SNEAKPEEK-experiment15...rockwool trays/perlite medium/drip.

Here is a sneakpeek of new project...I was in hydro store the other day and saw these trays...They are designed to hold rockwool slabs(I believe), and they had the large FOXFARM perlite...those of You that know me...well I got this idea...

If I fill the trays with large perlite and add a drip system...I might have some nice lightweight, in-expensive, Clone production Units...:) :) :)

Here's a look...Let me know what you think...Keep in mind, I just set this up to get it running...It may/probably will change, somewhat.lw:smokin:

Why not use a pump for a little stream of nutrient-water from one side to the other? You could just grow plants on there instead of clone production only?

that is basically what I did...each tray has a troth on both sides. I put drippers at the far end away from the drains and pump solution to each tray that way...not each plant, just a dripstream.

These clones are all rooted and I am planning on finishing them right where they are at. I just meant that I wasn't growing from seed this way...I clone in my aero-sprinkler unit, then I transplanted 11 rooted clones into these trays. Isn't that what you are suggesting? thanks lw

COOL!!!!!
LATE... I always thought I would be crafty when I got older... but I am still the same goof ball..
but you are CRAFTY!!!!!!!!!!!

How are the plants gonna stand strong?
DID i miss something?
I think that the plants will fall over eventually if your only medium is perlite...

I look forward to seeing more!!!!!

LOVE

thanks GK...We will see. If necessary, I can hang them:p I can't wait, either.lw:smokin:

I have an old baby crib bottom spring...I'va been looking at that for awhile, to use as a Screen...I think it will work...Wahdaya think?

Looks like there is enough depth there to prevent them from falling over, even in perlite. Probably depends on how tall you plan to grow them. If you scrog or sog then it shouldn't be an issue. Although the roots will take over those trays within no time I rekon. By the way I'm a big fan of perlite. Its a great medium. I'm nearing the end of my first hydro test grow using it and I can't say enough good things about it. I have been logging my progress and will post a thread when/if it finishes successfully.
I know you are a very experienced hydroponics grower but have you used perlite before?

I think there is enough depth also, because I am tranplanting rooted clones...
therefore, in my experience/judgement I will be OK. IF they get top-heavy*...
...(Well, that wouldn't suck, or be the 1st time)...see above reply to Knowmy*

As far as perlite...I use it to mix with my soil or soilless potted plants...
I have always used hydroton, and I LOVE hydroton...perfect for most hydro...
I knew these trays would take every bit of hydroton, I had already...As I mentioned at top...I saw trays...light bulbs!!!...I was looking at a giant $35.
bag of hydroton and there was a giant FOXFARM Large perlite for $25...

I have read a few pieces on cloning in perlite, and these particles are much bigger than other perlite I have encountered, not to mention, all the Commercial/Hydro Tomato Grower's that I know...Use the beige hydro buckets filled with perlite, very successfully. So I thought I would try it...Thanks for response and Q's...lw

I want to open up a hydro store, right in the corner of latewood's street.

Latwood, you just can't resist, can you? lol ! ;)

Looking good... I think it's GREAT the experimentation... different ways of doing the same things. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: !!! :)

It's working!!!More than I can say for my capacitors...Hortilux down

I can imagine that a plant from seed is a better idea on perlite, cause of the pen root. Clones don´t have a pen root, they have a normal root that doesn´t go that deep...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by britewire

I can imagine that a plant from seed is a better idea on perlite, cause of the pen root. Clones don´t have a pen root, they have a normal root that doesn´t go that deep...

---

my thoughts are that the rooted clones which were planted to the bottom of the trays/by design; Not so much on the perlite...My concept is that the perlite will remain slightly damp causing roots to spread out, while streams of oxygenated-nutrients are pumped through the system...so far, everything looks great. thanks for your concern.lw

As you might notice, :cool: I don't follow conventional methods necessarily, don't have to...Everyway I have been able to imagine trying to grow using hydro, works. :thumbsup: plain and simple...easiest thing I ever tried to Master...I'm not saying I am a Master by any means...:) I said trying to Master...Meanwhile I am Smoking some Awesome Chitman:stoned: ...anyway, aero, dwc, swc...hydrid'system's all work!
I have no idea exactly how perlite is supposed to be used, but in Hydro, I have found that pretty much anything goes...we will see...In another few weeks..(that's if I get my Damn :( Horti back on) later.lw:smokin:

How's this progressing? Any new pics?

latewood, thanks to your great posts, all of my friends think I'm smart. Then they think I'm crazy when I tell them that all of my ideas came from a strange man in a straight jacket.

