stinky's new aerogarden - GreenPassion.org - Dedicated to Medicinal Cannabis Cultivation and Education

stinkypickle · #1 (**permalink**) 07-13-2009, 02:27 PM

i broke down the last set-up after harvest in April. was gonna clean and then rebuild a new and improved system...

well that never happened.

so now i'm gonna just keep 'em going in the quickie, supposed-to-be-temporary system.

i've got 10 unknown sex plants of unknown genes, more bagseed. 5 each of 2 different kinds of bagseed.

they're suspended in a container with roots bathing in a nutrient wash which is aerated with several airstones...aeroponics, yeah?

well, so far so good. time to sex 'em, i think?

i have just not had the time to study this grow like my last one. not many pictures yet.

my focus has been on life...i got married recently to my beautiful girlfriend of more than 5 years. it's been unreal. can't wait to see what this harvest provides for our new family. i'm so happy i picked up some skills last grow that are making this simple, no frills set-up work on it's own pretty much.

still using up my gh nutes on a modified lucas formula...keeping ppm around 600...haven't checked ph yet except for prepping the rw cubes before germ...using only ro water which starts with a good ph around 5.5-6...flushing with ro water every few weeks...all cfls again (23w 1600lumen 27 & 65k)...they screen ain't up yet but needs to be soon. think i gotta sex 'em to get the males out.

oh yeah, i started 1 outdoor soil plant...it's a crap shoot on the sex...but i got good feelings about her being a girl. we'll see.

HI EVERYBODY...I'VE MISSED YOU GUYS...SURE GOT A LOT TO CATCH UP ON READING...

I8ntLucky_UR · #2 (**permalink**) 07-13-2009, 02:59 PM

They look gr8t SP. Congrats to you both on the marriage too. Good luck with this grow.

Shinningwind · #3 (**permalink**) 07-13-2009, 03:24 PM

They look great... Healthy and happy looking plants.

Congrates on your Marriage...

purplehaze4u · #4 (**permalink**) 07-13-2009, 07:12 PM

looks nice

chuckd420 · #5 (**permalink**) 07-14-2009, 12:54 AM

That's a nice lookin' grow. Congrats on your marriage.

Hatch · #6 (**permalink**) 07-14-2009, 01:19 AM

Congrat.'s On Getting Hitched, May It Bring Great Happiness To Both Your Lives!!!EH!!!

Your Plants Are Looking Very Frisky, & Healthy You Are Doing A Good Job, Would Like To Wish You The Best Of Luck & Karma To Ya On This Grow..

Cheers`;`Hatch`;`

Zigzagman · #7 (**permalink**) 07-14-2009, 09:23 AM

Those kids are looking good stinky. Congratulations on getting married. May you two enjoy each other, forever...

stinkypickle · #8 (**permalink**) 07-22-2009, 07:01 AM

will not be posting much, but i wanted to share some observations.

i probably will not be going back to the other system of continuous drip. while it worked well, this supposed to be a stand-in system is kicking its ass.

some big diff between each system are:

*genetics - still bagseed, diff bag; 2 types of unknown dna

*last grow went thru couple prototype light fixtures before sticking with current one, which has been hanging thruout current one

*current custom aeroponics system (cost <$40, less lights & nutes) vs. old dripper system

*i don't watch 'em every minute or day for that matter. i've checked the ppm a few times, the ph never

some things i eliminated:

*didn't prune at all like last time; only topped - they def are growing better (or maybe better dna?)

*no more water changes and bucket reservoir cleaning - they just suck it up and i keep adding more to the reservoir. i still flush with pure ro, then just top off with 700-900ppm nute rich water (i have had not over nuting, i just watch them and keep the ppm below 1000 (that gave me trouble last grow)

*not as worried about the temps - they hover in the low 90's and doesn't seem to affect the growth (i also live in a hot climate year round); air exchange and flow remains good

check 'em out. let me know your thoughts and suggestions...

i gotta put that screen up quick. they should show sex soon, lights at 12/12 for 5 days now.

pix are a week apart. notice the 4x4 blocks are gone from under the tub

Zigzagman · #9 (**permalink**) 07-22-2009, 08:49 AM

Sounds like you're getting it dialed in stinky. Those kids are looking good.

stinkypickle · #10 (**permalink**) 07-23-2009, 03:18 PM

3 of 10 showed their balls yesterday when the lights came on. they've been separated.

