World Of Hempy

gr865

Well-Known Member
I would like to note and ask if anyone else does this, the stoppered holes at the base of the bucktes, I really like this.
When I water/feed I first open the stopper and drain any fluids remaining at the base of the buckets, I leave it open for some time while I prepare the next solution. I reinsert the stopper and let the drainage from the 1/2 inch hole reach 30% or so, If I am just watering then I reinsert the stopper and fill until the water begins to exit the 1/2 inch hole, I let it sit for a bit then open the stopper and let it drain completely. I again leave it open for a bit then closing the system I fill the bucket to 30% drainage and am good to go. It works well for me.

Peace out,

GR

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Nizza

Well-Known Member
that is a cool idea ! hempineers at work

sup mr. ed , I thought and read up on the mushies thread. Decided my house isn't at all clean enough for it, and with forced hot air ducting the chances of mold are wayy to high, sterility seems to be the key to it so i'm not going through with it...
which sucks cause i have everything except the spores
at least I'll be focusing on my grow closet more than i would be
 

jela10

Well-Known Member
I would like to note and ask if anyone else does this, the stoppered holes at the base of the bucktes, I really like this.
When I water/feed I first open the stopper and drain any fluids remaining at the base of the buckets, I leave it open for some time while I prepare the next solution. I reinsert the stopper and let the drainage from the 1/2 inch hole reach 30% or so, If I am just watering then I reinsert the stopper and fill until the water begins to exit the 1/2 inch hole, I let it sit for a bit then open the stopper and let it drain completely. I again leave it open for a bit then closing the system I fill the bucket to 30% drainage and am good to go. It works well for me.

Peace out,

GR

That's an interesting concept to think about in regards to both regular flushing and air replenishment in the medium. Opening the stopper after feeding causes fresh air to be drawn down into the medium as an entire "column" the diameter of your bucket as the water level drops. With simple feeding without a stopper, air is pulled in randomly in various places due to the concentrated area of the feed water column and air replacing that area of vacuum alone. I think your method rocks!
 

gr865

Well-Known Member
Thanks y'all, I really like it, and my roots and plants seem to like it also.
Tried something this morning with one of my buckets that had the Perlite but without a plant, I plugged the hole at the base and the .5 " drain hole. I filled with water and then cover the bucket with plastic wrap. When I removed the drain pluand then filled with water. g the water started flowing well but almost came to a complete haul, very little slow flow. I then pulled the plastic wrap off and the water completely drained fast.
As Jena said it sucks in lots of air into the system. That is why I let it it sit for awhile before refilling to allow as much O2 as possible to be available to the roots.

GR
 

WattSaver

Well-Known Member
I would like to note and ask if anyone else does this, the stoppered holes at the base of the bucktes, I really like this.
When I water/feed I first open the stopper and drain any fluids remaining at the base of the buckets, I leave it open for some time while I prepare the next solution. I reinsert the stopper and let the drainage from the 1/2 inch hole reach 30% or so, If I am just watering then I reinsert the stopper and fill until the water begins to exit the 1/2 inch hole, I let it sit for a bit then open the stopper and let it drain completely. I again leave it open for a bit then closing the system I fill the bucket to 30% drainage and am good to go. It works well for me.

Peace out,

GR

Thanks y'all, I really like it, and my roots and plants seem to like it also.
Tried something this morning with one of my buckets that had the Perlite but without a plant, I plugged the hole at the base and the .5 " drain hole. I filled with water and then cover the bucket with plastic wrap. When I removed the drain pluand then filled with water. g the water started flowing well but almost came to a complete haul, very little slow flow. I then pulled the plastic wrap off and the water completely drained fast.
As Jena said it sucks in lots of air into the system. That is why I let it it sit for awhile before refilling to allow as much O2 as possible to be available to the roots.

GR
I really like your bottom plugs, there has been more than once that I had to support the plant while tipping the bucket to drain as much of the rez as I could. What are you using for stoppers?

As far as draining every watering, I wouldn't be doing this myself, a well balanced bucket doesn't require this, and I am a self proclaimed lazy grower. But I don't see how it could be a determent to a good grow. I do want to bring up a point of bringing in new air to the medium. Your conception of leaving the plug out for an extended period to bring in more air is slightly skewed. Once the water flow stops so does the air flow. Your experiment with plastic wrap perfectly showed the hydraulic effect of a column of water. All old air will be pushed out in front of the water, and new air will be drawn in following the column to fill in the empty space, but once the water flow stops so does the air flow, which to me shows the need for some overflow during watering.

