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Question and Answer Page 21

Subjects

what emmiter is used how the 11 plant system drains problem of damping off
2 liter bottle system with sea of green set up of just 3 plants 20 bottle gallon system
asked about the cannabis plant about water cycle? flooding every 4 hours
How well does citrus do in hydroponics finding hydro nutrients here greenhouse that is in the shade
leach the system with fresh water Can I make the system flood slowly enough? neem oil

 

Date:
13 Nov 1999
Time:
07:14:19

Comments

hi ron,
are you familiar with neem extracts, onion and baking soda use as pest and fungi control ?
how do you apply them ?
thanks
Stone Cold

No but it sounds interesting.

Date:
14 Nov 1999
Time:
00:00:12

Comments

what air temperature is good for pot

Room temperature.

Date:
14 Nov 1999
Time:
05:25:43

Comments

Ron! I have tried to closely view the picture of those who use the drip tipe watering system but I can't see what emmiter is used. What do they use?
JJ

I don't use emitters. I let the solution just flow out a 1/4" tube. Emitters are used mostly when your water is under pressure. With submersible pumps there isn't much pressure and emitters tend to get plug up.

Date:
14 Nov 1999
Time:
07:37:30

Comments

Can a cannabis plant be grown to maturity using the 2 litre bottle system with out using the 16 ounce solo cups, using sea of green method?

Yes the 2-liter garden was design for pot. High Times, October 1990 issue Pot For Pennies.

Date:
14 Nov 1999
Time:
09:12:05

Comments

If you are doing sea of green method then you could use smaller than 16 oz solo. You only need to wait for the clones to become root bound after a few weeks and then send them into flowering. I would suggest a different system than 2 liter bottles though for sea of green. The cups are used to prevent the roots of the plant from clogging the pipes. Ron says, in his system, he puts a good 8" or more between the bottles to give the plans room. In sea of green you want the clones as close together as possible so that you can get the most buds possible for the amount of space you are using. I have seen as many as 9 clones per square foot that produced much kind buds. I would use rockwool for sea of green or an ebb & flow system in a tray full of grow rocks. That's just my opinion though, Ron may thin differently. Whatever you end up doing, good luck. It's always nice to see someone growing their own and trying to do it right. Regards, Bud enthusiast.

The most I have been able to cram the 2 liter garden together   is 100 plants in a 4 foot by 4 foot space. A good size for a 400 watt bulb.
You don't have to use solo cups if the hole in your bottle cap is small enough so that your grow rocks won't fall though.

Date:
15 Nov 1999
Time:
15:36:57

Comments

Hi. I'm the guy who asked about the cannabis plant. I am thinking of making an ebb/flow system for my plants, for the simple reason that it would take up less veticle space than using the 2 litre system. I am gonna be growing in 4ft tall grow box, and the reservoir and grow tray alone are going to take up about 20 inches, so I need to spare as much room as I can. I am going to be using sterilized lava rocks in the grow tray which will hold six plants. I have 3 questions.

1. Will the 2 inch pvc hose connector that I am using to both fill and drain the system get clogged up by the lava rocks, and prevent the system from draining? If so, how can I prevent this?
No lava rocks should not clog up any size.
2. How often should I flood the system? I will be on a 24 hr. lighting schedule for veg. growth.
Every 20 or 30 minutes.
3. I want to try to use Miracle grow as my nutrient. What would be the best kind to use for growing buds?
I wouldn't use Miracle-Gro if I was growing pot. I would use a real hydroponics solution from any of the grow stores mention on this web site.
I know this is a lot of questions, but I want to make sure that I get everything right the first time. Thank you for your time.

Date:
15 Nov 1999
Time:
16:57:45

Comments

How well does citrus in a hydroponic system ? What are the optimum conditions ? Any advice or hint ? Maybe a book or website. I didnīt find anything about it.
Thanks a lot.
Ruediger storm@zedat.fu-berlin.de

I haven't tried citrus but get a load of this banana tree in my pool. I haven't figured out how I'm going to get it out next year if it gets an bigger.
Hydroponics don't do well with woody type plants like orange trees, rose bushes or other types of trees . Hydroponics is more for water loving plants like my banana tree.

