How to Co2 cheap?

[cwesto]

I saw on "I Grow Chronic" on youtube the guy sprayed his plants with carbonated water. Doea anybody else know about this or a better way??

If this spraying carbonated water thing does work does neone know what kind of carbonated water i should use?? ie - tonic water, club sota, sugar free, sodium free?

[cwesto]

? anyone ?

was this a dumb question or somthing?

[Mr. Clandestine]

Not a dumb question, just probably not the greatest idea. I've heard Stinky talk a good bit about 'reverse foliar feeding' whereby growers try to do a good thing by foliar feeding, but end up leeching minerals from the foliage... or something to that effect. She'd obviously be able to explain it much better than I would.

I'm guessing you probably know about the yeast & sugar method, but from what I've gathered, it's practically impossible to regulate how much you emit that way. Still, if you're on a budget, it's an option. I'm holding off until I can get a tank/regulator system going, myself. Plus, it really helps if you can seal the room and also time your exhaust so as not to waste any of the precious gas. I always figured that would be really tough to do with any of the homemade methods of enrichment.

Just my :twocents: worth. Sorry I couldn't have been more help.

[Hennessy1414]

i kno the cheapest method!

if your gro room happens to be in your room where you sleep *cha-ching* Co2 emissions from yours truly:rastasmoke:

[Gilfaethwy]

Hmm, I don't know that much about growing, but I know a bit about chemistry.

Vinegar is weak acetic acid solution. Baking Soda is Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO3)

Acetic Acid + Sodium Bicarbonate -> Water + Sodium Acetate + CO2.

Water is obviously harmless.
Vinegar is harmless.
Baking Soda is harmless.
Sodium Acetate is a harmless salt. It's used in chemical handwarmers and stuff, nothing to worry about.
CO2 is what you want.

The Calculations for how much Baking Soda you have to decompose to make the desired amount of CO2 are relatively simple :)

[Hennessy1414]

Hmm, I don't know that much about growing, but I know a bit about chemistry.

Vinegar is weak acetic acid solution. Baking Soda is Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO3)

Acetic Acid + Sodium Bicarbonate -> Water + Sodium Acetate + CO2.

Water is obviously harmless.
Vinegar is harmless.
Baking Soda is harmless.
Sodium Acetate is a harmless salt. It's used in chemical handwarmers and stuff, nothing to worry about.
CO2 is what you want.

The Calculations for how much Baking Soda you have to decompose to make the desired amount of CO2 are relatively simple :)
ahh true true :detective1:
but how much cO2 can a couple of grams of all that really make? :rastasmoke:

[Rusty Trichome]

I saw on "I Grow Chronic" on youtube the guy sprayed his plants with carbonated water. Doea anybody else know about this or a better way??
If this spraying carbonated water thing does work does neone know what kind of carbonated water i should use?? ie - tonic water, club sota, sugar free, sodium free?
I saw those videos a few years back, and thought I too would give it a try using seltzer water. If your goal is to find all the ants, gnats and other bugs in your house, it's a great technique. They love the stuff.

It also makes everything very sticky. Is a bitch to clean off the mylar, pots...even had some overspray land on the lamps. (may want to turn off the fans before spraying, by the way, lol)
I haven't felt the need to repeat the experiment.

Overall...too messy and I saw no positive results, but only used it a couple of times, and at full strength. If you do try it, I recommend rinsing the leaves not long after spraying. I'm pretty sure the sticky residue isn't good for plant respiration or transpiration. Perhaps at a diluted concentration would work better, but every time you open the bottle, or pour some out, aren't you diluting the CO2 concentration even more? (evaporation)

[stinkyattic]

The baking soda/acetic acid method is practical if you can rig up a tray of baking soda and a very controlled slow drip onto it from a bottle of vinegar.

Yeast, sugar, and water also make CO2 during the fermentation process.

Seltzer water should leaved no residue- you were probably using tonic water or something with sugar in it- but is not a good idea, as you can indeed leach nutes out of the leaves if you overdo it.

Those are the short-money options... but the ECONOMICAL option is a proper CO2 tank and regulator in a sealed room. Additional CO2 is nearly worthless if you don't already have your technique and grow area optimized.

[Rusty Trichome]

:stoned: Could have been tonic water. Was a few years ago.

In a large growroom (approx. 1000 cubic ft) with plenty of ventilation, would adding a CO2 set-up be worth the investment?

[stinkyattic]

With ventilation? You'll ventilate yourself into the poorhouse!
Read the Tranoble 'Sealed Room 3 lbs a light" thread.

[Rusty Trichome]

I was talking about if I decided to use CO2, and closed the doors. :jointsmile:
Never mind, tho. I decided I'm happy with the results I get now, and additional expenses would be better spent elsewhere. (like a larger a/c for my flower room, lol) :thumbsup:

[SnSstealth]

that 3lb a light thread is NUTS!!!! lol...i use a CO2 generator...its a bucket with i assume yeast and shit in it....soon as you turn it on, it has a life of 60 days...cost like $40.....at the intake to the closet...we add dry ice every few days for a lil boost....
:smokebong:
whiskeytango

[blink_inc]

Does it REALLY make that much of a difference?
I have been reading about it for a while and considering the "experiment".

In a 128 cubic foot room is there a legitimate reason to do this? Will it really increase density and yeild?

The room is pretty much sealed tight with the exception of the 2 passive intakes at the bottom that are 8" x 6".

[stinkyattic]

Yup Blink, there sure is. You can run your temps higher with a CO2 tank system, get better yield, discourage bugs, and even bring down crops faster! But the trick is to know when you are ready to take the plunge. If you are already really happy with your harvests and the appearance of your plants (=healthy and strong right up to harvest), you are ready for CO2.

[hatch]

Put some Dry-Ice in the Grow Room two or three time's a WeeK!!~~~~:thumbsup:

[blink_inc]

DIY dripper here we go.....

My saying has always been.."If Stinky says so"

[stinkyattic]

Watch out Blink, the dripper/baking soda method may not in fact give you enough CO2 to run temps higher!!! The only way to do that safely is with a tank and regulator! The other stuff is just a little extra boost.

[blink_inc]

after a little more reading, probably not required for my space. no problems with temps, and probably not worth the effort with tanks and all that goes with it.

[greenfsticky]

I have been using fizzy water which i buy from the supermarket for last 3 months and i have defo seen a improvement with the plants. Its just plain fizzy water. it aint sticky or leaves any residue/ its just water- but fizzy with loads of co2 in. I spray it into the room in front of the fans 3 times a day. they love it.:rastasmoke: