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hairypotter · #1 (**permalink**) Mar-05-2008, 17:47

I bought one of those Aerogardens thinking to myself "Geez! This'll be a great way to grow myself some weed!" Well, after reading through the posts on Aerogarden growing, I realized that this might not work. I had no idea what my nutrient levels were, nor my Ph. I didn't know if the nute tablets that came with the set-up were good enough, nor was I sure whether or not this was a good investment for my money.

Anyways, I did my homework, and I drove into the big city to buy myself a reliable TDS meter along with a Ph kit and a set of general, non-organic nutes (I read on one of the posts that the organic nutes clogged one dude's set-up).

Let me just say, my plants were looking awfully sad when I came home that afternoon. The leaves were curled and light, light green. Upon checking the nute level, my TDS gave a reading of only about 415 -450... not exactly sure, but it was low. My Ph was 7; nothing crazy bad there.

Anyways, I rinsed the base, Ph treated some water, and mixed in my nute combo. Now, I've got a Ph of about 5.5-6 along with a TDS reading of about 1550-1600 (just brought it up that high today after adjusting them to higher nute levels over the course of a week or so; I brought them up to 1100 immediately when I brought the stuff home, and I've finally got them maxed-out. I also have a soap stone bubble running 24/7, and reset the internal timer every morning to keep my lights on 24/7, too.

I understand that this isn't an ideal set-up for growing full-sized plants, however, I don't think I need that much weed, nor do I have the time to grow that much. Thus, I'm going to grow what I'll coin "Bonsai Buds."

My Bonsai Buds will be miniature, mature plants which will produce approximately one sack (1/8 oz.) per plant. Ideally, I'll have both females, however I'm open to chopping one down or pruning its flowers in order to protect a possible female plant. If both are male, or if either is fertilized, then fuck it. I'll still have a little 'dro. Even if I only get a single bowl out of my plant, I'll still see it as a success for having been my first deep water, semi-hydroponic grow.

Aero1.jpg Aero2.jpg Aero3.jpg

carinia · #2 (**permalink**) Mar-05-2008, 21:54

I don't 'do' ppms, but i do have to say..

LOVE IT!! haha, omg an areo garden, that is sweet ass. Seriously, start a grow log on this sucker or put p a challenge to someone else that has one, cuz im exicted

melodious fellow · #3 (**permalink**) Mar-05-2008, 23:25

EC is a much more reliable standard where as ppm can vary by as much as 300-400 ppm based on many manurfacturers, countries, and other variables.

Get an EC meter and then research the appropriate EC for young seedlings.

good luck

peace

hairypotter · #4 (**permalink**) Mar-06-2008, 01:16

oh, and btw, the plants in the pic are 5-6 weeks old. didn't get fed enough, but are making an awesome comeback. have good root systems, just small on top.

hairypotter · #5 (**permalink**) Mar-06-2008, 20:46

What is the diff. between the two meters?

melodious fellow · #6 (**permalink**) Mar-06-2008, 23:24

Electrical Conductivity is a direct measurment. PPM is a caculated value based on the EC value and is not always calculated in the same way, resulting in discrepancies as large as 600 ppm.

The Debate Over EC And TDS - Greentrees Hydroponics

peace

hairypotter · #7 (**permalink**) Mar-07-2008, 00:54

cool, and thanks for the snappy answer. my temps are up on my grow surface. gotta either raise my lamp or buy a fan... any suggestions for cooling? i've scoured the threads but with little luck.

on a side note, my dad broke his hip last week, and his bro came cross-country to visit. i showed him my pics from travels, bonnaroo, high school, etc, and he mentioned that "one time, when [he] was visiting Columbia up in New York City, [he] met this one dude who had a freakin' forest in his closet." this in the course of a normal conversation with my 66 y/o uncle. thought you might like that.

any suggestions for cooling? help me out.

cman20118ut · #8 (**permalink**) Mar-10-2008, 10:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by hairypotter

cool, and thanks for the snappy answer. my temps are up on my grow surface. gotta either raise my lamp or buy a fan... any suggestions for cooling? i've scoured the threads but with little luck.