Date:
16 Nov 1999
Time:
19:40:56

Comments

Howdy Ron,

I have read and heard that every so often it is necessary to leach the system with fresh water. I know that soil and rockwool can retain salts and other stuff that can be toxic to the plants. Is this also true of your 11 plant system when using grow rocks?
Yes grow rocks can have a build up of fertilizing salts over time.
If so how often would you suggest doing this?
I would flush the system when you change the nutrient solution. Every few weeks. An easy way to do that is fill your tank up with clean water and let it water a few dozen times. Or if you have access to a drain then unhook the pump and run the hose from the garden to the drain. Then use a water hose and run clean water from the top of each plant cup. That will flush all the salts from the rocks and out though the system to the drain.
Right now my plants are nearly a month old and very healthy, about 4 inches tall. I initially was watering 6 times daily. Moved up to 8 times daily. I am now going to increase the frequency again to 12 times daily. When the plants get a little bigger I plan on one last jump to 24 on-off a day. The plants have been very healthy and their growth rate is admirable. Have you ever tried this type of gradual increase with an indoor system?
Yes that is exactly how you do it.
This is my first attempt and I feel fortunate that it has run so smoothly. I don't want to mess up. Will the change in watering cycle shock the plants or cause them to suffocate?
That is what I like about grow rocks so much is that they hold so much oxygen between watering. One of the reasons why  hydroponic growing  is so much faster is because you are force feeding the plants by watering them if they want it or not. As long as your pH and PPM is correct for the  plants age then you can't water to much. Most plants do need a dry out period so don't think by watering all the time will increase yields.
When I send my plant into flowering I was thinking of a conversion bulb, but I will loose 40 watts! Would you recommend that I just get a bigger HPS ballast at that time? I want the best fruit I can get and am wondering how much of a yield increase I can expect by going from a 400 MH to a 600 HPS or even from the 400 MH to a 1000 HPS.
Conversion bulbs are OK if you are on a budget but if you can afford it I would go with the 1000 HPS because theirs is no such thing as to much light when it comes to increased yield. Especially in the bud room.
Thanks for all the help you give us amateurs.
Later, Frank

Date:
16 Nov 1999
Time:
22:45:36

Comments

Mr. hydro, I'd like to know how the 11 plant system fully drains the water from the pipes to the reservoir. The only information I know is that when the tubes are filling up with water, the bottles fill up to the same level as the overflow pipe and then from the top of the pipe back down into the reservoir. I guess my question would be, how does the remaining water below the top of the overflow pipe drain back into the reservoir when that pipe runs up and back down again? 
Ask a physics teacher. I know it sounds strange. It's got to do with water level and other mysterious forces.
First, would I need some sort of fill and drain fitting connected to the hose running from the pump to the tubes?
No. Because when the submersible pump shuts off the water in the system drains back to the tank through the same hose that is connected to the pump.
Second, can I or should I run an air pump through this type of system?
It's a cheap way to make sure your plants are getting plenty of oxygen. Plug the air pump into the same timer as your submersible pump so it comes on at the same time.
thanx, Thanx for your knowledge
Riverratt

Date:
17 Nov 1999
Time:
08:07:51

Comments

Ron: The online addy for Chem Gro Hydro Ferts 10-8-22 is (www.mellingers.com). The formula is complete with micro nutes and calcium. The only item you add is Epsom Salts which is available anywhere. It comes in 5lb can for $12.95 and they deal mainly with outdoor gardeners. Sorry I quoted 6lb can in earlier post but I had a hard night. Nurse Duckett

Date:
17 Nov 1999
Time:
12:01:59

Comments

Hey I would like to do a set up of just 3 plants. Do I use the same set up just smaller? And what kind of pump would you suggest?
Yes just a smaller version of the 11 plant and the same goes for larger gardens.  You could use the smallest pump you could find with only 3 plants. Ron

Date:
17 Nov 1999
Time:
16:08:31

Comments

Energy efficiency not considered, how well would a low pressure sodium light work for flowering buds? They emmit a red-orange light spectrum similar to high pressure sodium, but do not require a special ballast or anything, so they are a hell of a lot cheaper. Plus they have a high light output. (183 lumens per watt)

Yes LP Sodium lamps are OK but they are recommended to be used with a metal halide lamp to stimulate photosynthesis and chlorophyll synthesis. They are used mostly for side lighting.

