Nutrients
All plants, whether grown hydroponically or in soil, need 16 basic elements to grow. Most of us are familiar with the top three that are consumed by plants. These elements are called the Macro-Elements and they are Nitrogen Phosphorous and Potassium, they are abbreviated N P K. You probably have seen these letters on bags of common fertilizer. The other 13 elements are grouped together as the Micro-Elements. Most people are not familiar with these elements because we have always counted on them being present in the soil, which works for the most part.
Preformulated Nutrients:
This is really the best option for the hobby to small farm hydroponic grower. You can be assured that all of the necessary nutrients are present and available to the plants. All you have to do is mix a predetermined amount of concentrate with water and add it to your system. If you want to be successful as a first time hydroponic grower, use a ready made nutrient specifically for hydroponics. Preformulated Nutrients come in the forms of 1-part powders, 2-part powders, 1-part liquids, 2-part liquids, & 3-part liquids. I have found that nutrients are pretty much nutrients, with the exception of the General Hydroponics 3-part flora series. This one nutrient system really stands out above the rest, it gives the best results by far. You can customize the mix for specific crops and different phases of the crop (i.e. one mix for vegetative growth and another for flowering/fruiting phases of growth). Formulating your own: Once you have some experience with hydroponics and you are producing large crops of a specific plant, you may want to look into formulating your own nutrients. Since all plants do not consume the same amounts of nutrients (individual elements) you can possibly save yourself some money by making very specific formulas for your crop. This involves a good amount of chemistry knowledge, some lab equipment and each of the 16 individual elemental nutrients. Many crop specific formulas exist from others' research, all you have to do is find the right recipe and mix it up. Over time you will probably adjust this formula to match your growing conditions and crop more closely. Mixing your own is best left to the more experienced who are producing large amounts of one crop (i.e. 1/4 acre on up).
Miracle Grow:
Many people insist on tying to use miracle grow plant food as a hydroponic nutrient. It is true that this is great stuff for soil, I personally use it on my flowers and man do they freak out. Let me stress though, this stuff is not a complete nutrient for hydroponics. It does contain some micro elements, but not all. Your plants will start out fine using this, but eventually they will suffer from deficiencies. In the long run it is not worth the cost savings over a real hydroponic nutrient. The analogy would be something like buying a brand new corvette and then having the cheapest tires put on it and filling up with the cheapest Circle K gasoline. You will not even come close to getting the performance that is possible.
Friday, 28 January 2011
Quick Cheap Hydroyponics Garden Setup guide
This covers the hardware to get started. These are plans to make a fairly portable, and very inexpensive water culture (advanced hydroponic) system. These plans only explain how to make the garden itself, and do _not_ explain how to use/maintain it.
Materials:
1 5-10 gallon bucket2 Pieces of PVC or ABS pipe, 8-10" long, 5" or greater diameter.4 Caps for PVC/APS pipe ends.1 waterpump capable of about 50 Gallons Per Hour (you will needa bigger pump if you choose to make this a larger system)4' of hose that will fit the waterpump (often 3/8")1 TEE joint (or Y-splitter) that fits the water hose4 clamps for the water hose (one for pump to hose, and 3 forhoses to TEE fitting.)1 Airpump, airstone, and some airline from a fish tank.1 Can White epoxy based spray paint1 Can Black Epoxy based spray paint
Instructions:
Everything must be made light tight. Paint all hoses, the bucket, the PVC/ABS (which will be called PVC from now on) and the lid of the bucket with a layer of black paint. Let it dry overnight, and then cover it with a layer of white paint (to make it reflective, and reduce the temperature of the nutrient solution). Take each of PVC pieces and drill a 1" hole in the side, about one inch from the end. Then epoxy the caps onto the ends of the PVC. Drill the inlet/outlet holes (these should be located on the caps of the PVC), The inlet hole should be as low as possible (as close to the wall of the PVC), and the outlet hole should be as high as possible) Now cut two 5" holes in the sides of the bucket (close to the top), and epoxy the PVC in place, so about 2" of pipe (and the outlet hole) are inside the bucket, and the 1" hole is facing straight up. Place the airstone in the bottom of the bucket, and find a place for the airpump. If you are planning an indoor garden, with enriched CO2 in the air, then the pump should be OUTSIDE of