on a side note, my dad broke his hip last week, and his bro came cross-country to visit. i showed him my pics from travels, bonnaroo, high school, etc, and he mentioned that "one time, when [he] was visiting Columbia up in New York City, [he] met this one dude who had a freakin' forest in his closet." this in the course of a normal conversation with my 66 y/o uncle. thought you might like that.

any suggestions for cooling? help me out.

any cheap oscilating fan will for you...actually any cheap walmart fan with decent air flow

**stinkyattic** · #9 (**permalink**) Mar-10-2008, 10:36

You have to install some type of EXHAUST fan. Simply moving the hot air won't help, and may in fact dry out the plants worse.
You can go the cheap route and do a 'duct-booster' fan from home depot, or you can go with a high-cfm blower that will really move some serious air. FYI if you intend to run a carbon filter at some point, a duct fan doesn't work, you'll need the blower.

Palerider, you KNOW you don't have to quote the entire post and then post some snide remark, right?

stuartambient · #10 (**permalink**) Mar-10-2008, 12:32

Is there such a thing as "Bonsai Buds" ? Not necessarily the name but what they are supposed to be. I know nothing so would like to learn more. In general, are there options for cramped space.

TIA

**stinkyattic** · #11 (**permalink**) Mar-10-2008, 12:39

Oops disregard that last... lol I'm such a spazz before my 4th cup of coffee...
It's not a strain, but keeping your plant small through pruning and training is a good cramped-space option.

stuartambient · #12 (**permalink**) Mar-10-2008, 16:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by stinkyattic

Oops disregard that last... lol I'm such a spazz before my 4th cup of coffee...
It's not a strain, but keeping your plant small through pruning and training is a good cramped-space option.

Thanks, to me this is very encouraging news. I've had this idea about an aquarium, the 30 - 40 gallon size. At this point though I'm still reading, searching and digging to get myself at least somewhat of a rough process to follow.

**stinkyattic** · #13 (**permalink**) Mar-10-2008, 16:46

I think an aquarium is a less than ideal grow chamber. You can use an upside-down aquarium as a clone dome though in a pinch, lol~

The material, rather than the size, is the issue. Something sturdy and lightproof is the best way to go, and a 'rubbermaid' or equivalent bin is much easier to work with, since you can cut holes in it for exhaust and modify the HECK outta the thing!

stuartambient · #14 (**permalink**) Mar-10-2008, 16:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by stinkyattic

I think an aquarium is a less than ideal grow chamber. You can use an upside-down aquarium as a clone dome though in a pinch, lol~

Yea, I had wondered off and found something utilizing an a quarium Marijuana Hydroponics Systems . Space here is very limited. No closet to sacrifice, and no basement. I'm going to file that clone dome method away though

Quote:

Originally Posted by stinkyattic

The material, rather than the size, is the issue. Something sturdy and lightproof is the best way to go, and a 'rubbermaid' or equivalent bin is much easier to work with, since you can cut holes in it for exhaust and modify the HECK outta the thing!

Yeah I finally get to use my dremel.

hairypotter · #15 (**permalink**) Mar-10-2008, 21:56

I've seen some awesome growth since I started this thread; my larger plant has really exploded! I've added some pics below. Please read on to the next post (it's just down yonder).

carinia · #16 (**permalink**) Mar-10-2008, 22:03

its so cute!! I love the areo garden, i think its hilarious

hairypotter · #17 (**permalink**) Mar-10-2008, 22:04

Now... on to my "special" plant. The other little guy has a ways to go before it's ready to bud (if it's actually capable of doing so.) I mean... this plant looks like it has down syndrome or some other horrible genetic malformity, and I really don't know what to do with it. The leaves are growing, but they're doing so in the most random, hodge-podge way I've ever seen! The baby leaves at the top look like they might actually come in normally, but I'm not holding my breath. This one has one long root (which has branched out fairly well) but that's it. It looks life its trying, so maybe I should give it another chance. Check it out for yourself... Oh, and btw, it has a siamese leaf in one of the two pictures! one lobe with two points!

