Grow Mediums Has anyone used Coco in the 8.5 liter Autopots?

[AJrexxx]

You using coco still? and how are the autopots working out for you?

I'm tempted to start a simple poll. Have you had an autopot fail on your before, yes or no, and see that the numbers are. Yes would mean a valve issue that caused a flood maybe. I would not count an issue like someone didnt setup an airdome right and that caused a wicking issue.

I have not used them yet grow starting in a few weeks running four. 2 different strains. 1 with airdomes 1 without. Then will slowly start testing other if I get a conclusion from that.

 

[lunarman]

I have not used them yet grow starting in a few weeks running four. 2 different strains. 1 with airdomes 1 without. Then will slowly start testing other if I get a conclusion from that.

Wish you a good grow! Be nice if first one goes really well for you. I was impressed with them once I hooked them up to the res and air pump. The growth was much better than my previous way (DIY organic soil mix in fabric pots and manual watering/teas).

 

[lunarman]

If anyone is interested, I started a poll on autopot failures over on that board.

 

[Sage]

Posted this in the Autopot section but figured I'd ask here too. Anyhow, this seems like it should work better than the 15L, if I'm understanding the theory of 'coco-as-hydro' (vs. as soil) correctly. More dry/wet cycles=faster growth, no? Theoretically, hypothetically, and to my inexperienced, untrained eyes, it seems like in an inert substrate such as coco, what matters isn't the size of the container as much as the amount of water that the plant has access to. Is that a more or less fair assesment? What kind of limitations on growth can I expect from this (if any)? I'm assuming it would limit some of the more XXL varieties, but that doesn't really seem like a huge issue for me as I would rate variety over yield.

Anyone done one of these? Remember seeing it in someone else's thread at some point? Just have a theory? Don't have one but are curious? Do have one but it is actually about how they built the pyramids or how to split the atom? GO FOR IT! No bad answers, amirite? All comers welcome.

If it matters, I will (fingers crossed for successful shipping) have 3x3BOG, and 1x each of Sour Hound, Supernatural OG, Sour Stomper.

I've run both the 15 and 8.5 with soil and coco, definitely found less issues with the 8.5 pots, the plants just turned out happier, and not that much smaller either.

 

[Mariano Gomes]

@AJrexxx have you ever tried maxibloom with autopots do you think it's gonna clog out the tubes?

@slowandeasy I am with you on that new product craziness. I think sometimes people get carried away with gear. Most of them could improve there results with the kiss method and humidity control, I went to a buddies a few weeks ago and he has started growing. Jesus it is a mess. He has thousands of dollars worth of gear and some untold amount of money spent on nutrients. He has never even had a plant in flower yet. Could of gave him a bag of maxibloom, bottle of calmag, a dehumidifier, and a couple cobs and he would of had good grow. To many people in this flood of growers want instant monsters and do not want to dial in. They never change their methods or test new theories just buy a bunch of gear that they sometimes don't understand.

Okay off my soapbox now.

@InexpensiveBeret About the feeding I always have bigger plants in drain to waste with smaller containers. I used to use five gallon pots and went to three. Less water, less nutrients, bigger plants. I am guessing with autopots the first twenty days you are top feeding so the roots will fill the pot. Then once you turn it on it is more like a hydro set up like was mentioned before. These are theories by the way I have not tested them yet. Had my autopots for a month now just sitting in the box in the basement. Haven't even opened the damn things yet. I know my biggest plant so far was about 300 grams dry and she was eating a liter four times a day. Man that becomes a lot of work. Hence my autopot experiment.

Sorry usually not that long winded.

 

[AJrexxx]

@AJrexxx have you ever tried maxibloom with autopots do you think it's gonna clog out the tubes?

I am getting close to day 20 to switch them on I will let you know. I dont think it is going to be an issue.

 

[Mariano Gomes]

Do you have a grow journal I could follow? Which feeding schedule are you planning on using kiss 1 teaspoon of maxibloom per gallon? what else will you be using drip clean, silica hydroguard? @AJrexxx

I am getting close to day 20 to switch them on I will let you know. I dont think it is going to be an issue.

 

[AJrexxx]

Do you have a grow journal I could follow? Which feeding schedule are you planning on using kiss 1 teaspoon of maxibloom per gallon? what else will you be using drip clean, silica hydroguard? @AJrexxx

typically measure by PPMs I start at 100 and progress up usually ending at about 850-900 ppms. I use calimagic and silica. Recently I used Mammoth P in flower not sure if I am doing it this run or not. So I am guessing at day 20-25 i am going to set up the autopots I should be running about 400 ppms give or take. 20% of that being cal mag so 320 ppm of maxibloom and 80 ppms of cal mag. If it is a little off I run with it, getting it exact will drive you nuts. I use PPMs because it lets me adjust a little more to what the plants need and sometime your PPM will be way high using that much early on. I am more of a feed them what they will eat not everything they can take kind of grower. Hope that makes sense if not let me know. I have been told in autopots hydroguard is helpful but my res is outside the tent in a 65 degree ish room so I don't know that it is necessary. Also have not found out if it adversely effects mammoth or not.If it is needed and effects mammoth I will skip mammoth and run hydroguard. Guess I should get to work on figuring that out.

 

[Mariano Gomes]

Thanks for the reply dude do a journal please!!! hehe plus reps

typically measure by PPMs I start at 100 and progress up usually ending at about 850-900 ppms. I use calimagic and silica. Recently I used Mammoth P in flower not sure if I am doing it this run or not. So I am guessing at day 20-25 i am going to set up the autopots I should be running about 400 ppms give or take. 20% of that being cal mag so 320 ppm of maxibloom and 80 ppms of cal mag. If it is a little off I run with it, getting it exact will drive you nuts. I use PPMs because it lets me adjust a little more to what the plants need and sometime your PPM will be way high using that much early on. I am more of a feed them what they will eat not everything they can take kind of grower. Hope that makes sense if not let me know. I have been told in autopots hydroguard is helpful but my res is outside the tent in a 65 degree ish room so I don't know that it is necessary. Also have not found out if it adversely effects mammoth or not.If it is needed and effects mammoth I will skip mammoth and run hydroguard. Guess I should get to work on figuring that out.

 

[AJrexxx]

Thanks for the reply dude do a journal please!!! hehe plus reps

Sorry for the super late reply. I only have one journal going now and it is in my signature and it is for Mega Crop. Which honestly I switched to on my autopots as well. I am just using that and hydroguard for my res. They are all grow battle plants though. I do not think you will have and issue with Maxibloom in an autopot system it dissolves a little better than Mega crop and I am not having any issues. I will do a maxibloom run at some point i still have a 2.2 pound bag I have not opened. When I do one I will tag you for sure. I do like the megacrop for simplicity 4 grams per gallon in veg and 5 grams in flower. It has every additive you need including silica. Here are a couple of pictures of my wipeout express and royal kush. I did have to adjust my PH a little higher I ran a strict 5.8 with Maxi I am running closer to 6 with mega crop.