Doc Bud's High Brix Q&A With Pictures

KingstonRabbi said:
I was in love with my 2 gal smart pots when I first got them, but I was overwatering then and they compensated for that.

Now that I'm letting them dry out more I'm running into problem. Early in veg I get white tips poking through, but when plants are large enough to flower (my old grow was all 2 gal) or upcan the roots have disappeared from outer edge of dirt ball. I think it's because the sides dry out so fast in 2 gal pots that roots start pruning themselves further in. (Could also be I'm pushing the drying out too far.)

Of the 8 plants I have in kit soil, 7 went from 2 gal to 6 gal, 1 was late substitute that went from 1 gal hard pot to 6 gal. That last one has caught up to the others. Losing roots from the outer 1/4-1/2 inch of soil means root ball of 2 gal plants weren't much bigger if at all than 1 gal plant.

That doesn't seem to be problem for my largest plants in the 6 gal pots. Either the larger mass of soil keep moisture flowing to edges, or giving up outer 1/4 inch doesn't impact 6 gal as much as 2 gal.

Lesson for me is to get plants into larger pots as soon as possible. I will probably go back to #1 cans for early veg, because as Doc says, more manageable root ball in hard pot.
Click to expand...

I transplant a single time.....from 1's to Seven gallons. Seven gallons is a minimum size. I'll be going to 10's or 15's soon, due to some changes in the county.

Hard plastic all the way for me. Soft pots just don't seem to live up to their advertising.
 
Doc Bud said:
I transplant a single time.....from 1's to Seven gallons. Seven gallons is a minimum size. I'll be going to 10's or 15's soon, due to some changes in the county.

Hard plastic all the way for me. Soft pots just don't seem to live up to their advertising.
Click to expand...
I was debating on getting fabric 7s or plastic, I'm currently using fabric 5s. Why is plastic preferred over fabric, why is fabric not what it's advertised to be?

Sent from my Pixel using 420
 
TheBoogyman said:
My fixture isn't double ended so I have to get a normal bulb. Thanks for the recommendations, doc.

Also another question guys, do you think anything bad would happen if i changed my lighting schedule for my veg plants from 16/8 to 18/6? I've got 4 plants of various ages that have been under 16/8 since birth.
Click to expand...

Hey Boogs,...just gettin caught up here . Hope your well my friend. Ya , with the lighting schedule Q.....leave them at 16/8. The whole way,...no need to go to 18/6. I've learned thru doing this last crop...makes no noticeable difference , and may even be a lil better for MJ at 16 ...dunno, more rest...? I would leave them all at 16/8 ...save a few bucks on electricity cost's too. I'm gonna stick with it, works.
Have a great night Boogs. ....and gang.:high-five:
 
duggan said:
..leave them at 16/8. The whole way,...no need to go to 18/6. I've learned thru doing this last crop...makes no noticeable difference , and may even be a lil better for MJ at 16 ...dunno, more rest...? I would leave them all at 16/8 ...save a few bucks on electricity cost's too. I'm gonna stick with it, works.
Click to expand...

I agree with duggs

90% of my sprouting, vegging and cloning has been 16/8, seems to work fine

two grows back with 3 week old clones @16/8, i mimicked the outdoor hours starting Aug9th @14hrs and reduced my timer each day to mimic outdoor hours of light per day. Aug25 @13:20hrs hairs seen.
8 weeks later Oct 8, i harvested @11:26hrs some excellent smoke. not much though, they needed more veg. 27g 21g

observation; last summer outdoor i had seeded plants show hairs any time from Aug1 14:15hrs to Aug19 13:35hrs
although none of these plants made it to maturity because of weather had to be harvested late Sept.
 
Seaweed Farms said:
I was debating on getting fabric 7s or plastic, I'm currently using fabric 5s. Why is plastic preferred over fabric, why is fabric not what it's advertised to be?

Sent from my Pixel using 420
Click to expand...