OK. I will update this thread today. have to search update pix, later.lw

Here are 3 more pix updating last pictorial:

3. 2 drippers per tray-rustic dripline fixtures, must be re-fined

2. 1/2 plastic up, left open for pix...notice 1x6 fir strips to support HD Standards for large 24" brackets. All supports heavy hydro systems easily. (I have had 2-3 10g tubs on this support system...about 25 bucks at HOPOT.

1. Nice Flow rate...1/2" irrigation tubing slipped over system drain pipes, this allows them to swivel easily for adjusment. lw

pix are backwards, somehow------stay tuned for new growth updates, later...

Sweet bro..........just hope they don't get too big. You could have problems with airflow around the plants and light getting through the foliage. Plus I they could tip over, it's not very deep for the roots to hold on to. I could be wrong.

Nice setup though and thanks for sharing with everyone.

Thanks Z, I hope it works out...I am thinking about a trellis or screen...who knows. The girls are getting big.
this is the 5th week from cutting and start of week 2f

I started with 3 weeks rooting/vegging under 18/6
transplanted, lucas veg formula with additives under 15/9-1 week
these pix at are end of BUDBlood week 1f...12/12...Enjoy.lw:)

1. wk 2f 1000w MH agrosun gold. End of 5th week from cutting.

2. NL2 male:( ...culled 3 brothers last night...waiting for confirmation of balls, because I mixed a couple up one night; By accident. Gotta go Kill papa:mad:

3. These NL2's are Fem's I believe, and that will give me a nice NL2 mutha'...So Keep fingers xs'd:dance:

4. So far So good...What do you all think? Should I try to convert these 2 trays to LST? All I have to do is move them end to end:smokin:

5. I'd say we are on the right track. I am waiting to see what kind of weight issues I have...Thanks Guys:thumbsup: I have contingency plans.

This system was real inexpensive, not cheap, but inexpensive...let's see
2 trays 25 bucks/store
1-110gph sub-pump 10 bucks/auction
1-100' roll of irrigation 10 bucks/hopot
roll of 1/4" line 5 bucks/hopot
assorted pvc 5 bucks/hopot
4-1/4"90's 2 bucks/hopot
100 bucks worth of nutes...3part,LK CM+,Hygro
Large bag of FoxFarm large perlite 25 bucks/store

I had another update that got eaten by the recovery bugs...
during my computer 'Battles' last week:p :o

We'll update some more in a few.later.lw

I dig the multiple mediums, good call.

One love
c

Ok folks. :) I have an observation to share with you. I sprayed reverse on my 4.5wk old clones if wk2f...OK; Remember the NL2 I said was from a male?:cool:

Well, I am pretty damn sure that one of 2 clones was from male that I culled the other day. :confused: 3 brothers had balls enough to be culled the other night. Well, I sprayed *reverse on the girls/& them 3 nights ago. 2 things happened. The confirmed MistyBlue clones budded like crazy...:dance:
and the NL2's from 2 different plants(unconfirmed-sex)??...
Until Now. the smaller NL2 was fem (all cuttings from this plant are buddddddd'ng):dance: :dance:...The larger NL2 was male/hermie; I think. One of these was from that male plant. After spraying it with Reverse...It is showing pistils. Although I think it still shows strong male characteristics; i.e., I don't plan on taking any chances with it.

Here is a couple glimpses of the girls...wk3f nute-change this PM...:thumbsup:

Week6/3f:
1. experimenting with lucas style 0-5-10 this week
0-6-12 next week...and Maxx'ng out @ 0-7-14 the following week...added 'Sweet' to LK and CM+ this week.

2. They might look a little stretched, but I am trying to observe them strecthing just enough to give them a little more airy look, for better light penetration. I wanted to try leaving Horti' at same height throughout grow...I think Horti, will stop them from growing any higher very soon.

Remember, I rooted 2 weeks, vegged only 1, so they were immature for 12/12 and shouldn't grow too much taller than 2 feet in height...If I am right.

3. I am doing these DWC sidebyside with new set-up
just so I have a benchmark...Love that DWC!!!

The pots have NL2's clones in them...I use soil until I know which are Fem's, then I finish potted plants and perpetually Veg' there Mother for future cuttings. (which I have):D

The tall potted plant in the middle forward...was from a male plant and looked like it was going to join it's 3 brothers in the culling bag:( , but after spraying this plant with *reverse the other night...It showed pistil's today (3 days later):confused: BUT...I am not chancing it. If I see one little trait of male pop back up on this plant...IT's So Dead!!!

