Building single-plant growbox, I want your opinions!
- Thread starter Fractus
- Start date
Fractus
Well-Known Member
yeah it's damn near impossible to water around those buds. They look so healthy though and i watered right on top of them every single time. I don't really have a choice. That pic was taken immediately after I watered so you can see it, but it doesn't sit long. Most runs right off and the rest evaporates quickly.
GypsyBush
Well-Known Member
ALL KINDS OF BAD Bro....
The droplets will act as magnifying lenses and burn your buds, leaves...
also .. MOLD is a big issue.... let me say BIG again...
Even the folks that foliar feed stop doing it once buds form...
GypsyBush
Well-Known Member
potlike
Well-Known Member
No offense, but you're not really doing anything that hasn't been done before. While I don't know of another styrofoam container it has probably been done before. Many others have used rubbermaid storage totes with success and you can get those for $3 also. I did, however, find the cereal box carbon filter creative. I applaud you at learning experience here, except making statements like that are just wrong man.
You're learning quite a bit and that's what it's all about and yes while learning others will learn from your successes and failures. Believe me everyone has plenty of both in this-some more than others. I've had my share.
Btw the proper way to water is into the soil and let the roots soak up the water- not on the buds. If you had drainage holes in your case... which you should.. you are supposed to water until it leaks out the drainage holes anyway.
Flushing just means no nutrients, just plain water and about 3 to 1 up to 5 to 1 ratio of water to soil... ie 3 gallons of water to 1 gallon of soil up to 5 gallons of water to 1 gallon of soil. Generally only want to do it when there is excessive nutrient burn and if you are using harsh chems you may consider using only water 1-2 weeks before harvest so you're not smoking the chemicals.
-potlike
Fractus
Well-Known Member
Ok from now on I'll try to avoid soaking my buds as much as possible when watering. Thanks though, very useful tip! Good to know!
Back to flushing for a minute though, the method i described above is what I thought flushing meant.
Google -> Define: Flush = cause to flow or flood with or as if with water; "flush the meadows"
I just thought it meant to literally flush and clean all the dirt. Not just straight water for 2 weeks (but I was going to do that anyway).
Back to flushing for a minute though, the method i described above is what I thought flushing meant.
Google -> Define: Flush = cause to flow or flood with or as if with water; "flush the meadows"
I just thought it meant to literally flush and clean all the dirt. Not just straight water for 2 weeks (but I was going to do that anyway).
KaleoXxX
Well-Known Member
ive heard to use 2-3times as much water in a flush as your pot hols soil, so a 1 gal pot would get 3 gal of water. this seems like alot to me and without drainage holes 3 gal of water would be plant suicide.
i think your buds will be fine if you only use plain water for the last few weeks, since you havent used much nutrients anyways
i think your buds will be fine if you only use plain water for the last few weeks, since you havent used much nutrients anyways
potlike
Well-Known Member
Most people use 3-5x Kaleo as 2x is not enough, but you actually gave good advice considering his setup with no drainage holes. Although I mentioned it in the post I forgot to take that into account. Considering that I'd maybe go about 2.5 to 1 ratio.
Instead I'd maybe get a container to sit your cooler in and poke holes in the bottom of the cooler.
+rep to you Kaleo for catching...
-potlike
Fractus
Well-Known Member
I understand where you're coming from but I feel diffferently and this site is about opinions. You're entitled to yours that's fine, you don't need to agree with me on that. And I don't mean any disrespect, but I personally know that I have inspired a lot of people with the ingenuity of this box all around. Yes people have used rubbermaid containers, which is similar. But from my first idea to where I am now has changed a lot and I'm willing to bet that using this wicked-white styrofoam will outgrow one in rubbermaid (assuming soil, bulbs, and watering, and feeding were the same). Maybe I should test it just to prove a point and setup another identical grow using another building material such as a rubbermaid and see if it can retain the light like this does. But it's not so much about the styrofoam, it's just the design that I was referring to. People just want results like mine on their first grows too. And I'm giving them blueprints and making it easy. I'm not suggesting that my grow is unheard of, or that it's any better than anyone else's. I'm just glad that I was able to contribute to the weedgrowing society and help others. Just trying to make things simpler and cheaper for other new growers that lack experience like me for example.
KaleoXxX
Well-Known Member
i think he doesnt really know how much soil is in the container because its not a measured pot, its just filled with soil. on that not ill repeat my idea that, since he hasnt been using much in the way of nutes, if he gives them a few good weeks without, a flush wont really be necisary. actually it would be more like a gradual 3 week flush
and fractus, dont worry about being defensive, your growbox is verry original and well thought of. its better than a rubermaid because all that white in there acts as one hell of a reflective surface. i hope alot of people copy your idea, because youve proven its a great one
Fractus
Well-Known Member
I'm really thinking I will make a few small drainholes and then flood it with water in the bathtub and let it all run out, and after that just water as normally. Then I'll know my soil is clean 
And I can't help but be defensive lol, I just want people to read this thread and think "this is a good idea, I think I'll try it" Instead of reading another guy's post who thinks it's nothing special, and decided to not try it because too many people shot it down. Results are the important part though. If I can prove it works it really doesn't matter what anyone says. After all it's a learning process and this was my experiment. I wasn't really expecting a plant like this at all to be honest. It surprises me everyday.