Both work. I just don't see outrageous roots with the fabric pots. Plus, they're harder to work with, IMO. It's merely my opinion and current practice.
 
Doc Bud said:
I transplant a single time.....from 1's to Seven gallons. Seven gallons is a minimum size. I'll be going to 10's or 15's soon, due to some changes in the county.

Hard plastic all the way for me. Soft pots just don't seem to live up to their advertising.
Click to expand...

You really think the plastic pots are better Doc...why?
 
DrZiggy said:
Highpot..Ive grown in both plastic and fabric pots..
-The problem with small fabric pots when trying to transplant is removing the pots.

Large fabric pots work great...

I will start in hard and transplant to soft on my next indoor grow.
Click to expand...

Pretty sure I would have no problem doing the same my problem is I want large healthy roots before flower
I go past 5week veg in soft 1's and plants start to have problems and don't recover with a rescue , if I upcan then rescue they take back off

I have one in a plastic pot now but not sure I will do a fabric upcan, that was my original plan but I may just switch them all over now

I have had great grows in fabric just seem to hit a wall every time they start to air prune

Have tried to keep them healthy for 7-8 weeks in 1's to build roots I hit them with a rescue they don't seem to recover but if I upcan then rescue they take off until roots get to the edge of the pot then I see problems
I am not that experienced with the kit bit I feel it is only thing that can be causing problems as you know yourself
It is easy to have success with the kit

Doc Bud said:
I transplant a single time.....from 1's to Seven gallons. Seven gallons is a minimum size. I'll be going to 10's or 15's soon, due to some changes in the county.

Hard plastic all the way for me. Soft pots just don't seem to live up to their advertising.
Click to expand...

I agree I got sucked into the hype of them and they may work well for the PH based growers but the high Brix plants seem to thrive even when rootbound as you have shown time and time again

Our root system is diff as we are trying to get the fine root hairs and as many as we can stuff in there and back in my ph days my roots where large with fewer fine type roots and when they would get rootbound choke them self off

Again could be a BS theory in my head but I feel I have been following your technique for watering and the instructions pretty closely and my environment is pretty spot on and only variable is the pots


Seaweed Farms said:
I was debating on getting fabric 7s or plastic, I'm currently using fabric 5s. Why is plastic preferred over fabric, why is fabric not what it's advertised to be?

Sent from my Pixel using 420
Click to expand...

I was having trouble with fabric pots and getting them to build roots
Some have had success as Dr ziggy said he has
If you are having success and are happy you should keep using them

Doc Bud said:
Both work. I just don't see outrageous roots with the fabric pots. Plus, they're harder to work with, IMO. It's merely my opinion and current practice.
Click to expand...

I never could get roots like you show in them even purposely let one veg for 10-11weeks seemed after roots hit edge of pot growth rate slowed and problems started to show up
Before that perfect fake looking plants
I fig if the soft pots was a prob I would have read on here by now,then after the post on Instagram I had to ask the experts their opinion
Again I can get great results but the technique is slightly different or I have to upcan before I want so they stay healthy

Just for clarification I veg 16/8 think I said 18/6 earlier, my flower is 11/13 I believe this is what Doc runs

:Namaste:
 
highpot, I have had success several times experimenting(imagine??) burying the smaller fabric pots into larger fabric pots. - 'modular' like.
Im a little foggy now but i think a couple of HB users, some still here, some unfortunately aren't around anymore, experienced roots penetrating their large fabric pots.
 
DrZiggy said:
highpot, I have had success several times experimenting(imagine??) burying the smaller fabric pots into larger fabric pots. - 'modular' like.
Im a little foggy now but i think a couple of HB users, some still here, some unfortunately aren't around anymore, experienced roots penetrating their large fabric pots.
Click to expand...

Haha experimenting,not you Ziggy.

