Grow Mediums Slim's 1st Autopot grow-Think Different

[HemiSync]

DAY 21
Still really tiny...look stunted. Not sure if I should turn on the Autopots yet? Any suggestions? Thanks everyone!! View attachment 664795 View attachment 664796

Wow they are small. Even my runt was recovering by day 21. I have never used those lights, nutrients, genetics, and am only on my first grow with autopots and coco, so am afraid I can be of much help. I turned my pots on early at day 15 after a hand feeding and the girls have not suffered for it, but mine were bigger than yours at day 15.

Maybe some and will help. Good luck.

 

[slimjim00]

Thanks Hemi, I am keeping my fingers crossed...really sux because I am out of medicine and these stunted seedlings look like its gonna be a while...

 

[slimjim00]

Hey, any advise on how to fill up my reservoir? I'm not sure how much Coco A + B or if I should add CalMAg. My feeding always change every few days..any advise would be great, thanks!

Here is a link to the canna coco feeding schedule calculator... http://www.cannagardening.com/growguide

 

[HemiSync]

With coco/perlite you should always be adding some cal/mag. On my day 25 reservoir change I was using 1.5ml/l of cal/mag and I started off the grow, when first preparing the coco, I added 1ml/l of the cal/mag. I use AD nutrients so really can't say about your grow nutes. Although, it can't be that much difference between the two different grow nutes.

 

[slimjim00]

DAY 31

Hello everyone, hope all is well with everyone here on AFN!!

1st 24 hours with the air domes and autopots turned on. They look droopy and over watered...Is this normal??

 

[slimjim00]

OK, I just checked and they did perk back up!!Whoooooshh!!

 

[slimjim00]

DAY 38

Gooooooooood morning/afternoon/night everyone!
Turned on the Auto Pot & Air Domes last Wednesday...Gotta say, I love not having to worry about feeding her and measuring and ph'ing everything on a daily basis...it's cool I got to learn how to hand feed a Hydro system and all, but I definitely love these auto pots! The girls look good, although very stunted during the first 3 weeks. So I have a few questions if anyone is around...I filled my reservoir to 12 gallons and put a little more than 1/2 the Coco A+B I normally use. When do I change the reservoir? When it's almost empty? It's been a week and its a little over 6 gallons!

 

[HemiSync]

Personally I would have started off with a lesser amount like 4 gallons (15 liters). That way you get a chance to dial in your nutrients and see how it all works. I found my first four gallons took a little over a week for two girls to drink and their needs had changed by that time.

But you might be onto something there, fill it up and let it ride. I am curious as to how this works out for you. I too love the automation of the autopots, just don't forget to check in on your ladies daily if possible. They get lonely and it's good to make sure your water is going where it is supposed to go. lol

 

[slimjim00]

haha me and my girlfriend filled the damn thing all the way to the top and spilled about a gallon trying not to spill any from my sink in my kitchen to the grow tent in my bedroom closet!! lol
I was even considering buying a dolly or hand truck because it was so damn heavy!! lol Note to self: dont fill up all the way! haha

I will let them go a few more days on that res...they look really healthy, so all is good so far!

 

[pop22]

You do great work Hans, but I totally disagree with your statement on pebbles in the bottom. First it interfering with the hydraulic properties of your medium. Second, I have proved over several grows, there is no need for them at all. I've grown without them in both coco/perlite and in organic soil. With and without airdomes.

Here is an example, grown in coco, no hydroton:

The clay pebbles are typically just used for the bottom layer (1-2" or covering 2/3 of the airdome max). Although this can also be done with just perlite as well. This bottom layer is required if you're not using the airdomes, if you're using them it's not really necessary especially with coco but I'd still recommend it and think it's beneficial. A 50/50 coco perlite mix works great, for all my previous grows I used a coco/perlite mix... For my current grow I'm trying just straight coco however since I think it will work the same if not better actually. (That grow is stickied in this section if you want to follow along.) As for not using the airdomes on your first grow... well I'm not sure why you'd want to do such a silly thing The direct injection of oxygen to the roots is what gives these plants explosive growth, basically 50-100% increase in yields using them.