And I can't help but be defensive lol, I just want people to read this thread and think "this is a good idea, I think I'll try it" Instead of reading another guy's post who thinks it's nothing special, and decided to not try it because too many people shot it down. Results are the important part though. If I can prove it works it really doesn't matter what anyone says. After all it's a learning process and this was my experiment. I wasn't really expecting a plant like this at all to be honest. It surprises me everyday.
potlike
Well-Known Member
Watering as normal will still drain water out the bottom so you will need something under to catch the drainage from normal waterings.I'm really thinking I will make a few small drainholes and then flood it with water in the bathtub and let it all run out, and after that just water as normally. Then I'll know my soil is clean
I never said it wouldn't work in fact I know it will because of the reflective nature of styrofoam.
My largest concern is someone with less technical understanding that tries to scale the design up by using larger and HOTTER lights. It just needs to be stated that the styrofoam material isn't the best suited for heat and that one needs to be safe when building something like this.
Do you want to be responsible when someone with not a whole lot of common sense decides to try your design and burns down their house? While this board has a large number of experienced growers and others with common sense there are also quite a few out there without those advantages and have made some dumb mistakes.
You state the advantages of using styrofoam but you should acknowledge the shortcomings and maybe even put a disclaimer that it works for you, but for others to be aware of the risks. That way atleast people know they are playing with fire and to treat it with respect for fear of being burnt. That's only being socially responsible.
-potlike
Fractus
Well-Known Member
Ok. It shouldn't be a problem for me to find a catch tray of some sort around here lol.
I COMPLETELY agree. Although if you build it yourself you should be making sure it is safe on your own, that's common sense. But I know there are people who always need to take things a step farther and don't look into it first. In which case they throw a 250w HPS on top of a styrofoam box and melt it to a puddle or maybe even ignite it! This is strictly a CFL design for sure. Thank you for making a point of that. P.S. This is my disclaimer. I'm not responsible for people who screw up replicating this. Do it at your own risk, be smart and safe
bigjesse1922
Well-Known Member
There are two schools of thought when it comes to flushing...
Using 2-3 times the container size for the last two weeks, or using the same amount of water as normal for the last two weeks. Both with no nutes.
I prefer to not change my amount of water. Doing so just makes the plant take a long time to dry out. You can only flush 2-3 times in 14 days.
Whereas with my plants, I want the gallon gallon containers with 1 gallon of water per feeding, every 3-4 days. So when I flush, I will be able to hit them about 5 times each with a one gallon flush.
I have good drainage and normally get 10-20% water run-off anyways, so I feel no need to dump 12-18 gallons of water through my plant and then wait for 10 days or more for it to dry out.
In my experience, you can flush adequately using the same amount of water as normal, just with NO NUTES at all for at least 14 days straight.
That would give you 7 flushings the way you water. PLENTY.
And you avoid over saturating and over watering your roots and stunting its progress, IMO, compared to the other method described here.
Either way, its up to you, but I would definately put some drain holes in, otherwise you aren't flushing the soil, as there is no where for the salts to go. They just remain at the bottom of the container if there is no drainage.
Using 2-3 times the container size for the last two weeks, or using the same amount of water as normal for the last two weeks. Both with no nutes.
I prefer to not change my amount of water. Doing so just makes the plant take a long time to dry out. You can only flush 2-3 times in 14 days.
Whereas with my plants, I want the gallon gallon containers with 1 gallon of water per feeding, every 3-4 days. So when I flush, I will be able to hit them about 5 times each with a one gallon flush.
I have good drainage and normally get 10-20% water run-off anyways, so I feel no need to dump 12-18 gallons of water through my plant and then wait for 10 days or more for it to dry out.
In my experience, you can flush adequately using the same amount of water as normal, just with NO NUTES at all for at least 14 days straight.
That would give you 7 flushings the way you water. PLENTY.
And you avoid over saturating and over watering your roots and stunting its progress, IMO, compared to the other method described here.
Either way, its up to you, but I would definately put some drain holes in, otherwise you aren't flushing the soil, as there is no where for the salts to go. They just remain at the bottom of the container if there is no drainage.
Fractus
Well-Known Member
I just gave her a nice flush by filling the tub with water, poked several drain holes all around and submersed my bottom cooler up to the soil line. The water saturated my dirt by entering the drain holes then I raised the box and let it all drain, then dunked it two more times for a total of three flushes. By the third one my water was clear. And from now on I'm just going to water probably a gallon every few days as she needs it. I expect her to be drooping tomorrow from the flush. At least I know she's clean now. I'm using a large cookie sheet underneath as a catch tray. 
bigjesse1922
Well-Known Member
....I just gave her a nice flush by filling the tub with water, poked several drain holes all around and submersed my bottom cooler up to the soil line. The water saturated my dirt by entering the drain holes then I raised the box and let it all drain, then dunked it two more times for a total of three flushes. By the third one my water was clear. And from now on I'm just going to water probably a gallon every few days as she needs it. I expect her to be drooping tomorrow from the flush. At least I know she's clean now. I'm using a large cookie sheet underneath as a catch tray.
Well that's different...
The point is though to completely flush the salt out...which you will fail to completely accomplish by rinsing it as you did
bigjesse1922
Well-Known Member
Well which gets you cleaner, a shower or a bath?
If you soak if your own dirtiness so to speak, you will be less clean than if it were rinsed from you by fresh, clean water.
Make sense?
Imagine the salts rising up and then draining down. The container is submerged in water still and the salts have no where to go, besides back down to the bottom of the container.
Sure, some will be rinsed away. But it would be more effective to run the water through.