your enclosure. The idea of the pump is to dissolve oxygen into the nutrient solution, and not to dissolve CO2. CO2 can kill rootsystems. If you are growing outside, or not enriching CO2, then the pump can sit anywhere. Place the waterpump in the bottom of the bucket (assuming it is a submersible one and attach a hose to it. long enough to reach the top of the bucket. Cut a hole in the lid of the bucket for this hose to go through. Then attach the TEE fitting to the hose. Now attach hoses to the free ends of the TEE, and run them to the inlet holes on the end of the PVC pipes. Use clamps on the TEE fitting and on the pump itself, but use epoxy to attach the hoses to the PVC. This seal must be completely water tight. Let them dry for 24 hours. Put some water in the bucket and turn on the pump. What should happen is the PVC pieces will fill with water, and then when they are full, they should begin to continuously drain out the outlet holes, and back into the bucket. If you are getting leaks anywhere, fix them immedately. If water is coming out of the 1" hole on the top of the pipe, then either your pump is too strong, or your outlet hole is too small. Fix one or the other. Empty the system (hint, remove the hose from the pump to drain the arms), and replace the water with some form of hydroponic nutrient solution (look in a hydroponics book for details on what exactly to use, or visit a gardening store, and ask) Place your plants into the system. The best way I have found to do this is to take a 1 1/8" garden hose and cut a 1" tube off of one end. Then slit the tube down one side. Wrap the stem of your plant (just above the roots) with polyester fluff (available at aquarium stores, for stuffing into external water filters) and then wrap the garden hose around the fluff. Then force the hose into the hole at the top of the PVC arm. People also have used rubber stoppers. Turn on the air/water pumps, and let your garden grow.
Comments:
This is obviously just a small setup, but these plans can easily be modified for much larger systems, using longer pieces of PVC, or more than one pair of arms, and a larger bucket to hold the nutrients.
Starting Seeds:
This system is not for seeds. Either purchase small plants, or start your seeds in a pan of vermiculite, flooded with 1/2 strength hydroponic nutrient fluid. When they are about 4-6 inches tall, they are ready to be moved to the system. Remove them gently from the vermiculite, using clean water to get every last chunk off of the roots. Then wrap the stems in polyester fluff and garden hose.
Materials:
1 5-10 gallon bucket2 Pieces of PVC or ABS pipe, 8-10" long, 5" or greater diameter.4 Caps for PVC/APS pipe ends.1 waterpump capable of about 50 Gallons Per Hour (you will needa bigger pump if you choose to make this a larger system)4' of hose that will fit the waterpump (often 3/8")1 TEE joint (or Y-splitter) that fits the water hose4 clamps for the water hose (one for pump to hose, and 3 forhoses to TEE fitting.)1 Airpump, airstone, and some airline from a fish tank.1 Can White epoxy based spray paint1 Can Black Epoxy based spray paint
Instructions:
Everything must be made light tight. Paint all hoses, the bucket, the PVC/ABS (which will be called PVC from now on) and the lid of the bucket with a layer of black paint. Let it dry overnight, and then cover it with a layer of white paint (to make it reflective, and reduce the temperature of the nutrient solution). Take each of PVC pieces and drill a 1" hole in the side, about one inch from the end. Then epoxy the caps onto the ends of the PVC. Drill the inlet/outlet holes (these should be located on the caps of the PVC), The inlet hole should be as low as possible (as close to the wall of the PVC), and the outlet hole should be as high as possible) Now cut two 5" holes in the sides of the bucket (close to the top), and epoxy the PVC in place, so about 2" of pipe (and the outlet hole) are inside the bucket, and the 1" hole is facing straight up. Place the airstone in the bottom of the bucket, and find a place for the airpump. If you are planning an indoor garden, with enriched CO2 in the air, then the pump should be OUTSIDE of your enclosure. The idea of the pump is to dissolve oxygen into the nutrient solution, and not to dissolve CO2. CO2 can kill rootsystems. If you are growing outside, or not enriching CO2, then the pump can sit anywhere. Place the waterpump in the bottom of the bucket (assuming it is a submersible one and attach a hose to it. long enough to reach the top of the bucket. Cut a hole in the lid of the bucket for this hose to go through. Then attach the TEE fitting to the hose. Now attach hoses to the free ends of the TEE, and run them to the inlet holes on the end of the PVC pipes. Use clamps on the TEE fitting and on the pump itself, but use epoxy to attach the hoses to the PVC. This seal must be completely water tight. Let them dry for 24 hours. Put some water in the bucket and turn on the