Date:
18 Nov 1999
Time:
13:12:45

Comments

Hey Ron,
When you switch from veg to flower and go down to 12 on 12 off, What do you do about water cycle? Is it true that you only need to water while the lights are on? Thanks.
Yes you only need to water when the light is on because without photosynthesis the plaint can't utilize the nutrients in the solution. But for convenience I water all the time, that is intermitely, (every 20 minutes)  because I have had a few disasters with timers going bad. My plants don't seem to mind being watered unnecessarily. Ron

Date:
18 Nov 1999
Time:
14:35:04

Comments

Dear Hydroponic Growers could you help me start a garden somehow.
Start by reading every page on this web site and then get back to us. Ron

Date:
19 Nov 1999
Time:
02:57:15

Comments

Hi ! I live in sweden, and have big problems finding hydro nutrients here. Would mixing my own be possible to do with acceptable results? I have tried different brands of fertilisers based on what they contain, but they all seem to lack something or have too much of something so my results have been mixed.

Read Here and Here

Date:
19 Nov 1999
Time:
12:32:10

Comments

How well do phototrons work?
They may look expressive but I haven't heard anything good about them. They are based on using florescence and you can't grow much that way even if you cram the plant up against the bulbs. Ron

Date:
19 Nov 1999
Time:
17:42:37

Comments

Dear Ron,
I'm the guy who wrote from Argentina a while back. I know you recommended that I forget the whole prospect of the 11 plant garden, but I was able to build it successfuly. It turned out great with 1 1/2" PVC (which in Argentina I think is similar in internal diameter to US 1"). I got the bottle caps to fit and seal in each PVC opening perfectly and I installed a flow control valve at the entry point into the system. My question is this: is a 200-300 gph pump (the smallest I could find) still too powerful, even with the flow control valve? Can I make the system flood slowly enough? Or do I really have to wait until my next trip to the states to get a smaller pump?
Ideally, I need to get these Amsterdam babies germinated before Christmas... I'm anxious. I don't want to wait until that next trip to the US.
Please help. Thanks a million.
You could try what a member said a few questions back. Use a tee at the pump with one hose going to the garden and a flow control valve on the other end that flows back to the tank. That will release most of pump pressure back to the nutrient tank with the added benefit of creating air bubbles in your nutrient tank. Open or close the valve to determine how much water to pump to the garden. Ron

Date:
21 Nov 1999
Time:
07:30:59

Comments

hi ron,
what is the best method to control or to remove the problem of damping off in a hydroponic system ?
im using sponge as a medium.
regards,
Oh Chin Singapore

Damping-off is a medium-borne fungus that rots newly sprouted seedlings right at the medium line. I suspect your sponge medium is holding to much moisture and not enough oxygen. Overwatering and to much humidity is the biggest cause of damping-off and the key to prevention.Ron

Date:
21 Nov 1999
Time:
17:04:20

Comments

Ron,

Your site is the most informative hydroponic site I've seen. I plan to build a 20 bottle gallon system. Can I build it as an ebb and flow system, or should it be a top drip system? Could you give me the relative advantages of the one you prefer?

I would go with the ebb and flow if you have an intermediate timer so you can water correctly. And I would use the drip from the top if you use one of those cheep timers. The ebb and flow gardens work best when the water rises to the correct height and immediately drains back to the tank and then repeats every 20 or 30 minutes. You set how many minutes it takes to reach the height you want and you don't have to use an over flow pipe. Ron

Date:
21 Nov 1999
Time:
17:32:23

Comments

ron, what are the dimensions of 11 plant hydro unit

About 2 ft. x 3 ft.

Date:
22 Nov 1999
Time:
07:05:38

Comments

I would like to grow looseleaf lettuce and harvest it daily. This is a first attempt.I have a 500 sq/ft green house I built my self. Please help me start. Jim Siddons

Date:
22 Nov 1999
Time:
13:35:27

Comments

Ron, I just recently finished building your 11 plant system.. I am using gro rocks.. I put 3 week old "tomato" plants in the system. And they wilted... I tried with plain ph adjusted tap water and a nutrient mix.. I was flooding every 4 hours for 20 minutes.. I am confused.. Thanks..

Every 4 hours won't do it. Every 20 minutes should be your watering cycle especially with grow rocks. Ron

Date:
22 Nov 1999
Time:
19:08:46

Comments

Hello Ron,
Your site is great, and already a 'mini-history' of hydroponics (going back nearly 3 1/2 years)
I couldn't find much on using anything but 2L or 1 gal containers--but it seems that a 'hybrid' system using 3L+ and 1.5L bottles would be ideal for say letuce and tomatoes, etc. Any ideas about a design and pump, etc?

