New Aerogarden Deluxe Setup - Criticism, etc wanted

B

blntd

Member
Hello, severe lurker turned new member and aerogrower here. Started from seed in the Aerogarden on May 15th. Not sure the strain, but it was the only seed I've found from all the high grade that I've gotten over the past 6 months or so. I've been using a 16/8 light cycle, 24/0 Aerogarden pump cycle and the air stone on constantly too.

Setup:
Aerogarden Deluxe
2 x 6500K 1600 Lumen CFLs
Air Stone
Air Pump

Tomorrow a ph test kit/adjuster, fan, thermometer/hygrometer, and cloning gel are arriving.

  • May 15th I planted the seed and used two Aerogarden starter tablets spaced a few days apart.
  • May 22nd I changed the water out and used 1 nutrient tablet and added the two CFLs.
  • May 27th I removed about half a gallon of water and added about 3/4 dose to the gallon of 18-18-21 water soluble tomato plant food

I'm trying to pinpoint the brownish spots on new leaves which was followed by some drooping, which started happening close to before the 27th. I'm thinking it's due to the room getting too hot during the day when I'm not home. Any thoughts, etc would be appreciated.

0042.jpg 0047.jpg
 
krozone

krozone

Well-Known Member
Welcome lurker! :>

First thing, I suggest that you pull that foil off your AG. Secondly, what is your air flow like? Is the AeroGarden isolated in a closet, tent, room...etc.. Can you please offer all details pertaining to the grow area!


Good luck with the grow! Hope it's a girl!
 
B

blntd

Member
May 28th I changed out water to remove 18-18-21 mix and used 1 Aerogarden tablet with the new water (ran water through pur water filter).

Thanks, It's in a closet with an open door on top of a dresser. The lights are clipped upside down on the clothes hanger bar thing. I've had a fan like 4 feet away blowing upward into the closet, but hasn't been blowing directly on the plant. The temperature got to around 85 f and probably more yesterday in the room for a few hours when I wasn't home. I removed the foil yesterday to anticipate adding two germinated seeds (two different strains of mids) once Fedex gets here today I'm adding them and I'll be able to check ph and temps better from here on out. Even though it definitely had some type of nutrient and or heat damage, there's a new set of leaves today without any brown spots, so at least that's good.

If I cut the brown ends off leaves or the whole branch will I be doing to much damage? The bottom two sets of leaves also seem somewhat droopy and kind of dry still, but not dead.
 
B

blntd

Member
Anyway, after fixing ph (which was high), adding a fan (it was 80+ up to 90 constantly when I wasn't home, now 75-80), etc.

Since I have two others going I decided to experiment a little. I pruned 4 of the bottom branches leaving the top sets. Today there's a new set up top starting which is normal and each branch I cut there's new two new leaf/branch sets starting. All the branches only have 3 leaves. The inside of the cuttings I took off smelled like chronic, the stems are furry white, and the oldest leaves had a slight purpling with some slight white fur as well. It's growing very low to the ground which seems to be a good thing. I even tried only using the Aerogarden lights for a day to see if it would stretch a little and it didn't. Once the initial shock of butchering the plant is over assuming it doesn't die, I think I'm going to try 20/4 or 24/0 light cycles.

Posting pics later or tomorrow.
 
Dsallen1

Dsallen1

Member
your set up is the most rediculious looking thing I have ever seen. Get rid of the side lamps and the foil, turn on the aero garden light until the plant fills the size of the aerogarden. Don't butcher your plants too much and if in veg either of those light cycles would be great.
 
krozone

krozone

Well-Known Member
You'll be good. You note that your checking your PH, are you using tap or runnoff water? I use distilled water in my AG, works great! ** I don't bother checking my Ph, as my ladies are thriving. **

Keep the AG Hood on with the supplemental CFL's that you have to the side ( I have a similar setup that is working very well). You need to get that foil off your AG; Be sure to cover the holes with something, Leave the Tin Foil in the kitchen.

I run my AG 24/7, I am now flowering at 12/12 (no 24 or 48 Dark period was used prior to flowering... they are fine)

You note using the AG Tablet's. There are a variety of them. i used 1 Small tablet/week for my first 3 weeks; then moved forward, slowly moving over to my preferred Hydro Veg food.


Looking forward to the pics!

Good luck!
 
B

BangWhosNxt

Member
In my opinion, I think you nuted your plant too much to early. For 1 plant I would have waited at least a week after it sprouted to even give it the starter tablet. If it hasn't grown much more than the pic you posted by today I would consider starting over, as you would have stunted your plants growth and would make it hard to recover from.
 
ohnothimagin

ohnothimagin

Well-Known Member
I tend to agree with BangWhosNxt. I never add nutrients until two weeks after sprouting. I just got a Master Gardeners kit and noticed they have liquid nutrients instead of tablets. I never use the Aerogarden nutrients opting instead for Fox Farms.
 
H

HSA

Well-Known Member
blntd said:
Hello, severe lurker turned new member and aerogrower here. Started from seed in the Aerogarden on May 15th. Not sure the strain, but it was the only seed I've found from all the high grade that I've gotten over the past 6 months or so. I've been using a 16/8 light cycle, 24/0 Aerogarden pump cycle and the air stone on constantly too.

Setup:
Aerogarden Deluxe
2 x 6500K 1600 Lumen CFLs
Air Stone
Air Pump

Tomorrow a ph test kit/adjuster, fan, thermometer/hygrometer, and cloning gel are arriving.

  • May 15th I planted the seed and used two Aerogarden starter tablets spaced a few days apart.
  • May 22nd I changed the water out and used 1 nutrient tablet and added the two CFLs.
  • May 27th I removed about half a gallon of water and added about 3/4 dose to the gallon of 18-18-21 water soluble tomato plant food

I'm trying to pinpoint the brownish spots on new leaves which was followed by some drooping, which started happening close to before the 27th. I'm thinking it's due to the room getting too hot during the day when I'm not home. Any thoughts, etc would be appreciated.

View attachment 962765 View attachment 962766
Click to expand...
First I'd look at your nutes and pH and compare the spots on your leaves with the areas on plant problems because they're not unique to A/G's. A lot of the time dark spots are nutes related. Look at your roots too. If you have leaf spots I'll bet your roots aren't healthy either. I like bright white roots. You might also want to look at your water. Are you using distilled or good bottled water? Don't use the crap from the tap if your city water is anything like mine. Are you changing your reservoir contents regularly? A/G recommends every other feeding but I've found that with the small volume of the reservoir it's better to do it weekly regardless of who's nutes you're using. I'd suggest you visit your local hydroponics store to see what they have to offer in nutes. I use TEchnaflora's recipe for success and I and my plants love it.
You might want to consider closing off your unused holes with A/G's plugs instead of tin foil.
I would add an aquarium air pump and stone to add oxygen to your reservoir.
I'm assuming you have the three lamp hood and you're adjusting the hood height as close as possible. A/G recommends one to two inches off the tip of the plants if possible and the cooler CFL's will let you do that.
I got a chance to look at an upcoming book on how to grow M M/J with an A/G by somebody named Sebastian. It's supposed to be out in the fall.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top