist at the start of the shift.

(A list of these, which might lose relevancy to newer version, finds: an empty Apron, a Botanical Belt, Botanist's Leather Gloves, a Botany Bandana, a Hand Labeler, Overalls, a Plant Bag, a bottle of Robust Harvest and a Box of Sterile Swabs)

Plants

Most seeds will be available either in the MegaSeed Vendor or through the station, but some exotic seeds will need to either be purchases from Cargo, or through exploration of the maintenance tunnels, or through mutation.

Crates

A Botanist can request Hydroponics oriented crates from a Cargo Technician:

  • Seed Crate - An assortment of seeds available from a Megaseed Vendor. e.g. carrot, chilli, corn, eggplant, lemon, oat, onion, potato, sugarcane, tomato, wheat
  • Exotic Seed Crate - An assortment of rare seeds. e.g. banana, cannabis, egg-plant, fly amanita, nettle, pineapple, tobacco, tower cap
  • Hydroponics Equipment Crate - Crate with some tools and equipment you would usually find in Botanist Lockers

Seeds

You can Examine a Seed to see its Yield and Potency.

Potency starts at 5 out of the Seed Extractor / Vending Machine but can be increased to 50 via 15u of Robust Harvest. Max potency is 100 and can only currently be achieved via mutations (e.g. via Unstable Mutagen). Potency affects the size of the plant and amount of chemicals it provides in the Reagent Grinder. For example, highly potent medical herbs break down into more medicine and can be eaten for more pronounced effect and higher number of bites. A higher potency in wheat equates to higher amounts of flour produced.

Yield differs by plant and can only be modified by mutation (e.g. via Unstable Mutagen). Yield affects the number of plants that will be harvested when a planted seed has grown.

Plants treated with Unstable Mutagen will undergo random genetic mutations. The more unstable mutagen, the more mutations but the higher likelihood the plant will die before harvest. Since many genes are essential to a plant's survival, randomly mutating them has a high probability of killing the plant. However, mutation is the only way to get some genes.

Plants can also be cross-pollinated with one another for a chance to transfer traits and other desirable properties. To transfer pollen from one plant to another, use a sterile swab. Avoid pollen cross-contamination! Different species can be crossed to produce hybrids. Since cross-pollination is also probabilistic, it may take several tries for you to transfer the traits that you desire.