what do you guys do with your males? make paper, hemp? use leafs for tea?

they look so lively and healthy i'd like to use them for some purpose other than mulch.

the rest of the 7 were sitting in 12/12 until this morning when i took the timer off to leave the lights on for today...i plan to take clones from the rest later today. i'm hoping it's not too late to take clones before they turn to flowering clones with a real long phase needed to return to veg.

i'm gonna use my bubble cloner made from info found here!

anyone have any concerns on this set-up or warnings of possible imminent disaster from your experience? i am having a hard time accepting that this grow has been going as easy and smooth in spite of being so hands-off this time. i'm always worried something sinister is waiting in the wings...what might i expect to encounter in problems with this set-up...which may be more like a dwc than a aeroponics system?

DieAbetic · #11 (**permalink**) 07-23-2009, 07:33 PM

hey looking good! my suggestions just keep your res clean, change it when needed, and watch that pH close! also R/O water is very good because it is clean and has nothing really in it (no ppm). however, this can cause deficiencies in some grows, that most people dont diagnose properly because they are micro-nutrients that are usually found in water that is not R/O filtered. i have heard it is often calcium/magnesium deficiencies. im not saying that your plants will definitely get this, but is possible. many hydro growers that us R/O systems add Cal-Mag nutrients, or sometimes even add regular tap water once in awhile to give plants some of those needed micro nutrients. depends on how hard/chlorinated your water is (can get rid of chlorine with an airstone of course). Advance nutrients has Cal-Mag but im sure you can find it cheaper on many online hydro stores. heres a link to the advanced nutrients one

Advanced Nutrients

stinkypickle · #12 (**permalink**) 08-19-2009, 02:21 PM

continuing to do well.

6 ladies of different types - some leggy, some not; some more sativa; some more indica looking.

20 or so days in to flower.

flower sites everywhere. BUT NO SMELL! CFLs again?

the only one that does leave an aroma on my fingers reminds me of super haze strain a friend was raising awhile back. dunno.

the aeroponics setup is doing well. so low maintenance. just add more water and check ppm. i haven't checked ph all grow but am confident that my water supply is slightly acid. i flush the medium with ro water when i remember. no signs of def...yet?!

another 2 mos or so thru flower...cross my fingers and pray that this setup holds up to the end. there isn't much medium around each plant for me to really worry about lock-out. only a 1" rw cube surrounded by clay. 99% of roots and plant are free and open from medium where salts can build.

screen is up. i will be training less at the end of stretch to allow more growth above screen with longer colas.

temps still hover around 90 with lights on. lights off during the day when temps are still between 85-90 out. night time temps around 75. they've dealt with the heat well.

HOW LONG IS STRETCH ON AVERAGE AGAIN? # of days? About 20-something right?

anyway, i'm taking one day at a time until harvest...maybe around end of October.

Thanks all!

Hope you are all having a great Summer...it's almost done

Jakhama_2_mcmetz · #13 (**permalink**) 08-23-2009, 10:57 AM

congrats on getting married my friend, very nice setup aswell,

goodluck and keep us updated

stinkypickle · #14 (**permalink**) 09-02-2009, 04:35 PM

Hi all.

nice job with the server switch admin peeps.

i'm at about week 5. haven't been doing anything near the documentation of the last one. haven't even been comparing photos or anything. have been using my daily log from the last one as a reference for nutrient strengths. been pushing it up a little 900-1k ppm.

i've got no clue how much longer. it looks like all diff strains. some sativa looking which i'm prepared to flower longer if needed.

i maximized stretch better this time by not training so much and letting the tips reach 5" or so above the screen. last time, flowers where only about 3" above screen. if my light wasn't fixed in position, i would've probably let 'em stretch another inch or so. it's amazing seeing real colas under cfls.

still haven't done more than 1 res change and cleaning. the black mortar tub i use doesn't grow mold algae. the clay hydroton pebbles float and seem to offer the roots and res underneath some shade from the light. i have no mold or algae on the 1" rockwoll cubes around the base each fem.

jus keep checking tds and topping off with fresh or new nute mix. it's entering the time where i start thinking what i can do to maximize yield and flower growth...molasses time? any other homemade boosters? any other techniques - should i keep stressing (pinching, bending) point under the colas to encourage the plant to push more nutrients and good stuff to each limb?