pump. What should happen is the PVC pieces will fill with water, and then when they are full, they should begin to continuously drain out the outlet holes, and back into the bucket. If you are getting leaks anywhere, fix them immedately. If water is coming out of the 1" hole on the top of the pipe, then either your pump is too strong, or your outlet hole is too small. Fix one or the other. Empty the system (hint, remove the hose from the pump to drain the arms), and replace the water with some form of hydroponic nutrient solution (look in a hydroponics book for details on what exactly to use, or visit a gardening store, and ask) Place your plants into the system. The best way I have found to do this is to take a 1 1/8" garden hose and cut a 1" tube off of one end. Then slit the tube down one side. Wrap the stem of your plant (just above the roots) with polyester fluff (available at aquarium stores, for stuffing into external water filters) and then wrap the garden hose around the fluff. Then force the hose into the hole at the top of the PVC arm. People also have used rubber stoppers. Turn on the air/water pumps, and let your garden grow.
Comments:
This is obviously just a small setup, but these plans can easily be modified for much larger systems, using longer pieces of PVC, or more than one pair of arms, and a larger bucket to hold the nutrients.
Starting Seeds:
This system is not for seeds. Either purchase small plants, or start your seeds in a pan of vermiculite, flooded with 1/2 strength hydroponic nutrient fluid. When they are about 4-6 inches tall, they are ready to be moved to the system. Remove them gently from the vermiculite, using clean water to get every last chunk off of the roots. Then wrap the stems in polyester fluff and garden hose.
Cannabis Growing Fertiizer Advice and Tips
Marijuana likes lots of food, but you can do damage to the plants if you are too zealous. Some fertilizers can burn a plant and damage its roots if used in to high a concentration. Most commercial soil will have enough nutrients in it to sustain the plant for about three weeks of growth so you don't need to worry about feeding your plant until the end of the third week. The most important thing to remember is to introduce the fertilizer concentration to the plant gradually. Start with a fairly diluted fertilizer solution and gradually increase the dosage. There are several good marijuana fertilizers on the commercial market, two of which are Rapid-Gro and Eco-Grow. Rapid-Gro has had widespread use in marijuana cultivation and is available in most parts of the United States. Eco-Grow is also especially good for marijuana since it contains an ingredient that keeps the soil from becoming acid. Most fertilizers cause a pH change in the soil. Adding fertilizer to the soil almost always results in a more acidic pH.
As time goes on, the amount of salts produced by the breakdown of fertilizers in the soil causes the soil to become increasingly acidic and eventually the concentration of these salts in the soil will stunt the plant and cause browning out of the foliage. Also, as the plant gets older its roots become less effective in bringing food to the leaves. To avoid the accumulation of these salts in your soil and to ensure that your plant is getting all of the food it needs you can begin leaf feeding your plant at the age of about 1.5 months. Dissolve the fertilizer in worm water and spray the mixture directly onto the foliage. The leaves absorb the fertilizer into their veins. If you want to continue to put fertilizer into the soil as well as leaf feeding, be sure not to overdose your plants.
Remember to increase the amount of food your plant receives gradually. Marijuana seems to be able to take as much fertilizer as you want to give it as long as it is introduced over a period of time. During the first three months or so, fertilize your plants every few days. As the rate of foliage growth slows down in the plant's preparation for blooming and seed production, the fertilizer intake of the plant should be slowed down as well. Never fertilize the plant just before you are going to harvest it since the fertilizer will encourage foliage production and slow down resin production. A word here about the most organic of fertilizers: worm castings. As you may know, worms are raised commercially for sale to gardeners. The breeders put the worms in organic compost mixtures and while the worms are reproducing they eat the organic matter and expel some of the best marijuana food around. After the worms have eaten all the organic matter in the compost, they are removed and sold and the remains are then sold as worm castings. These castings are so rich that you can grow marijuana in straight worm castings. This isn't really necessary however, and it is somewhat impractical since the castings are very expensive. If you can afford them you can, however, blend them in with your soil and they will make a very good organic fertilizer.
