Currently going to try autos in 3.5s… all new here. Never ran autos. Just dropped a couple lsd beans yesterday
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ProMix “All Purpose” is my base with a bunch of perlite added. My last few fabric pots I have used rice hulls to improve drainage since I was out of perlite. I haven’t noticed any difference so far. I also add a little EWC and toss in a handful of lime for pH stability.
I ran out of ProMix so I ran to the farm store yesterday. I bought two huge bales of plain ol’ peat moss and four bags of Happy Frog. I’ll mix those together. They didn’t have any perlite so I ordered some from Amazon. There’s company that sells a HUGE bag of either regular or large size pieces of perlite. I’ve used their big chunks before, but this time I’m getting a bag of each. I’ve got EWC leftover, and that bag of lime I bought for $4 is enough to last my entire lifetime…
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Nice. So, I’m going to grab one, the 6 gallon reservoir of course…
How do you water this seed till it hits the reservoir?
GET WATERED BEFORE THEIR ROOTS REACH THE HYDRO RESERVOIR?
Watering and feeding plants directly inside Octopot’s Hydro Reservoir is the most productive way to grow plants in all stages of growth. A consistent supply of water and nutrients move upward from the Hydro Reservoir into the soil or growing media by Capillary Action keeping young plants well fed and hydrated. Do not water over the top of the plant after the initial planting even if the top layer seems dry. Seeds and clones follow the moisture gradient down to the Hydro Reservoir. Watering over the top after the initial planting is confusing to plants as they send roots in the direction of water down below.
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I water like I would any seedling while it’s in the Solo cup. The moment you transplant into the Octopot you water through the top of the soil. It only happens this one time, and the rest of the time the plant will be drinking from the rez. It takes 2-3 weeks for the roots to grow down to the rez. During that time you might give them a foliar spray but I usually just let them be. They’ll look a little unhappy, but WOW do they ever explode with growth once they hit the nutrient solution!
If you’ve never read them, look through Jetdro’s old threads. He’s not on OG anymore, but inspired a number of us to get Octopots. He and @ifish came up with a feeding schedule called “forward growing”. Nitrogen heavy at the beginning through the first two weeks of flower, then phosporous heavy for flower, with a shift to potassium heavy at the very end. I think most Octopot growers are using Jack’s brand nutes.
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What about autos? Do you grow two weeks in the solo then transplant?
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Yep. Anything I grow from seed gets that treatment. Two weeks is enough to get a good start but not be root-bound. I’ve let them go longer in the cup and didn’t notice a significant change, but I do think it’s important to not inhibit autos since their clock is always ticking.
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@BarefootAndBlazed copy. So the theory is [germination to two weeks, solo], then transplant and perform the one top water and just water via the reservoir?
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Exactly, which is why I’m curious if starting the seed in the octopot, top watering (with the reservoir full - so the roots can grow toward the water) until you see the growth explosion, or have visual confirmation of roots at the reservoir, then just let it rip?
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check out @Papalag’s thread He’s been doing jetdro’s method too. The Octo’s do seem like the best bet with autos imo. I’ve been debating picking some up.
DWC, if your water is good for it(no root rot issues), it’ll work fantastically too. But it’s waay more work than the octo or hempy.
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Seems like this would be logical. Was watching videos on starting from seed in am octopot and it really doesn’t get any easier.
Now just need to decide the medium, and I’m thinking I’m just going to continue with the 60/40 vermiculite/perlite mix and use the Jacks nutes. They’re performing really well in the hempy, seems like a no brainer
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Haven’t tried vermiculite yet. I use 50/50 Pro-mix and perlite in my hempy’s. And what I plan on using in my octo’s.
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I may have to pick some up and run a comparison.
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Woo Woo is saying, “Plant more seeds!!”.
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Haha 
. Why didn’t you get the bigger bag?
O I finally built my no till today 
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