Items for the Botanist to use
Image Name Usage
Mini hoe.png
Mini Hoe
Removes weeds
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Spade
Removes plants from tray. Needed to remove any still living plant. Can be used as a rudimentary weapon.
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Plant Clippers
The Botanist's best friend. Takes samples from plants, giving you a seed; all of the plant's genetics at the time of clipping will be copied onto this seed. Overuse will decrease the health of the plant. Underuse can lead to a lack of seeds. Some plants are multi-harvest plants and so can be clipped at the final harvest. Other plants are single-harvest plants so should be clipped each time they are harvested, or as they just got planted. If you have power and a Seed Extractor, you can potentially use it instead however you will lose one piece of harvest.
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Hatchet
For cutting wood and tower caps. A territorial Botanist's best weapon.
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Scythe
Sharp, a more showy but less damaging alternative to the hatchet.
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Bucket
Used to transfer water. If dropped, spills contents on the floor. Holds 250u of liquid.
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Bottle
Used to transfer water 5u at a time. Holds 30u. If dropped, shatters.
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Plant Bag
For transporting plant materials. When holding the bag, left click the ground near you to store up multiple plants (and seeds) at a time, or left click on a plant / seed to put it in the bag. Left click on a table (not a counter or floor) in order to empty the bag onto it. Right click on the bag to get the option to dump the contents where you are standing.
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Sterile Swab
Used to transfer pollen from one plant to another for cross-breeding.
They are found clean in boxes, or in the Nutrimax, and after one single swabbing they're considered used, and will have stored one single, random genetic trait from the starting plant; swabbing again, on a different plant, will transfer said trait and collect another from it. It is so far not possible to know which traits are being taken, or to properly transfer desired genes without using multiple swabs.
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Syringe
Holds 15 units of liquid at a time. While holding it, press Z to switch 'Draw' and 'Inject' modes. Can draw from bottles, beakers and other containers, if you count people and animals 'containers' too.
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Dropper
A smaller version of the syringe, holds up to 5 units of liquid and dispenses only 1 unit at a time.
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EZ Nutrient
Adds nutrients to the tray.
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Robust Harvest
Increases plant potency (and size) up to 50 (i.e. half of max potency). Up to 15u to a Hydroponics Tray are needed to be completely sure to get to this value with most plants, although it can be made into a more precise measure by using the dropper.
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Pest Spray
Not refillable spray bottle of Pest Killer, takes away any vermin that might be present in the tray, but poisons the plant.
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Weed Spray
Not refillable spray bottle of Weed Killer, takes away any weeds that might have grown in the tray, but poisons the plant.
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Plant-B-Gone
Kills plants and weeds.
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Left-4-Zed
Mutagenic, causes plant life to become highly unstable; to use along Unstable Mutagen to increase mutation probability.
Plant Name Description Plant Image Produce Image
Aloe vera
Produces aloe, which can be used to make aloe cream. Aloe cream is useful for treating burns. Aloe-harvest.png Aloe-produce.png
Ambrosia vulgaris
Produces ambrosia vulgaris which is poisonous raw but can be used to make medicine. Ambrosia-harvest.png Ambrosia vulgaris.png
Apple tree
Produces apples, which can be eaten for light sustenance. They are also used in various cooking recipes. Apple-harvest.png Apple.png
Banana tree
Produces bananas, which can be eaten for light sustenance. They are also used to make Banana bread or pulped for medicine. Their peels are useful for making people slip. Banana-harvest.png Banana.png
Cannabis
Produces cannabis leaves which can be dried and then crafted into a joint or blunt. Seeds come from Exotic Crates Cannabis-harvest.png Cannabis-produce.png
Carrot
Produces carrots. Carrots are used in various cooking recipes. Carrot Juice be used in healing eye damage Carrots-harvest.png Carrot.png
Chanterelle mushrooms
Produces chanterelle mushrooms, which can be eaten for light sustenance. They are also used to make Mushroom pizza. Chanterelle-harvest.png Chanterelle.png
Chili bush
Produces chilis, which can be eaten for light sustenance. They are also used to make Bowls of chili, Enchiladas, and Queso. Chilis-harvest.png Chili.png
Corn stalk
Produces corn, which can be eaten for light sustenance. When ground in a grinder, it becomes cornmeal. Corn is used to make Popcorn and Enchiladas. Corn-harvest.png Corn.png
Eggplant
Produces eggplant, which can be eaten for light sustenance. They are also used to make Vegetable Pizza. Eggplant-harvest.png Eggplant.png
Egg Plant
Produces eggs slower than an animal can. Are used in Cooking. Eggyplant-harvest.png Eggyplant-produce.png
Fly Amanita
Are used in Cooking. Fly amanita-harvest.png Fly amanita.png
Galaxy thistle
Produces galaxy thistle which can eaten raw as medicine or ground to produce a liquid medical chemical. Galaxy-thistle-harvest.png Galaxy thistle.png
Gatfruit tree
Produces gatfruit. Very illegal. Gatfruit-harvest.png Gatfruit.png
Lemon tree
Produces lemons. Lemons are used in various cooking recipes. They also help prevent scurvy. Lemon tree.png Lemon.png
Lingzhi
Produces lingzhi which can eaten raw as medicine or ground to produce a liquid medical chemical. Lingzhi harvest.png Lingzhi.png
Nettle bush
Produces nettles which are poisonous raw but can be used to make medicine. Nettle bush.png Nettle.png
Oats
Produces oat bushels. Oats are used in various cooking recipes. Oats.png Oats Produce.png
Onion
Produces onions, which can be eaten for light sustenance. A Chef can slice these with a knife to make onion slices which are used in various cooking recipes. Onion plant.png Onion.png
Red onion
Produces red onions, which can be eaten for light sustenance.. RedOnion plant.png RedOnion.png
Pineapple bush
Produces pineapple, which can be eaten for light sustenance. Pineapples are used in various cooking recipes. Seeds come from Exotic Crates Pineapple bush.png Pineapple.png
Poppy flower
Produces poppies which can eaten raw as medicine or ground to produce a liquid medical chemical. Poppy Flower.png Poppies.png
Potato
Produces potatoes, which can be eaten for light sustenance. Potatoes are used in various cooking recipes. Potato plant.png Potato.png
Space tobacco
Produces space tobacco leaves. Unused? SpaceTobacco plant.png SpaceTobacco.png
Sugarcane
Produces sugarcane. Sugarcane can be ground into sugar and used in various cooking recipes. Sugarcane plant.png Sugarcane.png
Tobacco
Produces tobacco leaves which can be dried and then crafted into a blunt. Seeds come from Exotic Crates Tobacco plant.png Tobacco leaves.png
Tomato
Produces tomatoes, which can be eaten for light sustenance. They are also used to make various Pizzas, Spaghetti, and Bowls of chili. Can also be thrown for fun. Tomato plant.png Tomato.png
Tower cap
Produces tower caps. Tower caps are a source of logs. A hatchet is needed to chop these trees down. The resultant produce can be turned into wood planks via a hatchet. Wood planks are used in Construction Towercap plant.png Towercap.png
Wheat
Produces wheat bushels. Wheat can be used in a grinder to produce flour which can be mixed with water to make dough or used in various cooking recipes. Wheat plant.png Wheat.png