As time goes on, the amount of salts produced by the breakdown of fertilizers in the soil causes the soil to become increasingly acidic and eventually the concentration of these salts in the soil will stunt the plant and cause browning out of the foliage. Also, as the plant gets older its roots become less effective in bringing food to the leaves. To avoid the accumulation of these salts in your soil and to ensure that your plant is getting all of the food it needs you can begin leaf feeding your plant at the age of about 1.5 months. Dissolve the fertilizer in worm water and spray the mixture directly onto the foliage. The leaves absorb the fertilizer into their veins. If you want to continue to put fertilizer into the soil as well as leaf feeding, be sure not to overdose your plants.
Remember to increase the amount of food your plant receives gradually. Marijuana seems to be able to take as much fertilizer as you want to give it as long as it is introduced over a period of time. During the first three months or so, fertilize your plants every few days. As the rate of foliage growth slows down in the plant's preparation for blooming and seed production, the fertilizer intake of the plant should be slowed down as well. Never fertilize the plant just before you are going to harvest it since the fertilizer will encourage foliage production and slow down resin production. A word here about the most organic of fertilizers: worm castings. As you may know, worms are raised commercially for sale to gardeners. The breeders put the worms in organic compost mixtures and while the worms are reproducing they eat the organic matter and expel some of the best marijuana food around. After the worms have eaten all the organic matter in the compost, they are removed and sold and the remains are then sold as worm castings. These castings are so rich that you can grow marijuana in straight worm castings. This isn't really necessary however, and it is somewhat impractical since the castings are very expensive. If you can afford them you can, however, blend them in with your soil and they will make a very good organic fertilizer.
Thursday, 27 January 2011
The benifits of using Hydroponic systems
Hydroponic Weed
Why should I grow with a Hydroponic Weed System?
This is the result of an experiment done by General Hydroponics. Both of these plants are the same age and were taken from the same nursery stock. One was grown hydroponically and one was grown in dirt. Can you tell which is which?
Aside from the outrageous growth and size, hydroponic plants are healthier. Produce grown hydroponically can contain up to300% more nutrients than soil grown produce.
Grow Hydroponic Today
We are already seeing a push for more earth friendly farming practices, higher yield gardening and self sufficiency. Possibly in the future each family will, by necessity, have to grow at least a portion of their own food. Hydroponics fits into the scheme of these things because of its high yield/low space nature. A 10'x10' hydroponic greenhouse can easily provide a family of 4 all of it's produce - year around.
Why should I grow with a Hydroponic Weed System?
This is the result of an experiment done by General Hydroponics. Both of these plants are the same age and were taken from the same nursery stock. One was grown hydroponically and one was grown in dirt. Can you tell which is which?
Aside from the outrageous growth and size, hydroponic plants are healthier. Produce grown hydroponically can contain up to300% more nutrients than soil grown produce.
Grow Hydroponic Today
We are already seeing a push for more earth friendly farming practices, higher yield gardening and self sufficiency. Possibly in the future each family will, by necessity, have to grow at least a portion of their own food. Hydroponics fits into the scheme of these things because of its high yield/low space nature. A 10'x10' hydroponic greenhouse can easily provide a family of 4 all of it's produce - year around.
Hydroponic Tips and Advice
Hydroponic growing requires some form of inert growing medium to support the plant, protect the roots from sunlight and to keep the root moist at all times.
The most important thing to remember when growing in hydroponics is:
1. Watch and adjust the pH level so that it always stays within the 5.5 to 6.8 pH range, optimum pH is at 6.3 - 6.5, and you should know that the natural tendency in hydroponics is an increase in the pH over time as plants use up nutrients, so you have to watch it and adjust it with either pH Down or Up chemicals which come in dry powder or wet liquid forms.
2. Change the hydro-water and re-supply the water with fresh nutrients (properly mixed) for whatever stage your plants are in every 10 days or so.
3. Root tissue should not be allowed to get too cold or too warm, maintain the nutrient solution at a minimum temp of 50 F at night, and 70 F during the day when the light are turned on, HID lighting produced heat, unlike fluorescent (which we do not recommend), yes you can grow under them, but you will need a lot of them.