Acouwaila · #18 (**permalink**) Mar-24-2008, 12:28

I just got an aerogarden as well, and planted 3 seeds in 2 different pods.

I was wonderin if i should have the light on 12/12 or start with something like 18/6?

**stinkyattic** · #19 (**permalink**) Mar-24-2008, 12:41

Start on 18/6 or 24/0 from seed. 12/12 from start is unnecessarily stressful to the young plant.

Acouwaila · #20 (**permalink**) Mar-24-2008, 13:10

cool, thanks....I guess Ill have to take out the tomato plants I started, or will it be ok for them after 2 weeks to stay on 18/6 or 24/0?

**stinkyattic** · #21 (**permalink**) Mar-24-2008, 15:12

Tomatoes can stay on 18/6 just fine too, don't fret. So can peppers. How do I know this? Ugh. Don't ask...

Pick a photoperiod and stick with it. Personally I run 24/0 because it's easier to control stuff and you can visit them any time.

hairypotter · #22 (**permalink**) Mar-26-2008, 19:09

Status Report - Wednesday, March 26th, 2008.

No news for the last 16 days; my dad passes away unexpectedly on the 12th, just two days after my last post, so needless to say, I've prioritized.

My plants are doing very well; the largest had gotten to be about a foot tall, so I topped it to about 8 inches. I imagine it will branch out nicely in the next few days.

My smaller "special" plant was topped two weeks ago, and it has made a vibrant recovery in that time. It just wasn't destined to grow straight up. I now have two very healthy branches on it.

The topped part from the first plant... the larger one, was big enough to where I'm trying to root it. I think it may take, but if not, then so be it.

I found a more comprehensive aerogarden forum on a competing site, and I learned that the lighting timers can be bypasses simply by buying a $7 cable and a simple timer. Have the lights set on 24/0 now, but will likely switch to 12/12 by weeks end. Pictures will be posted later tonight or tomorrow.

stuartambient · #23 (**permalink**) Mar-26-2008, 20:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by hairypotter

Status Report - Wednesday, March 26th, 2008.

I found a more comprehensive aerogarden forum on a competing site, and I learned that the lighting timers can be bypasses simply by buying a $7 cable and a simple timer.

Sorry about your dad. Appreciate the update. It's probably against rules to post the link to the other site but is there a way to give some general hint as to where to find it

TIA
SA

**stinkyattic** · #24 (**permalink**) Mar-27-2008, 10:26

You can link to other grow sites, don't fret. The hotlinking rule is just about linking to goods and services. Free sites are fine, as long as the pr0n is only the green sort

I'm sorry about your father. Best wishes to your family.

hairypotter · #25 (**permalink**) Mar-27-2008, 18:45

hi. here's the little one that i almost chopped the other week. I topped it instead; look at how it grew out over the last two weeks. It's the same plant! I swear!!!

Aero4.jpg 032608_22241.jpg

The larger plant has grown tall, and I topped it. Bush is speaking on TV, and that pisses me off. Back to the plants: here are two pictures; one is from two weeks ago... the other from last night.

Aero3.jpg 032608_22331.jpg

The second plan - the taller one - had about 3-4 inches topped from it. I took the first inch-and-a-half of a few nights ago, and the second chuck (about 3 inches) two nights ago. I put the larger one in one of the extra pods - washed the sponge and set it in place after securing the plant in place. After 24 hours, it's looking pretty good. Lights switch to 12/12 tonight, however, and I'm not sure if it'll develop a strong enough root system between now and then.

Nutes are coming back at 1200 on my meter and the pump is on 24/7. Got a new plug for my light hood and hooked it up to a simple plug-in timer. New wire cost $7 and I already had the timer. Goes on 12/12 at 8:00 PM CDT tonight. There should be just enough room under the hood for the plants to double. Maybe a little ghetto-rigging required; not sure yet.

Bubbler is on 24/7 in the tank, and the roots are thick and fuzzy. Thought it was mold at first but looked at some other posts before realizing that this meant I had done something right!

More to come in the next week.

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