This brings up the discussion of the 2 opposing thoughts on watering hempys. Water everyday with little to no overflow and water only after the rez is dry (every 2 to 5 days) and many variations between. I'm a lazy grower and follow the let it dry extreme, but I've seen so many great grows at the other extreme, Rusty has been there since this thread started and he hasn't changed his watering habits. (and many points in-between)

So as I step off the soapbox, I wish I had a lab like environment with unlimited space so I could run some equal clones with just watering style being different. (I'd need some employees also to pull it off)
 

Indoor Sun King

Well-Known Member
I've been having issues with my hempy's, as they start to droop in the evening (after 7pm), as well as the top leaves are curling, but by morning they return to a perky normal healthy plant.

It's not over watering as I let them dry out, not over nutes as I have been going a bit under normal, temps are great, no higher than 82 F / 40% RH. (near top of plant)

All I could think of was too close to the light, as I was about 12-14 inches away, so I have increased the distance to 18-20 inches and it has helped

Pics are from Monday evening, they were looking really sad so I moved them on the edge of the light and they recovered in a few hours.

So I'm thinking of flipping to 12/12 soon, they are a bit over a month old now

cheers
 

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gr865

Well-Known Member
WS,

I use a .75" bottom & 1" top rubber stopper.

I wait two+ days before i check the buckets. I will tilt the bucket away from me, pull l the stopper, slowly tilthet the bucket back and check the resavor (sp) and if it is empty or very near then i refill. I to not over water at any time. Drier is better. I feed only when needed, I will judge that by growth, I do not like luxury growth, deep green all the time. I believe a little stress is a good thing. And i only do flushing and airing when I am watering only. I Was in the golf biz for many yrs and i know how much harm over watering can do to plants, so like you I prefer dry.
I am using the Lucas formula with GH maxi grow, being a salt based product the flushing is as much about washing the salts from the system and keeping the root healthy. I will talk more when I am on my laptop.
GR
 

Rusty Shakelford

Well-Known Member
WS,

I use a .75" bottom & 1" top rubber stopper.

I wait two+ days before i check the buckets. I will tilt the bucket away from me, pull l the stopper, slowly tilthet the bucket back and check the resavor (sp) and if it is empty or very near then i refill. I to not over water at any time. Drier is better. I feed only when needed, I will judge that by growth, I do not like luxury growth, deep green all the time. I believe a little stress is a good thing. And i only do flushing and airing when I am watering only. I Was in the golf biz for many yrs and i know how much harm over watering can do to plants, so like you I prefer dry.
I am using the Lucas formula with GH maxi grow, being a salt based product the flushing is as much about washing the salts from the system and keeping the root healthy. I will talk more when I am on my laptop.
GR
I have found that Dryer is not better,, My hempys perform much better when watered every day. Dont forget that this is Hydroponics, so wet is kinda the point.

I also used rubber stoppers when I first started, but only to keep them from dripping all over the place (no flood table at the time). I would not use them now as I see no reason for it.

But when all is said and done, if its working for you, then keep Doin what your Doin :peace:
 

stoneslacker

Well-Known Member
I have found that Dryer is not better,, My hempys perform much better when watered every day. Dont forget that this is Hydroponics, so wet is kinda the point.

I also used rubber stoppers when I first started, but only to keep them from dripping all over the place (no flood table at the time). I would not use them now as I see no reason for it.

But when all is said and done, if its working for you, then keep Doin what your Doin :peace:
If you are watering everyday do you actually need a rez? I can't see how a plant could drain a full rez in 1 day and if you are keeping your medium
saturated daily then the need for a rez should be minimal if at all.

While I agree that Hempy is considered hydro, I have always felt hempy was more similar to a soil grow. And any soil grower knows that air
is just as or more important to the roots as water is.

I saturate my medium completely during waterings and partially drain my rez to avoid puddles. I am using 2 gal buckets and it takes all of 3 days for them to "fully" dry out.
Most times I go 4 days and I give nutes every time, never plain water. As I get near the end of flower it's still around 2-3 days before they are nice and light.