Unless you live in an area where the Police routinely fly over to check for heat spots, not a big deal, HID lights are also more efficient then any other available human made artificial source of light, and since you want to give it the best light to maximize your operation, you go with that, and that's that.
Supply the correct lighting for the stage that you are in, and try to move air over your canopy to bring in fresh oxygen. I would stay away from buying CO2 bottles, instead you can buy Carbon in a liquid form and apply it directly to the roots on the plants by mixing it into the hydroponic water. CO2 bottles can bring unwanted attention to you, as you have to have them re-filled.
Start with a single net pod system and play around with it and experiment, once you outgrow it, you'll know everything that is needed to make a kit and then you should be able to plan a larger kit to hold maybe 4-10 or more plants. If you have no imagination and are low on technical skills, go to the hydroponic store, pull out your cash and buy a nice kit.
The most important thing to remember when growing in hydroponics is:
1. Watch and adjust the pH level so that it always stays within the 5.5 to 6.8 pH range, optimum pH is at 6.3 - 6.5, and you should know that the natural tendency in hydroponics is an increase in the pH over time as plants use up nutrients, so you have to watch it and adjust it with either pH Down or Up chemicals which come in dry powder or wet liquid forms.
2. Change the hydro-water and re-supply the water with fresh nutrients (properly mixed) for whatever stage your plants are in every 10 days or so.
3. Root tissue should not be allowed to get too cold or too warm, maintain the nutrient solution at a minimum temp of 50 F at night, and 70 F during the day when the light are turned on, HID lighting produced heat, unlike fluorescent (which we do not recommend), yes you can grow under them, but you will need a lot of them.
Unless you live in an area where the Police routinely fly over to check for heat spots, not a big deal, HID lights are also more efficient then any other available human made artificial source of light, and since you want to give it the best light to maximize your operation, you go with that, and that's that.
Supply the correct lighting for the stage that you are in, and try to move air over your canopy to bring in fresh oxygen. I would stay away from buying CO2 bottles, instead you can buy Carbon in a liquid form and apply it directly to the roots on the plants by mixing it into the hydroponic water. CO2 bottles can bring unwanted attention to you, as you have to have them re-filled.
Start with a single net pod system and play around with it and experiment, once you outgrow it, you'll know everything that is needed to make a kit and then you should be able to plan a larger kit to hold maybe 4-10 or more plants. If you have no imagination and are low on technical skills, go to the hydroponic store, pull out your cash and buy a nice kit.
Excellent Cannabis Growing Tips From Around The World
Keep enriching your cannabis plants with fresh air even until the end of harvest, it increases growth rate, hastens maturity and increases yield. Adequate ventilation cycles are a must, weed loves routine.
Change your grow lights every year, the color spectrum effectiveness diminishes over time.
Don't put old HID bulbs in new electronic and digital ballasts, it'll work but the bulb will fail faster, their incompatible, find the new lights made for the new ballast.
Try a few different new fertilizers on a few of your plants to figure out the best fertilizer for your grow garden.
When growing hydroponic marijuana use Ph meters, it's important to have the right measurement.
Don't wait for color change, use a microscope to see when your plant is ready for harvest, it should have 2/3 balls on the tops of the crystals of THC.
Don't go into your grow room during the night cycle, leave it alone.
When cutting your plants make sure you sterilize your scissors or clippers, wash your hands regularly, bacteria and fungus contamination is easy. Some growers are now using a fungicide on seeds before and during the germination process.
Change your grow lights every year, the color spectrum effectiveness diminishes over time.
Don't put old HID bulbs in new electronic and digital ballasts, it'll work but the bulb will fail faster, their incompatible, find the new lights made for the new ballast.
Try a few different new fertilizers on a few of your plants to figure out the best fertilizer for your grow garden.
When growing hydroponic marijuana use Ph meters, it's important to have the right measurement.
Don't wait for color change, use a microscope to see when your plant is ready for harvest, it should have 2/3 balls on the tops of the crystals of THC.
Don't go into your grow room during the night cycle, leave it alone.
When cutting your plants make sure you sterilize your scissors or clippers, wash your hands regularly, bacteria and fungus contamination is easy. Some growers are now using a fungicide on seeds before and during the germination process.
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