aeroponic grow

Hey everyone...

I have learned so much from these message boards over the past few weeks, thanks to everyone for posting their knowledge.

Attached are pictures of my aeroponic grow using an AeroGarden. I have been using the nute tablets that came with the system but I am going to change. These plants are exactly three weeks old. I have completed three outdoor grows, and this is my first indoor. These plants seem to be growing fast!

This week I am purchasing a 400W MH w/ HPS conversion lighting system to use in place of the crappy flourex lighting that the aerogarden comes with. I am going to finish veg with the MH and switch to the HPS for flowering. I assume this will substantially increase both quality and yield. The aerogarden system itself seems to be pretty good except for the lights.

Questions:

1. In the past week I have noticed some light brown spots on the leaves. (see pics) Anyone have any idea what these are? Also, can anyone recommend a commercially sold nute solution for the rest of veg and also flowering?

2. The hanging part of the roots are submersed in the reservoir, is that bad?

3. Should I be emptying the res every few weeks or so, or should I just add water/nute as needed?

Any other observations / comments would be greatly appreciated.

Hello and welcome. Glad to see you.

I've always wondered how that system would do for growing weed. I hope you will continue to post your thoughts and results. And we all like pictures.

1. In the past week I have noticed some light brown spots on the leaves. (see pics) Anyone have any idea what these are? Also, can anyone recommend a commercially sold nute solution for the rest of veg and also flowering?
That is a problem that I've not personally had, nor am I'm not familiar with it. I have posted several problem charts that could probably answer that question though. Advanced search with my name and "problem charts", and choose to search titles only. You should get at least 3 this way. I highly recommend saving these to your computer in case, God forbid, this site goes away like overgrow did.
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For the nutrients I firmly believe in SuperThrive and Fox Farm stuff. For vegging I use Fox Farms Grow Big, and Tiger Bloom for bud. For additives, it's ST and Liquid Karma for veg, and Fox Farms Open Sesame, Beastie Blooms and Cha Ching for budding. However, you don't need all this to make nice big nugs. For a while I used no additives, and got great results. I recommend not using many for your 1st grow.

2. The hanging part of the roots are submersed in the reservoir, is that bad?
Your roots need both oxygen and water/nutes to survive. It is great that at least some of your roots are in water. That way they wont die during a power outage. However it is also great that some are in air. It is best if they could all be in air, getting wet from popping bubbles, but it aint going to happen in your set-up. Once you switch to HID lighting that res will get completely filled with a tangled root mass. This is not a problem, just a fact.

3. Should I be emptying the res every few weeks or so, or should I just add water/nute as needed?
Yes, by all means you need to do a res flush. Depends a bunch on the system, but at least once per month. I would probably do at least twice per month on yours.

You absolutely made the right choice about the lighting. 400 is a lot for that little system, but that's probably what I would want. Just be sure to keep the light pretty far back (2 or 3 feet at first, while your plants adjust, then eventually you'll want it as close as possible, but change in stages maybe once per week. Also 400W HID makes a bunch of heat. Have you thought at all about what you are going to do with it? You almost need to vent this to the outside somehow, but you may be able to figure out how to cool without doing so.

Good luck, and please keep us posted.

OP

Looking again at the picture of the roots, unfortunately it looks like you've got a case of root rot. See how they are brown and squishy looking. This is from too much water or too much time in the water. I would turn off your bubbles immediately and lower your res level as much as possible. Then I would search about it as much as possible and learn everything you can. Not sure if that would cause the spots on the leaves.

Not 100% sure though since I have never had it. Please someone else chime in here and disagree or agree, so his success doesn't depend solely on my advice.

PS. It looks like you have a sponge or something against the roots right where the bad part is. I would get that out right away, since I'm sure it is helping to keep the roots wet.

PPS. I would post another thing about your problems in the Plant Problem area. You might get more/better help on the subject.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Opie Yutts

PS. It looks like you have a sponge or something against the roots right where the bad part is. I would get that out right away, since I'm sure it is helping to keep the roots wet.

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Noooo!!! Leave the sponge alone.

Opie, Dude, that's a rapid rooter - it can't be removed! All the roots start inside the rapid rooter, removing it will kill the plant.

PC :smokin:

Cool, nice save PC. I thought it was like capillary matting or a sponge, supplying water to the bad spot. Glad you looked in.

Notice how that rapid rooter is completely soaked? I would try to get less moisture to it somehow. If I am right about the rot, I would want that rapid rooter to almost dry out completely. I'm thinking this is about the only way that plant will survive. Unless I'm wrong about the rot, then I'm wasting time for both of us.

Good Lord, this Cranberry/Peach 100% juice drink is awesome!

Thanks for the feedback..I will continue to post updates and pictures. I hope I do not have root rot! I am going to post in the problem plant area with some better close-ups on the roots.

As far as the lighting OP, that 400w HID is going to be in a closet that is roughly 7' x 2.5', and my plan was to just have an oscillating fan inside the closet. Do you think that a closet this size will require better ventilation? If so, any suggestions? I had not thought of this yet...

maybe I should go for a lower wattage HID?