If I were doing this in a bigger room I would definitely set up some kind of drip irrigation system. But this is just my personal room and especially with it being a new method for me, I don't mind tasks like watering making me spend more time with em. I do think Blu mats could be a little challenging to dial in in a medium this size! You would just have to use a bunch of em! Unless they have different sizes? I've only seen the smaller sizes in action.
A lot of good fungal networks develop right under the surface of a good mulch layer. I would have concerns about SIP water from the bottom and if that would effect their development (not having a moist upper layer). Also I'm already gonna be testing the limits of my ceiling, a rez underneath would definitely cost me precious height!
yeah i am worried about height issues and using SIPs for sure... as far as upper moisture, I have always used a soil moisture meter (since some very bad over watering as a noob long ago) and in my experience surface moisture can be very very deceiving... also don't we want the roots to go DOWN as opposed to up? One would think moisture in the upper area of the soil would promote the root growth toward that moisture? Also doesn't cannabis prefer bacterial soil as opposed to fungal? Not that you don't want diversity but you dont want it to get to fun... (hahaha)
The whole medium is kept moist to keep the microherd alive...the roots will find their way to the bottom as the plant seeks to establish itself in the soil. Cannabis does prefer bacterial dominant soil, however fungal networks play an important role regardless (this is why a lot of growers add mycos). I'm not adding them so Im trying to foster an environment that encourages that kind of activity naturally. Like a forest floor, just below the surface of the mulch.
The way my lights are angled and since I run wide open hoods, I'm definitely getting some good vertical light exposure. That mixed with the way I train in my cages I should get good solid growth from top to bottom along with a nice canopy of top nugs.
I enjoy not having to water my flower room by hand. i actually get more time with my plants cause i have one less "chore" if you want to call it that.
I'll be doing an update soon going over some success and problems of the first few weeks!
Sweet, I will for sure be watching for that!
You need to get on the Expanse Series by James SA Corey. AMAZING audio books I'm on my second listen through.
Word, thanks for the suggestion I'll have to check those out!
Luckily a landscape supplier in my city makes a killer compost, that along with some local mushroom compost, and composted cow manure mixed with my recycled soil makes up the bulk of the mix. I worked worm castings from my bin into the top layers of soil and planted into that.
I wrestled with the decision to do this for a while before I finally went for it! Organic container gardening and organic gardening in beds are very different things and while they definitely share some exchangeable practices, I really wanted the full garden bed experience. My curiosity won in the end as you can see.
I'm curious about why you felt you needed such deep containers. Why wouldn't 6" deep trays have worked?