Also, re: lighting. What do you suggest for a greenhouse that is in the shade (east side of house) for at least half of the day: sodium or MH, or one of the newer 'warm MH' Phoenix Gary

Because your greenhouse is sunny for the first half of the day with mostly white sunlight then I would use HP sodium because that's the kind of light you would be lacking the last half of the evening. Ron

Date:
24 Nov 1999
Time:
20:03:54

Comments

Hi Ron I am interested in hydroponic fodder, I have started apilot plant small unit at home ,I have some questions about the system requirements . Any reliable reference please ?
Yours sincerely Mic Heja

Date:
25 Nov 1999
Time:
16:59:22

Comments

Ron,
Guy from Argentina again. Thanks a lot for your response. Got another question for you...
What would be the ideal lighting wattage and distance (ceiling to plant) to grow cannibus in the 11 plant garden? HID.
Thanks again...

Date:
26 Nov 1999
Time:
13:07:52

Comments

I'm doing a ISU project for my grade 12 biology class on hydroponics. I've made a small hydroponics system and am growing peas. My project is on the effects of certain chemicals on the pea plants. I have 5 hydroponics systems which the peas are being grown in merical gro. In each container there is a different chemical (0.5 molar solution) along with the merical gro they are, potassium phosphate, calcium carbonate, sodium sulfate, potassium carbonate, and potassium nitrate. I was wondering if you had any tips or useful information. I would greatly appreciate it. Also in the container of sodium sulfate tiny black dots that are in a web have appeared on one of the pea seeds, just wondering if you had any idea of what they could possibly be.

Spider Mites

Date:
27 Nov 1999
Time:
00:15:37

Comments

I'm starting a hydro system and wondering if i can continuously run water through my system. I'm new to this whole process and would like to know about active hydroponics thanks

You can if you put an air stone in your tank to add a lot of oxygen but it's not recommended because your roots do need that ebb and flow action for healthy growth. NFT systems are continuous running and work well because the water is flowing and doesn't sit in almost stagnate water. Ron

Date:
27 Nov 1999
Time:
04:10:21

Comments

in the 11 plant hydroponics system what is used to keep the medium(perlite)from flowing through the bottom and into the reservoir?

Paint strainers work well.

Date:
27 Nov 1999
Time:
04:38:26

Comments

what size of pump would i need for the 11 plant system?

Click Here.

Date:
27 Nov 1999
Time:
12:27:52

Comments

hello, I'm trying to start up an active hydro system, and have a few questions for you. we have everything set up but i needed to know if i can continuously run water through the medium.Or do i need to put the pump on a set cycle.  If i can run a continuous flow of water through the pipes is there a certain level the water should be at. I have an air stone running in the system. Do I need warmer than room temp. water? can the roots be completely submerged under the water in the pipe? thank you tommy two toke

You can if you put an air stone in your tank to add a lot of oxygen but it's not recommended because your roots do need that ebb and flow action for healthy growth. NFT systems are continuous running and work well because the water is flowing and doesn't sit in almost stagnate water.
Room temperature is right for your water. Ron

Date:
27 Nov 1999
Time:
16:10:00

Comments

I'm considering a purchase of a phototron. Do they work? what can you tell me about using one, and if you do know how long and hw much yield? Do I just plant the seed?

Looks a little hokie to me.

Date:
27 Nov 1999
Time:
19:57:42

Comments

Can we use liquid from a first, second or third stage hog lagoon as a source for our hydroponics nutrient stream?

Date:
27 Nov 1999
Time:
22:08:34

Comments

Ron,
Some of my plants are having a problem. The fan leaves on the bottom have started to show yellow spots at te tips and progressively get worse. The spots end up turning brown and gray. It this over fertilization, nutrient lock up? Or is it a magnesium deficiency? I have leach the system with fresh water for a full 24 hours, have been foliar feeding and and put in new solution. It looks like I have stopped the problem for now. Any advice? Thanks, Bob

Changing the nutrient solution is the best thing you can do. Keep an eye on the new growth to make sure it is healthy and trim all the bad leaves. Ron

Date:
28 Nov 1999
Time:
20:58:58

Comments

?i have a space of 2.5"W 3'L 6'H .covered with aluminum foil and i have placed mirrors on the floor . I would like to know how many plants i can fit the room ? How many metal halide lamps i need ? and is it better to place my lamps over my plants or on the walls?

6 or 9 plants and 250 MH would work and 400 MH would be better over your plants.

