Hey Geezers,
I got pissed off with the slow growth of my first batch, so I loaded up 3 x 22L airpots with 100% coco, and planted 2x Critical Jack Auto and 1x Chronic Lowryder Auto..... they popped in 2 days. I'm giving them 0.7EC, and 2 days into it, they're as big as the others...
- full layout
I think the soil mix was wrong for me.... 75% soil and 25% coco was too thick, esp with handful of sand... there was too many variables in it.... how much nute was there in the potting mix.... what pH was the sand like, etc
- The 1st pitiful batch
- The old Jack Herer's at 38 days old, compared to the Critical Jacks at 2 days old
- The new Chronic Ryder is bigger than the old Jack Herer!
After some research I found out how to use Coco properly... not easy to find the info... but it's different to soil that's for sure. If I get successful, I will do a guide to Coco on this site... that's a big 'if' though
With the coco, I can water them lightly 4 times a day and up the EC on a gradual basis.... I started my 1st batch on 0.3EC but I dont think they were getting any nutes on that dose... and autos need a good start, mine didn't get off the line.
Aparrently with coco, you have to keep to a minimum of 0.7 - 0.8 EC right from the start or else the buffers and calmag etc that they put in the coco gets washed out, and every week up the EC by 0.1... small but frequent feeds will give them a hydro-esque (like flood and drain) regime, and they should thrive.
During lights on the temps never reach over 28..... it only hits the 30s when lights are off, so I have tried to sort out the air intake to get cooler air from inside the house rather than warm air from outside.... we shall see. I suspect Mrs Tee puts a fan heater on when she gets up for an early morning puff at 5am.....
I knew I'd have a few issues dialling it in, so I'm not that pissed off really.
Finally, Ive got the Helios 6 and both Helios 2s up to give a nice coverage of light inside.
- 10 Helios hard at work
I think I gave the 1st batch 600W of MH which is why they stayed so short... the Quantum LEDs are easier to use, they certainly don't get as hot, and I know where I am with them. I will still do a comparison between MH/HPS and LED someday, but for now, it's gonna have to be the other way round, and I'll do the LED grows 1st. I only bought the MH and HPS cos my stuff was taking ages to arrive by sea, but it's all here now, and I'm back to square 1 with the grow anyway.
I ripped out the dripper system, it was good but with so many pots in there (8) at different ages, it is easier at the moment to go by hand. Once I get finally fed up with the 1st batch I will rip them out, install the Blumat system and do 100% coco runs from now on.
I kinda wish I went DWC to start off, but a water cooler is essential, I went down that route last time, and the noise was immense. I worry about DWC here as the leccy trips if you put too much load on, and what with air pumps, water pumps and coolers, it will be a nightmare if it trips in the night without me knowing...
The Blumat system is passive, no leccy reqd, and fairly cheap at $75 (£35). It uses a simple moisture detector and opens a dripper if the medium gets too dry, thus feeding the plants only when needed. Made in Germany so it must be good!
AB Bro, the snakes have been lying low... last night Mrs Tee screamed
as she went into our smoking room, 'there's a fucking massive spider in the ashtray!' I got one of my size 14s and went on the attack, ahh it was only a baby huntsman, about 3 inches legspan. Nice, juicy splat. Then this morning I got woken up by my Daughter in the loo, she was halfway through a dump when she saw another one! What must I have looked like as I jumped out of bed grabbed the trusty size 14 again, and staggered into the bathroom to chase it round the room as it evaded the inevitable. Got it in the end, and revelled in her screams as I showed her the squished mess on the sole of my trainer... I dunno though, I was naked, so she might have been screaming about that instead.
Every time I think of my Wife screaming like that last night I piss myself laughing.... is that wrong?
Anyway, I renamed this thread (again), and hope to get a better result this time.
Wish me luck!