4. Don't all the girl's look So Happy under MY:)Sun?:)

Hope you folks enjoy the pix...Remember these pictures and rhetoric are all from completed grows that I stumbled across on funk and wagnal's front porch in Carnac's Mayonnaise Jar...Know what I mean Vern? later.lw:smokin:

reverse by DutchMasters...used to be called "feminizer"

Darn it latewood... very, very cool growing. Just, ... everything!

All you need to do now, is try growing with fog, as we're sure you'll be successfull, then, you let me know how you did it, so I can stop killing clones and actually growing them. :D

lol ! Kiddin'... kick-ass job Lwood... kick-ass...

Hey folks, I wouldn't believe it, if I did not do it myself, as usual. The bigmanclone is budding all over the top and new growth appears to be twisting/freaking out on lower portion, and trying to fem, completely...2nd dose of Reverse coming any night now..lw

http://boards.cannabis.com/showthread.php?t=57927
I posted this for advice yesterday...:cool:

Oh, just kidding; Maybe!:D

Green algae, has developed on the top of the perlite. Green Algae isn't really harmful by itself, but could attract fungus knats, etc...that feed on root systems...NOT GOOD!

So, the fix is to add/run an algaecide in your rez, and cover medium to block out light.
I was curious if this would happen...At local commercial hydro farms...they do not cover their perlite, so I tried it.
Perhaps the use of HID's close to the medium is the difference who knows.

I am posting 2 pix of green algae.

Here are the girls at the end of wk3f...whadaya think?:smokin:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by latewood

http://boards.cannabis.com/showthread.php?t=57927
I posted this for advice yesterday...:cool:

Green algae, has developed on the top of the perlite. Green Algae isn't really harmful by itself, but could attract fungus knats, etc...that feed on root systems...NOT GOOD!

So, the fix is to add/run an algaecide in your rez, and cover medium to block out light.
I was curious if this would happen...At local commercial hydro farms...they do not cover their perlite, so I tried it.
Perhaps the use of HID's close to the medium is the difference who knows.

I am posting 2 pix of green algae.

Here are the girls at the end of wk3f...whadaya think?:smokin:

---

Fountec...
http://www.garden-water-fountains.co...r_fountain.htm
I called my hydro friend out west and, this is what he uses. My *friend also stated; That he uses it, but doesn't carry it. He is currently experimenting with several algaecide's in order to choose one to retail.
I will keep you posted.
Currently Fountec indoor water garden treatment(algaecide)
is the 1st choice. 2 drops per gallon to contain algae-1 drop per gallon every rez change. I have been assured that this is safe and you can run Fountec in your rez at all times.2:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

*My friend has no idea that I am sharing this information with you folks.:)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by latewood

Fountec...
http://www.garden-water-fountains.co...r_fountain.htm
I called my hydro friend out west and, this is what he uses. My *friend also stated; That he uses it, but doesn't carry it. He is currently experimenting with several algaecide's in order to choose one to retail.
I will keep you posted.
Currently Fountec indoor water garden treatment(algaecide)
is the 1st choice. 2 drops per gallon to contain algae-1 drop per gallon every rez change. I have been assured that this is safe and you can run Fountec in your rez at all times.2:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

*My friend has no idea that I am sharing this information with you folks.:)

---

I couldn't find fountec, so I bought hth algaecide 30 at the truevalue in the pool section. It is the exact same ingredient and dosage as the fountec...called my hydro guy out West and he OK'd the substitute...peace, just thought I would update...
I have used the algaecide 30 for 4 days now algae is controlled and it didn't KILL my babies...

1. 7 week old clones next to 4 week old clones placed in netpots as opposed to straight into trays.

2. Week later; Opposite angle...8week/next to 5 week old clones

3. Harvesting 1st tray. Frosty buds, in 9 weeks.
These could grow longer, but I like the up high I get from the earlier harvest...clear and cloudy trichome's.
(I rooted 2weeks18/6, vegged 1 week15/9, and flowered for 6 weeks.) Cuttings taken from Misty Blue-Original Misty and Sagarmatha's Cannabis Cup Champion Blueberry Male.

This early harvest was planned, because I was getting short...I had an earlier crop in my aero-tubs, I harvested early due to hermie's; I liked the high; So, I figured, let's try a short grow to see if we can get a satisfactory product in 9 weeks.

I probably would not try this without 1000w hortilux.

I still have a tray and 3 DWC plants finishing.

waiting on pix...I have another update coming showing rootballs and tub'o'buds

Latewood... your containers are clear?

any problems with that?..

thanks
: )

This shows the rootballs. Remember I developed a drainage problem and I developed a little rootrot, I think. (the roots were placed right in the bottom of tray for this exp.)
Can't wait to check mother trays root color due to it draining properly throughout grow.