maybe i'm just getting greedy...naw, the more the merrier and the more to share.

please give feedback, advice or questions...i luv the challenges of growing.

and reaping the rewards.

have a great day all

ATX36 · #15 (**permalink**) 09-02-2009, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stinkypickle

Hi all.

nice job with the server switch admin peeps.

i'm at about week 5. haven't been doing anything near the documentation of the last one. haven't even been comparing photos or anything. have been using my daily log from the last one as a reference for nutrient strengths. been pushing it up a little 900-1k ppm.

i've got no clue how much longer. it looks like all diff strains. some sativa looking which i'm prepared to flower longer if needed.

i maximized stretch better this time by not training so much and letting the tips reach 5" or so above the screen. last time, flowers where only about 3" above screen. if my light wasn't fixed in position, i would've probably let 'em stretch another inch or so. it's amazing seeing real colas under cfls.

still haven't done more than 1 res change and cleaning. the black mortar tub i use doesn't grow mold algae. the clay hydroton pebbles float and seem to offer the roots and res underneath some shade from the light. i have no mold or algae on the 1" rockwoll cubes around the base each fem.

jus keep checking tds and topping off with fresh or new nute mix. it's entering the time where i start thinking what i can do to maximize yield and flower growth...molasses time? any other homemade boosters? any other techniques - should i keep stressing (pinching, bending) point under the colas to encourage the plant to push more nutrients and good stuff to each limb?

maybe i'm just getting greedy...naw, the more the merrier and the more to share.

please give feedback, advice or questions...i luv the challenges of growing.

and reaping the rewards.

have a great day all

I love how healthy and strong those babies where looking in the early veg pics. Congratulations and may your marriage stay healthy and strong as those seedlings.

I'm curious just how your system works. When you say Aero does that mean it's using sprayers to deliver the nute mix with the roots suspended in air? Or is it more like DWC/Bubbleponics with the roots hanging down into the nute mix and the airstones aerating the mix?

If the roots are at all submerged in the nute mix I would be really careful about letting the water temps get too high. The main concern with the room temps in the 90s would be root rot. If you had a separate rez you could use frozen water bottles to keep the nute mix below 72*F, and as low as 65*F is good. You could get a catastrophic case of root rot otherwise.

If you can’t control the temps just be sure to keep everything super clean, and occasionally flush with RO water, and keep it light proof. One trick that worked for me was to inoculate the plants with beneficials. These take the place of nasty fungi and bacteria that cause root rot and do all kinds of good things for your plants but you can’t use H2O2 without killing them off. Another product that I’ve been meaning to try is Hygrozyme. It basically destroys all the dead organic matter that root rot causing pathogens need to thrive.

But if you’re using sprayers and the roots are suspended entirely in air then it's really not that much of an issue anyhow. One other thing is that from what I have read pinching and bending or any stress should be avoided during the final weeks of bud production. At that point you want all the plants energy to be devoted to bud production and not building stronger stems and such. I can't think of anything else that should keep you from achieving the best possible crop under those conditions. Good luck and may your bagseed be dank.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

stinkypickle · #16 (**permalink**) 09-04-2009, 05:46 AM

thanx atx.

it is more a dwc than aero. no misters, only aeration. water temp is 80 with lights on. the black tub i use for the res doesn't get mold or algae growing on it. i rinsed it once before flowering. since then i have only siphon drained the water out once...i couldn't keep the ppm down and was worried the nite mix was too out of balance. i kinda flushed and then just refilled with a half strength nute mix for a week or so then slowly raised it back up to around 1000.

the whole grow, since i've been a lotta busy, i've been at peace if the whole things just died. as this is more a hobby and trial to see if growing is feasible (which it apparently very much is), i haven't been taking things too serious.

i understand the need to do what you recommend tho. i followed a strict schedule the frist time...kinda over did it at times, too anal. this time i'm trying to relax, some days i forget to even check. i gotta refill the tub every 2 days. it'd been nice to make some sort of float valve system that refills the tub as needed, keeping a steady water level.

i may try the water bottle ice technique, but wonder if the temp swings would do more damage then good. right now, things are kinda at a equilibrium, i think, since the plants have seemed to adjust well to the enviro they're in.

i thought maybe some minor rolling of the stems under the colas might encourage MORE good stuff to that region, thereby boosting the good stuff the cola gets fed from, but i see your point too.

thanx for dropping in. take care