mutations(WIP)

When useing Unstable Mutagen on certain plants, there's a chance for it to mutate in to a new species

Plant Name original plant Description Plant Image Produce Image
Ambrosia Deus
Ambrosia vulgaris
Only renewable source of Omnizine and Space Drugs DeusharvestReworked.png Deusproduce.png
Blue Space Tomato
Tomato
similar to a regualar tomato but contains space lube Bluespace1.png Bluespace2.png
Blood Tomato
Tomato
N/A Bloodtomato1.png Bloodtomato2.png

minor mutations are mutations that can happen to any plant.

mutation effect
screaming
screams when harvested
bio-luminescence
plant and produce glow
ligneous
requires a hatchet to be harvested
high yield
produces more produce
less water
requires less water to grow
long life
longer life cycle
seedless
fruit cannot be made in to seeds
weed resistant
less likely to get weeds
pest resistant
less likely to get pests
low light
requires less light to grow
toxin tolerance
toxins have less of an effect
heat resistant
less prone too heat deamage
low pressure tolerance
resistant to low pressure
high pressure tolerance
resistant to high pressure
slip
makes you slip on the fruit
sentient
the plant becomes a sentient(a ghost role)
kudzu
turns in to a rapidly spreading kudzu vine that will take over hydroponics if not killed with herbicide

Chemicals

The raw plant can be eaten for a small medical effect or poison. This effect can be boosted if the plant was grown with Robust Harvest. Alternatively, the plant can be processed into a more powerful medicine.

Plant Name Properties Description
Aloe vera
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10 seconds: 10 Aloe cream.
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Aloe & Dermaline
Dermaline can be ingested or injected to heal burn/shock damage. Aloe cream can be applied to the body to greatly heal burn/shock damage. Aloe can be eaten.
Ambrosia vulgaris
Grinder.png
Kelotane & Desoxyphredrine
Kelotane heals burns, but is less effective than Dermaline. Desoxyephedrine causes poison damage and stuttering, but makes you somewhat stun/knockdown resistant.
Banana tree
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Pulped Banana Peel
Effective against internal bleeding.
Chilli bush
Grinder.png
Capsaicin Oil
Causes caustic damage.
Galaxy Thistle
Grinder.png
Stellibinin
An anti-toxin that heals against amatoxin damage.
Lingzhi
Grinder.png
Ultravasculine & Epinephrine
Ultravasculine rapidly flushes toxins. Epinephrine brings back people from a critical state. Do not overdose.
Nettle bush
Grinder.png
Histamine
A poison that can range from mildly annoying to lethal depending on the dosage. Used to mass produce Ultravasculine
Poppy flower
Grinder.png
Bicaridine
Used for brute damage/stabilize someone who is badly beaten.
Galaxy Thistle & Aloe vera
Grinder.png
Siderlac & Dermaline
Siderlac heals against caustic damage.