today marks 2 weeks since the transplant so i thought i would show the progress.
both plants, then i have the reflectix covers off of the pots to check root growth.
then two of the sophisticated control module consisting of 2 of these.
Amazon.com
these have repeat cycle capability and have been quite reliable. best of all, they are cheap.
one fires 2 eco 185 pumps connected to the 2 halos. they deliver 1/2 gal in 15 seconds every 2 hours. total run time 3 minutes per day.
the other fires 2 magdrive 700’s one in each pool crossing over to the other pool. they exchange 1/2 the solution in each pool every 2 hours in one minute for a total run time of 12 minutes per day. the hoses are submerged at both ends maintaining a siphon that equalizes the solution level at 3". These are 5 ft kiddie pools from walmart.
the medium is #2 perlite and has been used several times. i float it in a pool to clean it and eliminate fines.
these are 7 gal feed tubs from tractor supply.
there is approximately 6 gals of perlite and 3 lbs of worm castings in each. there is also an 18 oz solo cup full of diatomaceous earth mixed into the medium. diatomaceous earth is amorphous silicon dioxide and is plant-available and taken up by the roots.
perlite alone has no cec but these two substances provide a substantial cec so the solution is well buffered.
the mix comes out to about 30% air-filled porosity and is free-flowing yet retains water well.
there is a float valve in each pool being fed by an elevated 30-gallon Rubbermaid brute trash can.
the first 12 days i used a 1.4 ec nutrient solution and about 700 umols of light then brought the ec up to 1.8 and the light to 1000 umols. i’m giving them 6 hours on and 6 hours off around the clock but alternating so only one is on at a time but the room is never dark.
the pots are 7 inches above the bottom of the pools and with a 3" solution level there is maintained a 4" air gap between the bottom of the pots and the solution. there is a 3" diameter tube extending from the pot into the solution below. this tube is also filled with perlite and draws solution upward between top watering events. the tube positively drains the perched water table immediately after each pulsed delivery of solution leaving no standing water in the pot.
the top of the medium is 13" above the floor.
the next 3 pics show how the pots are built.
i use Jack’s 3-2-1 formula as a base with 1 ml gal of mr fulvic and a heaping tsp of kelp powder per each 30 gals. ph down is 85% phosphoric acid. ph and ec are extremely stable throughout the grow.
i do not dump any solution during a grow. it is all input only. a recirculating, closed, soilless system known as the PPK.
the lights are 1008 watts each made from household light bulbs with the diffusers cut off. in veg i run 5000k only through stretch up to the end of the third week of flower.
i then use all 2700k warm whites with incandescent bulbs to supply more dark red, far-red, and some infrared.
the last pic shows the approximate spectral distribution of the combined warm whites and the incandescents.
that’s all folks! i see i showed two pics of the same plant. just ignore one of them please!