One point: I never had a problem with plants tipping over; In fact they were pretty sturdy by placing them in bottom of trays. You also notice that roots grew up and all around the perlite bed with room to spare.:thumbsup:

New trays are using netpots w/hydroton and they are bigger at 5 weeks than these were at harvest. So I think I can count on about a 25-35% increase in yield the 2nd go-round. I attribute this to the fact that placed in the top layer of perlite, they get better oxygen, faster to the roots.

Here is a Tub'O'Budz...whadaya think?:D latewood

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Garden Knowm

Latewood... your containers are clear?

any problems with that?..

thanks
: )

---

what are you talking about knowmy?
all my trays are black and all my rez are either green or blue, and under everything shielded from light. My DWC is wrapped with 2 layers of black or 3 layers of gray duct tape.

these 3 pix should allow a good photo comparison to wk4f(end of march/beginning of april posts) 1st try'-straight into perlite filled hydro trays...

1.2.3. A good shot of the evident advantage to using hydroton filled netpots set into perlite...More oxygen to roots, that grow out and spread, as opposed to 1st try' where roots were placed at the bottom of tray and surrounded...they anquored well, but I though growth was slower in critical early weeks of flower.

another thing different I did this 2nd try' was; I had a still good, used batch of bloom/w/overdrive mixture...so, 1st week nutes had my recipe*+bud blood...then instead of going into big bud phase of flower...I used the overdrive batch.
I think I see a real kick off to budding** Now this week I used my lucas bloom recipe w/big bud; so we'll see what happens.

1st try' plants dry appear to be a minimum of 1/2oz per...
not bad for 9week plants.
Bigger plants haven't dried yet, and these weights are for the hydro tray experiment. I haven't weighed any potted plants yet.***

* my recipe is posted in several threads
** In a past conversation about rambridge's Bud Blossom...Now Advanced nutrients Bud Blood...Zandor mentioned that back in the day, Growers used Bud Blossom at the beginning of flower and again at end of flower(now replaced by overdrive in the AN line in the end of flower application)
***I weighed the 1st 2 potted NL2's...I got 25g...But,this is the baddest chit, I ever grew...Either I am getting real good or Northern Lights, Just KICK'SASS

So now... 1st week bud blood, last week before flush overdrive...
then...1st week of flower bud blossom, last week before flush...So; I have determined that possibly Overdrive could be used possibly for flower set in place of Bud blood,
the 1st week of flower.

Just a theory...any naysayers?

having trouble with site...might have to post without pix and quote/reply w/attachments later.

pik4...Is that frosty?

Here we go...[QUOTE] I deleted quote...here are pix

Niiiiice... :)

You, LateWood, are ADDICTED to growing. I have no doubt in my mind.

Best to you LW,

-turtle420 :cool:
.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by latewood

Fountec...
http://www.garden-water-fountains.co...r_fountain.htm
I called my hydro friend out west and, this is what he uses. My *friend also stated; That he uses it, but doesn't carry it. He is currently experimenting with several algaecide's in order to choose one to retail.
I will keep you posted.
Currently Fountec indoor water garden treatment(algaecide)
is the 1st choice. 2 drops per gallon to contain algae-1 drop per gallon every rez change. I have been assured that this is safe and you can run Fountec in your rez at all times.2:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

*My friend has no idea that I am sharing this information with you folks.:)

---

We ended up using HTH algaecide free...It had the exact same formulation as the fountec product.*
for treatment of green algae and such-2 drops per gallon.

for maintenance thereafter-1 drop per gallon.

* both products have warnings about the fact that these products are harmful to aquatic organisms/fish, frogs, etc...
but not harmful to plants; In this extremely diluted form.:thumbsup:

You find these products in the pool/pond area of hardware/big box mart stores

[QUOTE]
New trays are using netpots w/hydroton and they are bigger at 5 weeks than these were at harvest. So I think I can count on about a 25-35% increase in yield the 2nd go-round. I attribute this to the fact that placed in the top layer of perlite, they get better oxygen, faster to the roots.

Here is the root pictures from grow 2...whadaya think?:D latewood

I just cleaned these up and thought I would stick them in here for comparison.

1. root mass spreads out better in leach tray using netpots elevated. I think...

2. root coil, This shows how I gently coiled the roots when transplanting them from cloner...you see hydroton on bottom (one layer), then set in roots. gently fill with Hydroton.

3. look at this baby...woooh

Over all, I would say that we got better root development, this time round. Yield wasn't much different , but I had a hermie problem...(I think this MUM has run her course),...STRESS you know, LOL
here the pix.