I have never tried to plant them modular style, I was just trying to do as the instructions say so I could narrow down my problem

I would also get roots poking out in veg and also in flower in 7's I would see them but not soon after is when I would start to see some problems usually I grow in 1's till I see problems so transplant and do rescue(I don't see anyone else having to do this)in like a week they are right back on track and fake looking soon as those roots start to poke out is when I would see problems
Don't get me wrong I still get produce last harvest of the SS Haze gave me 4-5oz and a Bomb around the same amount I am just want to keep them firing on all cylinders till the end mine seem to fade out around week 5-6 and I chase what looks like diff deficiencies but I know the soil has everything it needs

Also I can never seem to get that solid root ball like I see so many others getting and I feel that is part of the problem

Like I say my veg and flower enviro. is pretty spot on plants are elevated in veg like 18" off the floor and flower I have insulation down and they sit on inverted saucers with another piece of insulation under the pot

We shall see Zig as I guess I am experimenting now sort of,may be something else but I feel I have eliminated all other possibilities or at least I think I have
Thanks for helping brother

:Namaste:
 
Governmentchz said:
Is there a shelf life on any of the kit products?
Click to expand...

there is, depends on environment, how stored, etc.. ..the liquids have a shelf life but I just found and opened 2 yr old Kit in its original box, taped; a few days ago. ..I wrote Doc and he said make sure no funky smells exits. I shook well and opened them..They smelled fine..I am using them on my Fig tree and to start new soil.
 
Highpotanoose said:
Haha experimenting,not you Ziggy.

I have never tried to plant them modular style, I was just trying to do as the instructions say so I could narrow down my problem

I would also get roots poking out in veg and also in flower in 7's I would see them but not soon after is when I would start to see some problems usually I grow in 1's till I see problems so transplant and do rescue(I don't see anyone else having to do this)in like a week they are right back on track and fake looking soon as those roots start to poke out is when I would see problems
Don't get me wrong I still get produce last harvest of the SS Haze gave me 4-5oz and a Bomb around the same amount I am just want to keep them firing on all cylinders till the end mine seem to fade out around week 5-6 and I chase what looks like diff deficiencies but I know the soil has everything it needs

Also I can never seem to get that solid root ball like I see so many others getting and I feel that is part of the problem

Like I say my veg and flower enviro. is pretty spot on plants are elevated in veg like 18" off the floor and flower I have insulation down and they sit on inverted saucers with another piece of insulation under the pot

We shall see Zig as I guess I am experimenting now sort of,may be something else but I feel I have eliminated all other possibilities or at least I think I have
Thanks for helping brother

:Namaste:
Click to expand...

Are you using saucers under the pots? It's very important to get the wicking action when watering. Also, perhaps you should up your feedings in anticipation of the fade you're getting.
 
Baybreeder said:
IMO..fabric pots are only good for very short veg time. Leached coco pots work well too. They both air prune the hell out of roots.
Click to expand...

I guess my question is:

Why is air pruning the roots a good thing?

I have tried fabric pots in the past. Obviously, I don't use them now. I don't see any upside to it.
 
Doc Bud said:
I guess my question is:

Why is air pruning the roots a good thing?

I have tried fabric pots in the past. Obviously, I don't use them now. I don't see any upside to it.
Click to expand...

I just see thicker branching when used. The roots do over take the pot pretty fast. So if the soil isn't dialed in the plant gets stressed and thinks its root bound.
 
Baybreeder said:
I just see thicker branching when used. The roots do over take the pot pretty fast. So if the soil isn't dialed in the plant gets stressed and thinks its root bound.
Click to expand...

Don't know if you saw this one. There's some thickness to the branches here, strength too. As you can see, plastic pot....my normal veg pot.

High Brix Root system
 
Baybreeder said:
You should not pack soil when using air pots. Leave soil as loose as possible. That is very important when using them.
Click to expand...

Ditto hard pots. Soil compaction isn't a good thing, although HB soil doesn't compact much. It gets spongy.
 
Back
Top Bottom