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

[slimjim00]

Hello old friends....Just purchased an Autopot 2 pot system & DP's Think Different. I have about 7 Auto harvests under my belt and wanted to try to grow bigger plants. Here is my setup...
Tent= 4x2x5
Lights=400Watt MH/HPS
Nutes=Canna Coco A + B, Cal/Mag
Medium= 50/50 coco/perlite
Autopot 2 pot system 3.9gal Pot w/Air Domes + 12.4 gallon water tank

I am expecting the Autopots & Air Domes on Friday 28th. My last 7 grows were all in 50/50 coco/perlite, hand fed with Canna Coco A+B, so basically going from hand fed to auto fed.
I will have a ton of questions, so anyone with experience that could mentor me from time to time would be gratefully appreciated!! You folks on afn are some of the most helpful, knowledgeable and kindest bunch on the web!! Thank you all for that!
So I just wanted to get this journal started...should be able to bury some seeds on Saturday the 29th.

1st question, what should I expect compared to hand feeding?
I use Canna Coco A+B but I adjust it daily...so how do i know how much to fill the tank with? Do I keep feeding until the tank is near dry? Not sure how to feed and how much.

Thanks in advanced for any help!! -slim

 

[Hansbricks]

Hey Slim, welcome to the Autopot club!
Trust me you've made the best choice going with the autopots there's really nothing else out there that can match the simplicity and effectiveness of these... You'll definitely be growing some monster plants especially with DP genetics.

I've been using Autopots for a couple years now and have been getting great results... My setup is almost the same as yours so happy to help you out with any questions you have. I'd suggest reading through some of the autopot grows here first though since you'll probably find answers to most of your questions. Here's a good place to start...
Hans’ Dutch Passion LED Coco Autopot Grow
This was my first coco grow with the autopots which happens to be Think Different as well so should be able to get some good info from there.

As for your first question... I usually try to fill my res up just enough to last 5-6 days ideally. The res will drain basically all the way down as long as you have it elevated high enough. You don't want to go much longer than a week on same res or it will get pretty funky and be more likely to clog up the valves. As for how much to fill that will vary based on the plant and what stage they're at so you kinda have to figure that out as you go... I usually start with about 15L and gradually go up from there (by mid flower they're usually going through about 30-35L).

Anyway, good luck with your grow... I'm sure the autopots will exceed your expectations.

 

[slimjim00]

Thanks Hans! I have skimmed through a few journals, but will get into the one of you posted.
What is your feelings about using Clay Pebbles? I now use an airy 50/50 coco perlite mix...would clay be worth it? I was even thinking of skipping the Air domes altogether on my first grow with Autopots...

 

[Hansbricks]

Thanks Hans! I have skimmed through a few journals, but will get into the one of you posted.
What is your feelings about using Clay Pebbles? I now use an airy 50/50 coco perlite mix...would clay be worth it? I was even thinking of skipping the Air domes altogether on my first grow with Autopots...

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.

 

[Wile e Peyote]

Subbed up for your grow dude I'm on around my 3rd grow with Autopots (alternate between bubble buckets and autopots) they really are easy to use set it and forget it and I agree with hans use the airdomes here's 3 critical jack herer tallest is 110 cm anywho good luck with your grow

Amused ourselves to death

 

[Ledsicon]

Subbed up for your grow dude I'm on around my 3rd grow with Autopots (alternate between bubble buckets and autopots) they really are easy to use set it and forget it and I agree with hans use the airdomes here's 3 critical jack herer tallest is 110 cm anywho good luck with your grow

Amused ourselves to death

Cheers, looking Nice, how many watts of amare are you using for that area??

Peace

 

[Frogster]

Good luck with the grow @slimjim00, "Autopots" are the best innovation to hit growers for a long while... Jump in !

They really work..... My last grow produced an "Auto Blackberry Kush" that was nominated (NOM) for "Plant of the Month" here on AFN.

100% use the airdome and a good airpump, it accounts for a lot of the increased growth.

A plant is only as good as it's roots.... The airdomes help the plant produce good root structure...

I grow in 50% Soil with 25% Pebbles & 25% Perlite mixed in... So it will be a bit different in Coco I know.... Others with more experience in that medium will advise you, I am sure.

However, (for demonstration), here is a pic of the type of root system it produces for me in my soil mix medium (I also use about a 1" layer of ph'd pebbles in the bottom of the autopot - around the airdome). It Works !

Good Roots = Good Plants

You have made a good choice..... I will keep an eye in here.... Good luck Bro !

 

[Wile e Peyote]

Cheers, looking Nice, how many watts of amare are you using for that area??

Peace

It's 600 watts total 2x150 cree panels and 1xse250 cob in a 4x4x6.5 [emoji106]


Amused ourselves to death

 

[Ledsicon]

thanx,sounds very good been waiting long for a se450uvb but have to og for a se250 in meantime waiting now.
please have a look at my 2nd try of Dutch passion autoflowers in my 1 x 1 x 2 meter tent if u have time, i have 2 auto Colorado cookies and a auto blackberry kush at now day 63 from seed..use 11l airpots With Coco and a Advanced nutrients line+added co2 growbag for the intense par Levels.
, i use sunplusled and are very satisfied With those out of all 9brands tried over the years but i am very eager to get an amare too, been wanting one for 2years or something. cant have enough of selections

 

[slimjim00]

Wile e, welcome aboard and thanks for the well wishes Frogster...Should be getting my Autopots delivered today!! Wooooooot!!
Still need to run to the Hydro Store for clay pebbles and more perlite.
I have to wash and PH the clay pebbles...anyone have a good method? I use Brick Coco and I usually expand it in a bucket, then mix in the Perlite and fill my pots. Then I run tap water over them until my ppms are under 100. Then I PH the coco/perlite mix to about 6.0 and give each pot a few ml of coco A + B. Can I just do the same with the pebbles? Should I do them separate?
Also going to do a scrog for the 2 Think D's because height has been becoming a serious issue and I dont have the means to go higher then 5 feet. I have no experience, so anyone have any helpful tips, please let me know!! Thank you friends! (-:
So now the waiting begins...