a thread for the hydrophobic.. try this method!

here is a method i came across on another site some time ago... SoiDro.

it is as simple as burying an airstone in the botttom of your normal soil planter and running it 24/7

pro: near-hydro growth rates w/ slower onset of any problems that may occur (better chance to save plants if it happens), easier to grow @ increased rates with 100% organics, much easier than hydro, no special hydro equipment required, roots recieve much more o2 than normal, overwatering becomes near impossible

con: soil dries out faster (part pro, this requires more watering and thus more opportunity for the plant to uptake nutrients), plant will die if air pump dies or it is removed

thats a realy good idea. i wish i hasd thought of that.

are you sure a plant would die if you turned off the air stone? that doesn't realy make sense. wouldn't it just slow the growth?

nope, it will die... due to the HUGE increase in o2 to the roots that this method provides, if a plant that is grown this way is taken off the air after becoming accustomed to that much o2, will basically suffocate the roots... but the pros far outweigh the cons :)

it should be ok to turn the air off for very short periods.. .like if it has to be disconnected to be moved / flushed / etc.. as long as the air is turned back on within a few hours there should be no ill effects

any links or additional/more in depth info available?

~Zion

i have been using this method for a couple years in my last 5 of growing... i got the idea from seeing DWC setups, and figured why wouldn't it work for soil?? then when i saw someone else experimenting with it i decided to go for it, and ill never grow in plain soil again

it really is just as simple as i have described here, but if ya have any ?'s just post em and ill answer to the best of my ability :)

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Originally Posted by mightymarijuanabuds

i have been using this method for a couple years in my last 5 of growing... i got the idea from seeing DWC setups, and figured why wouldn't it work for soil?? then when i saw someone else experimenting with it i decided to go for it, and ill never grow in plain soil again

it really is just as simple as i have described here, but if ya have any ?'s just post em and ill answer to the best of my ability :)

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I'm growing Hydro (with water), but your post is very interesting. Really cool idea dude!!!

thanks

if i weren't so hydrophobic i would wanna grow out 2 clones side by side to see exactly how this compares with hydro... o well.. im obviously very happy with it, guess i don't need to know :D

i have two quetsions. becasue, well i think i'm gonnna try this. how big of a pot do you nead to do htis? wont the roots get like alot biggger than with just soil and nead more room? and is it necesary to use nutes when using this techneque?

thanks.

still think it'a great idea.

The use of nutes is important for growing any plant but alas you need to keep in mind the nutrients within the soil it's self. Over supplying the plant with nutrients is one of the best ways to kill any thing, so keep the soil ph in mind when you use nutrients with soil. Ive heard of this method being used before with pretty good results. I'd like to see this in action with side by side comparisons with hydroponics, aeroponics, pure soil, and mycorhizal fungal stimulants, then a combination of the 5. It would make for a very interesting research project.

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Originally Posted by syrrus

I'd like to see this in action with side by side comparisons with hydroponics, aeroponics, pure soil, and mycorhizal fungal stimulants, then a combination of the 5. It would make for a very interesting research project.

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No shit dude... I think that's a NASA-worthy experiment.

Let's do that, then with, and without CO2... side-by-side of course. :thumbsup:

yes nutes are still important... treat it just like a normal soil grow, except you will need to water slightly more often and see much faster growth

you can use whatever *acceptable* container size you want... generally 1gal per hieght of plant... i usually flower my plants a little early to keep them ~3ft... so i use 3gal containers... i start them in small containers like normal and xplant them into the airstone buckets, but i have started seeds in the airstone buckets as well

that is most definately a nasa worthy experiment :dance:

co2 enrichment is mainly used in closed systems, where it is needed... for the small cabinet / closet grower co2 enrichment is uneccesary. there is plenty of co2 in the air for the plant, and if you have good ventilation with air intake and exhaust to your grow area, then not only is the extra co2 not needed, but it is blown away before the plant has a chance to use it. if you were operating a setup that had ventilation, say, like a cool tube, but no fresh air exchange for the plants, then co2 enrichment is a must

that being said, a closed system with co2 enrichment is capable of delivering much more co2, but the plant only needs so much co2, and the difference is negligable, IMHO... :D