Using Tomato Cages with Power Growers / Drip buckets

[rippingchrist]

Hello all - I started to using tomato cages from seed this time around, and I was wondering what the best way is to use them - I'm using clay pebbles as the medium, and the stakes for the cages I've inserted through the pebbles and through the holes in the bottom of the medium bucket (power growers have a 1 gal bucket of medium that sits inside a 2.5 gal bucket of nutrients). My question is, will these cages be stable enough so that they do not move around too much and disturb the roots? The move a little bit when touched, so I was thinking of tying them down to the bucket with some nylon string for extra stability.

 

[ounevinsmoke]

Your roots will be fine but the part of the cage that is in the medium will rust. Wont hurt the roots I have done it before, and it will be stable enough to support plant. Technique works good. What power grower you got?

 

[rippingchrist]

The water farm power grower. I've got four of them. And thanks for the tip. With power growers it's difficult to drain the solution without moving the plants, which makes harder to do a net.

 

[ounevinsmoke]

Yeah I got like six of the honeycomb ones which sucks because they dont sell the controller separate. Anyway, I stopped using tomato cages because I wanted my lights closer so I just started using individual stakes (bamboo or plastic) and tying my colas to them. I LST and super crop and can adjust the stakes easier than a tomato cage. Once your plant grows up into the tomato cage you are locked in no matter what.

Tip: to drain just use the blue tube on the side. I'm close to a drain and it works perfect for me.

 

[rippingchrist]

Oh yeah, I'm aware of the tube. What lights are you using where it needs to be so close? I'm running 600w MH and its not an issue.

 

[HeartlandHank]

tomato cages with mj plants are fucking great, imo.

 

[ounevinsmoke]

Oh yeah, I'm aware of the tube. What lights are you using where it needs to be so close? I'm running 600w MH and its not an issue.

I have a 600 watt HPS now but when I use my CFL's I need them to be closer to the plant. I switch back and forth in my Flower room between HID and CFL.