Spirulina is a blue-green edible micro-algae that is about 0.025 cm long and grows in warm environments as it is produced largely for nutritional purposes.
The algae grow naturally in alkaline lakes that are high in soda bicarbonate and salt, with a PH of about ten, so you should take those conditions into account when growing spirulina for optimal production.
You will need a culture medium when growing the spirulina to grow algae because the culture medium is the primary food for algae.
To be considered organic, a crop must be grown in an organic system using only natural nutrients. Organic spirulina will take about 3-6 weeks to mature, and if the algae are thick and green, harvesting will need to be carried out at that time.
Factors that affect the growth rate of spirulina include and pH levels, temperature, and sunlight. Growing spirulina is relatively easy because it will not require a complex growing farm space, or soil.
Advantages of Growing Organic Spirulina
| Health benefits | Other benefits |
| Fight bacteria through the production of white blood cells and antibodies. | Easy to digest. Contain antioxidants Require little water compared to other vegetables. |
| Contain Vitamins such as A, C, D, E and B12 | Improves the economic value of a country since they are grown locally. |
| Has minerals such as iron, magnesium, potassium, and selenium | Farmers can use it as a natural fertilizer. |
| Rich in protein, where one tablespoon of spirulina is equivalent to four grams of protein. | |
| Healthy fats, for example, gamma-linoleic acid. | |
| Spirulina uses inorganic fertilizer like the one used from nature that is phosphorous, atrium, and nitrogen. These are the main natural foods for the plants. | |
| Spirulina helps in weight management. | |
| Have high nutrients which help in pain relief, brain, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory. |
Spirulina Requirements for Growth.
Algae necessitate sufficient indirect sunlight. The direct sun can potentially damage newly grown spirulina. This is why using a temporary shade is the best way to regulate the sun exposure of the algae when growing.
Use of sufficient space from a growing medium such as tank or container. Since glass containers can break easily, using plastic containers is more practical due to their durability, while using pots is more practical than glass since they are easier to handle and replace if they break.
The container should also be clear and allow rays from the sun to permeate since the intensity of sunlight impacts protein concentration levels. In fact, the container should be enclosed for healthy microalgae production and to prevent contamination.
Next to sufficient sunlight, water is also the most critical requirement in growing microalgae. Spirulina of course can culture from any water source from drinking water, rain water, and waterbodies because it cultures in high PH levels.
Also, make sure that the PH levels are maintained in the water levels than can sustain spirulina growing conditions levels of PH 8 to 11. You will also want to maintain the water levels because the sun’s rays will not penetrate if the water is too deep.
Also, the required temperature levels will need to be between the suitable thermal limits of 30°C to 35°C. High temperatures will cause spirulina to form high protein levels but if the temperatures are low, then the organism will struggle to grow.
Additional tools, such as litmus paper for monitoring PH levels, agitating tools, harvesting tools, such as a small scooping container, and gloves, for safety, are all used in the growing and harvesting process.
Last but not least, it is required that Good fresh spirulina is cultured to have the ability to double to more spirulina when your farmed it. Fertilizers are also a requirement when growing organic spirulina.
It is recommended to use soluble or crystallized fertilizer and not granular. Fertilizers that are of prominence when growing spirulina are Magnesium sulfate, sodium chloride, potassium nitrate, and sodium bicarbonate.
Process of Growing Organic Spirulina.
Preparation for growing organic spirulina
To begin, a good-sized aquarium is needed which has sufficient volume for the spirulina. You will also want to purchase a spirulina culture or a combination of nutrients to promote microalgae growth.
You can also buy a premixed bag that comes with some special minerals like salt, urea, calcium chloride, magnesium sulfate, sodium bicarbonate, and ammonium sulfate that include necessary nutrients.
Steps of growing an organic spirulina
Prepare a growing medium using sea salt, baking soda, and water. Mix in the solution until everything is dissolved. Now you have a culture with a rich mineral composition.
Add the primary source of nutrent that consists of nitrogen phosphorus, Potassium, iron, magnesium. for organic food for the spirulina.
In your container, add fresh, unwashed spirulina to the solution. You need to stir a few times a day because spirulina does not really grow in stagnant water. Within 3 to 5 days the algae will start to multiply in the container.
Keep the water fresh and regularly check for the nutrient content value. If your container is open, it is possible evaporation occurs, so maintaining the level of water is important!
Harvesting-production process
Spirulina goes from a lighter color to darker, and this is an indicator for harvesting. The spirulina is collected, the water is drained through a filter, and it is washed with water. After filtering, the moisture is squeezed out using large weights.
Next, the algae is placed in processing machines to reduce it to small noodle-type strips. It is then dried in the sun for a few hours.
After it has dried completely, the strains are ground into powder form, and it is verified to test in laboratories for human consumption.
Factors That can Damage Organic Spirulina
Temperature conditions- The spirulina algae cannot survive below 20c or above 38c. Heating the algae will lower its nutritional protein content’s levels.
Nutrient imbalance: If the algae are producing a lot of bubbles, then there is likely a nutrient imbalance within the culture itself. To adjust nutrient imbalance, add water and baking soda. If bubbles continue add more water and a nutrient solution until they stop; this is a sign of absorption of toxic materials, and radiation/ heavy metals from the environment.
PH levels: The pH levels can affect how thick the spirulina becomes. If the algae do not thicken over a few weeks, one should check the pH levels of the water. Spirulina grows under a pH of 10, which is primarily accomplished through the addition of nutrient solution, or baking soda. Once the pH level gets too high, the addition of vinegar to the nutrient solution will lower it, as it contains acetic acid.
How to Tell If Organic Spirulina Is Healthy
- The process of dissolving shouldn’t be too quick or too slow.
- A bad smell indicates it is damaged spirulina with a high oxidation rate.
- Check the color of the spirulina, the dark green color indicates that it is healthy algae. If you see and touch spirulina that is not good, it will be shiny or have ‘dusty’ on the surface.
Final Thoughts
Spirulina is a type of micro-algae that is easily grown at home with the right conditions. It takes about 3-6 weeks to grow fully and will be ready to harvest when it changes from a light green color to a dark green color.
Farmers mainly grow the algae for its nutritional value as a food source. To get the most efficient yield, a culture medium is developed to enhance the growth of the organisms, when the culture medium has phosphorous and nitrogen added.