Date:
29 Nov 1999
Time:
11:52:54

Comments

Ron, I've just completed construction of your 11 plant grower. I'm now looking for a pump to use with it, that's cheap. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks for your help. Jon R. Whitsitt

Try www.aquaticeco.com

Date:
29 Nov 1999
Time:
13:14:43

Comments

Hi Ron! This is a really informative site... I was wondering how much money I would have to spend to build a small- maybe 5-8 plant- system in my home. I heard that it takes thousands of dollars to build a system properly. I only have a few hundred; otherwise I'll be forced to just continue buying my weed and forget about growing for now.

The garden is the cheapest part if you build it yourself. It's when you have to buy lights is when it can get expensive. Try flea markets or police auctions to get good deals on hydro equipment.

Also, is the smell from the plants really potent enough to need special ventilation in the area that I plan to grow my plants?

Yes

One last question: do you recommend buying seeds over the Internet? I am interested in some 100% female plant-yielding seeds that I saw on the Heaven's Stairway website. Do you know if they're authentic?

I have heard a few bad stories of people ordering seeds from the internet and not receiving them so I would read other peoples comments who ordered from that seed company. I sure some seed companies  are OK. But beware. It's not like you can report them but you can let others know ( via the internet ) if you get ripped off.

I can't waste any money; and I hope not to waste any time- so your advice is appreciated.  What kind of pump is used with your 11-plant system?

Click here.

Thanx! -Jessica (4:20)

Date:
30 Nov 1999
Time:
00:01:41

Comments

dear ron,
i need you opinion on this observation ...
i got two test specimen of pokchoy. one hydroponically grown and one soil grown.

(1) there are less veins in the leaves of hydroponically grown pokchoy. these veins are suppose to be the system in the leaf that brings food to the various part of the leaves;

(2) i place a cut soil grown pok choy leaf and a pok choy hydroponically grown side by side for 2 hours. after that time, i noticed that the hydroponically grown pokchoy wilted faster than the soil grown.

possible causes:

a. i suspect calcium deficiency bec. my Ca content is less than 100ppm while it is suggested that it should be at least 200ppm;

b. water retention in my hydroponically grown veggie is low maybe because of the cell wall is less stronger than that of the soil grown specimen. Remember, Calcium help build cell walls.

c. hydroponically grown veggies are use to more water than soil grown, therefore, once its harvested, it wilt faster (my guess).

your expert opinion on this scebario is be greatly appreciated.

ROCK

Date:
01 Dec 1999
Time:
13:00:35

Comments

I'm experimenting with hydroponically grown strawberries and wanted to know if you know of any other similar experiments I could research *Aly*

Date:
01 Dec 1999
Time:
16:39:17

Comments

Dear Hydroponics Experts, I need help for my 9th grade biology project. This project is planned to be on the effect of pH levels on the growth of hydroponic plants. I am a 9th grader at South Lakes High School in Reston, Virginia which is in Fairfax County. From most of my research so far I have been able to see what some of the effects may end up to be, but I still need a lot more information for my 9th grade bio-project to be a success. If you have any ideas or further information, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Date:
02 Dec 1999
Time:
13:31:54

Comments

Hi Ron, I have successfully constructed the 11 plant garden.. I have been using the system with only gro rocks (hydroton) Everyone tells me to water (with timer) every 4 hours during the lighting period.. I still don't think they are getting enough water. I flood for 15 minutes during each watering.. The still look a little wilted.. My timer only hase 6 settings, so has anyone come up with a different solution? Or is watering every 4 hours okay? I know if I had rockwool in the pots, they would retain water, but gro rocks really dry out fast.. Thanks..

That's the problem with a timer with only 6 settings. You need to water 15 minutes every hour. You can find those timers if you look hard enough.

Date:
02 Dec 1999
Time:
23:49:57

Comments

if you spray your cuttings with neem oil you wont believe what you see they wont wilt they root faster & it also gets rid of spider mites it seals mosture in you notice the deference the next day

what is neem oil?

Date:
03 Dec 1999
Time:
00:02:16

Comments

Ron you have by far the best hydro sight on the net grate

thank you

Date:
03 Dec 1999
Time:
07:01:03

Comments

Are there currently any studies or unanswered questions in hydroponics? Does anyone have any ideas about a science project I can do on hydroponics?

No they all have been answered.

Date:
03 Dec 1999
Time:
09:51:51

Comments

dear ron,

neem oil is from neem tree. its a wonder tree that originated from the Indian subcontinent. it is use in insecticide. as insecticide, it attacks the digestive system of the pest and not the respiratory system, therefore, giving them no excuses that in the following generations of their clan, they will grow immune to it.
lots of uses, including medical purpose this neem oil.
RAJIT SHAHANNI

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