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thanks for the help CM
Thank-you
Yo, Ron: About generating CO2, Do you think the vinegar and baking soda is a viable source? I played with this yesterday, and sure enough, it DOES generate a lot of CO2, but doesn't last very long. I'm wondering if the excess vinegar vapor may damage plants, or if the baking soda actually neutralizes the vinegar in the process of generating CO2. What do you think? (Ordering Gardening Indoors today)
The only true way to tell if you're getting enough co2 you'll have to buy one of those co2 test kits. www.wormsway.com sells them. The member who posted that information said that he used this method for years. The information came from High Times.
ive built a system similar to the waterfarm that general hydroponics makes (drip system using a aquarium pump, 5 gallom bucket and a 3.5 gallon bucket) i was wondering how often and how long i should let it run for and in what intervals I.E 20min 3 times day? Or can i leave it on all day?
If you are using grorocks like I am with my banana tree then you can let it run 24/7.
HELP ANYONE
i built a 11 container garden and i am using lecca (round redish-brown rock) for a medium the question i have is how often do i water because i have excellent drainage and no fear of nutrient build up because i am not using rockwell cubes on this site it said every 20 to 30 minutes but my hydroponic salesman says start out at 3 times per day but that does not seem enough for i just switched from deep water where the roots were constantly submerged can anyone help i am very confused....jmycap
The advantage of Hydroponics is that you are forced feeding the plants if they like it or not. That's why with Hydroponics you can grow faster than with dirt. As long as you've got good and fast drainage then you can water every 30 minutes or so.
George,
I used 32 ounce SOLO cups in my 2 liter bottle system. They are available from stores that sell paper and plastic products to restaurants. Most of these stores will sell to the public.
Bill S.
Ron,
Is it true that every time someones visits your site you take a snapshot of there harddrive and give it to the FEDS
Worried Member
And I also send a copy to Elvis.
When you melt the tops of the 2 liter bottles in the frying pan, do you use some sort of non-stick substance so the plastic doesn't stick and burn, or can you jst do it with a low temp setting under the pan.
I use an old frying pan that still has some Teflon on it. 200 degrees is what I set the heat to. if you do it too fast then the bottle will not curl correctly.
It doesn't take much temp to distort those bottles. I've done it with hot water. Use a non stick pan and start with a low temp. You'll get it figured out quick.
CM
Yea what he said.
Dear Ron: Hydroponicsonline. is a fabulous service! Thank you, it's full of information and best of all the pictures are self explanatory. ¿Do you have anything on hydroponic forage? I intend to build a hydroponic grass producing unit, and I want to know which is better, a mechanical (rotating) unit or a hydraulic one (with pump, hoses and sprayers. Congratulations again. By the way, what is your surname? Enrique Miralles Santa Cruz, BOLIVIA e-mail address: emiralles@nur.edu
Attn: Brett, RE: Germinating seeds without using dirt.
I just lost 16 plants cause of the heat here, over 100 degrees every day.
I don't know if this will work, but I just sprouted my replacement plants (squash and bush beans) using a diluted rooting nutrient to soak a paper towel, then wrapping the seeds up and putting them in a plastic sandwich bag. After 3 days, strong roots developed from most of the seeds.
I transplanted the seeds in Scotts seed starter mix bought at Home Depot, however, I think that next time, I will try to use the small grow rocks (1/4 inch dia.) in the system and plant the rooted seeds directly in the cups and start off with a diluted nutrient until the first true leaves develop.
From sites I've found on the web, I believe this may work. You may want to try it.
Tailwheel
Hi Ron, Frequent reader, second time poster. I built a 6 plant system, with 15 gallon reservoir, 70gph pump, everything seems to be working just fine, (used silicone sealant to stop any pesky leaks), I haven't added my clones yet, although, I added my solution yesterday and have been running the system every 30 minutes. I am almost afraid to put my babies in the system in fear they will die! I just want to make sure the solution is properly mixed. My ph is around 6. I followed the directions (3tbl per gallon) on the nutrient solution, however, I want to make sure the tds ppm is correct before transplanting. Is there a way I can check that without spending $80+ on a tds meter, or am I just being too paranoid? Any help would be gratefully appreciated. Virginia420
With pH their is a cheap way with drops or tape but their is no cheap way with ppm.
Hi Ron, I am looking to grow alfalfa using hydroponics and would like advise and feedback from members with experience of this.