Remember oxygen is the name of the game when it comes to your root zone. Hydroponics performs so well because it uses a highly aerated and oxygenated nutrient
solution. Soil and hempys accomplish this by utilizing evaporation in the medium to draw warm oxygen rich air down into the root zone.

Of course while there is much productive and good natured debate among hempy styles here in WoH, Rusty nailed it with this:

  • But when all is said and done, if its working for you, then keep Doin what your Doin










 

BigLittlejohn

Well-Known Member
So my hempy experience from seed so far has been a bit of a learning curve. I pushed a little to hard on my Kosher Tangie baby and have some tip burn. It looks like she is about to start taking off. I have to get used to the slower start in hempy vs dwc.
 

Rusty Shakelford

Well-Known Member
If you are watering everyday do you actually need a rez? I can't see how a plant could drain a full rez in 1 day and if you are keeping your medium
saturated daily then the need for a rez should be minimal if at all.

While I agree that Hempy is considered hydro, I have always felt hempy was more similar to a soil grow. And any soil grower knows that air
is just as or more important to the roots as water is.

I saturate my medium completely during waterings and partially drain my rez to avoid puddles. I am using 2 gal buckets and it takes all of 3 days for them to "fully" dry out.
Most times I go 4 days and I give nutes every time, never plain water. As I get near the end of flower it's still around 2-3 days before they are nice and light.

Remember oxygen is the name of the game when it comes to your root zone. Hydroponics performs so well because it uses a highly aerated and oxygenated nutrient
solution. Soil and hempys accomplish this by utilizing evaporation in the medium to draw warm oxygen rich air down into the root zone.

Of course while there is much productive and good natured debate among hempy styles here in WoH, Rusty nailed it with this:

  • But when all is said and done, if its working for you, then keep Doin what your Doin



I don't necessarily feel res is there to be drained on a regular basis, as this is not how it works with Hydro. We dont fill our DWC System then let the plants drain the water,, we continue to keep it topped up and Saturated with Air and Nutes, so the plants can continue to feed off of Aerated Nutrients as they desire. By continuing to provide Daily Oxygenated Nutrients every Day or Two to my Hempys is just what they are looking for.

Just My 2 cents!
 

gr865

Well-Known Member
I have found that Dryer is not better,, My hempys perform much better when watered every day. Dont forget that this is Hydroponics, so wet is kinda the point.

I also used rubber stoppers when I first started, but only to keep them from dripping all over the place (no flood table at the time). I would not use them now as I see no reason for it.

But when all is said and done, if its working for you, then keep Doin what your Doin :peace:

Rusty, reread my post I don't use a stopper in the 1/2" hole, it is used for the large drain hole at the base of the tube. I do not let them totally dry, just try and let them use the liquids in the rez of the bucket up before adding more. And I believe that by drawing the O2 into the root zone is a big plus.

GR

Rusty I am sorry, I just reread my post and can see the confusion. I was ask the size of my stopper and I gave a top and bottom dimension, leading one to think a stopper in the hole at the base and a stopper in the 1/2 inch hole.
That is not it at all, it should have read, in retrospect, 3/4"x1"x1". That is the size of the only stopper I use.
 

Shaggn

Well-Known Member
Well things have been interesting this round. Playing with JOTIs Godbud (3 phenos with 2 being similar) and 1-THC Bomb (sat pheno). Popping the rest of the THC Bomb ceeds soon. I had a low ph and some low temps (freezing outside with a few feet of snow). It looks like it will still be goods tho. Peace!!!

 

Rusty Shakelford

Well-Known Member
Rusty, reread my post I don't use a stopper in the 1/2" hole, it is used for the large drain hole at the base of the tube. I do not let them totally dry, just try and let them use the liquids in the rez of the bucket up before adding more. And I believe that by drawing the O2 into the root zone is a big plus.

GR

Rusty I am sorry, I just reread my post and can see the confusion. I was ask the size of my stopper and I gave a top and bottom dimension, leading one to think a stopper in the hole at the base and a stopper in the 1/2 inch hole.
That is not it at all, it should have read, in retrospect, 3/4"x1"x1". That is the size of the only stopper I use.
AWWW,, I see now :bigjoint: I agree that O2 being drawn down into the medium is a good thing!

Keep on GROWING!! :-P
 
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