SOG technique; spacing

[oldmac]

I am in the process of building a new hydro set-up using fogponics, both dry fog and wet fog. It will be a SOG, fog to waste and I am using 2- 4'x4' trays. In laying out the lids, I was shooting for 4" stem to stem spacing using 2" net pots. I picked 4" spacing because that is what I use now with 4" rockwool blocks. What I'm finding is max number sites gives me 3 3/4" spacing or use less sites but spacing is at 4 1/2" apart.

Which would be better, or what do you believe to be the best spacing for SOG? Thoughts and ideas welcomed.

oldmac Reviewed by oldmac on 06-14-2008. SOG technique; spacing I am in the process of building a new hydro set-up using fogponics, both dry fog and wet fog. It will be a SOG, fog to waste and I am using 2- 4'x4' trays. In laying out the lids, I was shooting for 4" stem to stem spacing using 2" net pots. I picked 4" spacing because that is what I use now with 4" rockwool blocks. What I'm finding is max number sites gives me 3 3/4" spacing or use less sites but spacing is at 4 1/2" apart. Which would be better, or what do you believe to be the best Rating: 5

[stinkyattic]

Okeydokey let's see, starting wiht your new grow style which is actually aeroponics... you may end up with some extra humidity in your room, and you'll want to be EXTRA careful not to crowd the plants so that you get plenty of air flow around the bases.
The difference between your max and min spacing is only 3/4". Do you already know this strain well enough to predict ultimate cola diameter in an SOG? If not, post it up and maybe someone will give you a hint.
Also, do you have plans to add CO2? If so, go for max spacing. If not, concentrate more on how the plant grows- does it stretch up to produce slender spears (min spacing), or squat low and grow American football shaped buds (max spacing)?
Or go for the middle ground for flexibility.

[oldmac]

Stinkyattic,

Your right it is actually aeroponics, using fog.

I had plan to run the same starins I have been growing; white widow, kush, maple leaf (not at the same time). In my current grow I bloom in a GI Grow, the side by side spacing is 4" (set by the blocks), but in the rotating garden they are only perpendicular to the light a the top or bottom. Going up hill they lay back, exposing more of themselves to the light and going down hill they lean forward and get more light.

I just re-did the layout of the lids this am, and used alternate rows of 12 and 11, so as to offset rows. I also worked with the edge spacing, I now have side to side of 4" (actually 3 7/8 full) and a diagonal clearence of 4 3/8. But pick up a lot a extra clearance front to back. Instead of 144 sites, I get 138. I think this is it. But I may just look at for a day or two before I drill it.

You are right about the humidity issue, it is my one main concern with this type of set-up. Having thick dense buds with moisture at every stem base.....a recipe for problems with mold. Air movement, particularly at the bottom of plants is going to be important. If all else fails, I'm prepared to duct tape the top of every net pot.

AND big thanx for the responce Stinky.

[stinkyattic]

Before you break out the duct tape, see about fans! Or plan to veg JUST long enough to gain height, and then strip the first few inches of the stem from the bottom up, so that there's no extra foliage down there to hold in the damp.
Hint: If you want to increase stretch, use your HPS in late veg/early flower, and allow a 15'F difference between night and day. Blue light and steady temps reduce stretch.

[oldmac]

Yup, fans before duct tape; probably easier and a lot less messy.

I'm planning to cut all lower growth after a few weeks, both to clean up the bottom of plants for better air flow, but to also start cuttings for perpetual grow. Something not possible with the rotating set-up.

I'm not going to use HPS, I ordered last week a couple of TI Pro Bloom 600s, LED grow lights, one per 4x4 tray. Let's see how good they are.

For propagation I have 2-120 EZ-cloners, with 1-4' T5 actinic blue for first few days, and 4-TT-105s 6k fluro's to veg...maybe 7-10 days. Probably use just collars in EZcloners and transfer them to 2" net pots for the foggy/areoponic bloom. Time and size of transplant will depend on how strains grow. I'm hoping for a speedier start to finish then I have now with 3 steps and RW.

I've got high hopes. hehe

[stinkyattic]

I'm not going to use HPS, I ordered last week a couple of TI Pro Bloom 600s, LED grow lights, one per 4x4 tray. Let's see how good they are.

Prediction: You are going to have a tough time lighting a 4x4 tray with anything less then a big BANK of leds - for LED success, you are really going to want to get them right up close to the plants, within about 12" of the canopy.
IF you like the 'perpetual' style, aeroponics is about the hardest way to run, since a perpetual harvest depends heavily upon being able to move and rearrange the plants. Unless your definition of perpetual is different- like, you are doing alternating months on 2 trays. Not really perpetual; just easier to manage trimming, propagation, etc.

[oldmac]

Each light is about 300watts, it may do 4x4 primary and if not I'm prepared to throw supplemental T5s at it...driven to VHO levels.
I've been experimenting with LEDs for awhile and even been using 2 Procyon's in my mom room for last 6 months. These lights by Theoreme Innovation are in use commercially in Canada, and I'm hoping I can trust our northern neighbors, ah.

BTW if all else fails, I'll through 600wHPS or more per tray at it!

I am shooting to alternate between the trays, hence the clonning ability to get a tray full up and running. To me it is a continuous grow because trimmings from one tray provide cuttings to propagate for next tray. Better then what I have now, keeping at least 6 mature moms per strain I want to run, plus up and commers. Not to mention trying to find space to grow out stuff for the spring for the little greenhouse...twenty pounds of plant material crammed into a ten pound bag.hehe

The new system, is also going into a new space, with room to work. About 5 years ago I was doing a NFT sytem much the same as this new one, except I was growing larger multi-stem plants.
I intend to hold finish heights less then 24" and see no reason why I can't hit 7-8 grams per site, as I do now in RW. And I am hoping to do it faster, but we'll see.

[oldmac]

Since I can post pics, I decided to up date the thread with what the outcome looks like.

Behold "Fogfognugen" a fog/aeroponic growing machine.

138 plant sites per tray, 276 total sites.
Ultra-sonic fog fed thru large pvc and 8 mister nozzles in each lid for pressure misting system.