RM's Hempy/EarthTainer hybrid

I have had several pathetic grows under my belt using soil and Hempy's. Then I read up on EarthTainers and took a few ideas to mesh with Hempy's.

Problems I had in the past (I live in the desert and am unable to humidify my grow area/closet) included under/overwatering as the medium would dry out too fast, and nute burn - even with under-dosing.

Now what I am about to share is nothing really new or innovative, but thus far I have the healthiest, happiest, bushiest plants to date.

What I did was to substitute peat moss for vermiculite and mixed up a substrate of 2 parts perlite to 1 part peat moss. Peat is great for PH balancing and wicks water very well. I soaked the medium with water and let drain and then packed a 12 gallon rubber maid 3/4 full with the damp mix and followed with 1/4 dry mix. Before packing, I placed in an 1.5 inch * 15" plastic fill tube.

Then I added my four seedlings and misted daily with plain water. Once they recovered from the transplant (will start directly next time) in about a week, I covered with thick white plastic (cut and flattened the inverted perlite bag) with X holes cut for the seedlings and tucked the edges. Then I added one gallon of RO water with full strength dry nutes into the fill tube. They were very slow at first until the roots hit the predampened substrate and then they took off for the sky.

Despite my low humidity, I have only added about one gallon per week as the plastic keeps the water from evaporating.

Most important, is because the plants feed themselves, there has never been the faintest hint of nute burn or leaf curl or any other problem like I have had every time in the past. Also I think using the fill tube keeps the nutes away from washing over sensitive roots and burning them. Interestingly enough, there is no puddle/resevoir in the bottom. The peat wicks the water all the way to the top.

All this without a PH or PPM meter and using cheap generic nutes.

Of course, flowering will be the real test, but thus far I have the best and healthiest results ever for a poorly ventilated and overly hot and super dry closet grow.

If there is interest, I may post some pics. For a hobby grow, it doesn't get simpler or cheaper or lower maintenance than this!