Attn: Virginia420
In your post you said 3 tablespoons per gallon of nutrient solution. Just make sure of your numbers, because that will FRY most smaller plants. Using General Hydroponics solutions, even a teaspoon per gallon of each is a bit much for clones.
Brett
Ron,
I have had mucho trouble with roots clogging the necks of my 2 liter bottle system. I am using SOLO cups with six holes drilled in each one, none being in the bottom.
I was wondering if not watering often enough would cause the plants to produce more roots to search for moisture.
How do you deal with this or do you ever have this problem?
Bill S.
Depends on what you are growing. Like this Ivy plant.
When roots clog the necks of the bottles, unscrew the bottle from the cap that's glued into the pipe, and clip the roots off with scissors. It shouldn't hurt the plant, as long as you keep up with it, so that you are not chomping off a huge length at a time.
hey ron,george crescent city fl.still hot up here.want to build a small propagation system(ebb & flow)for starting seedlings indoors.still too hot outside.they will go into a greenhouse when ready.am confused with the different types of grow lites.what do i need to start vegetable seeds indoors.i will keep solution heated with an aquarium type heater.ps,good reply to the "worried member"concerning info to the feds.good growings,george
Soft White florescence lights are fine for the first few weeks of propagation.
To start your seeds, you can just use a small florescents and that will get you by for a while. If you are going to grow very much inside you will have to have either a metal hailide or high pressure sodium fixture....or a combo of each. Be prepared to pay our some bucks for those though.
Brett
>Live in South Africa. New to Hydroponics. Have some ideas. Need assistance with Nutrient Formulas. Can you help ??? ... have joined your free member- ship. Great to be onboard. > >Kind regards Eugene Lombard
Eugene, check the FAQ. There are some links there that may help. Personally, I've been through the Miracle Gro and do it yourself thing. I buy the real stuff now. What I currently use (and am pretty happy with) are the Rockwool nutrients. Good luck.
CM
hi ron
i grow red lettuce in the Philippines. however, as it matures, the red pigment in the red lettuce seems to be less and less.
do you have an idea why is this so ?
thanks
robin murfet
Hi Folks, Another question, I bought General Hydroponics Flora-Gro (quart) for my 12 gallon reservoir, 6 plant set up. After doing some more research (reading Ron's site), I got the impression I have to also mix it with Flora-Micro and Flora Bloom for the nutrient to work correctly. Is this the case, or will just Flora-Gro work? I have had a clone in there for 3 days, it hasn't died, but doesn't seem to be growing either. By the way, I mixed 3tsp. per gallon, not tbsp as mentioned in my previous post. Any help would be gratefully appreciated. Virginia420
I think you have to mix the micro with the grow or bloom. Which ever you are using but don't mix the grow with the bloom.
ATTN: Virginia420 Re: Nutrients.
You need to get all three of their products to make a complete formula. It is expensive, but you can get really good results. I certainly have.
Brett
Just thought I might let all of the faithful hydroponicsonline. BB members in on a deal. A local Greenhouse operation has just gone belly under and I got the scoop on some top of the line Hps Lighting systems from a very respected company in its industry. They are practically brand new and they are selling them at less than wholesale prices. If anyone would like more info, feel free to contact me at Mlorlando@cfl.rr.com. I will be more than happy to help you get in touch with them.
I'm a student and I am conducting an experiment. I was wondering; How do hydroponics work? How do you grow a hydroponic plant?
A submersible pump comes on and pumps nutrient enriched water to plant roots that are grown in a number of inert materials as expanded clay aggregate (grow rocks), spun volcanic rock (rockwool), perlite, pores gravel, lava rock, or as with some hydroponic systems, no medium at all.
Thanks for all your assistance Brett. Will pick up the other 2 formulas asap. Virginia420
Ron or anyone else - Since I had so many tomatoes that germinated a while back, I put one tomato to float in a small container of hydroponic nutrient solution with an air stone. It grew like crazy, and I transferred it into a 5 gallon bucket, again floating in solution with two air stones, and it quickly grew 7 immature tomatoes. I woke up one morning and all the leaves on the plant were completely wilted. It pretty much died that day. The plant (roots) have never touched soil, so it can't be a soil borne disease. Only thing I can think of is that the bucket sits on my cement patio, and the solution became too hot. Any ideas on what went wrong? I have two other aqaufarm type drip systems I built that are doing great, and another tomato floating that's small but doing great so far. Thanks, Tim
Sounds like a bad case of damping off. One of the reasons for damping off is to much watering and I would say your system qualifies.
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