Hempy Headquarters

[SweetSue]

What is a good size pot? I picked up 3 gallon buckets for when I go full hempy. For getting my feet wet I used 2L bottles since I’m going to flip them quickly

My tent is 2x4x5. Growing indicas and soon to start hybrids. Planning on topping after the 4th node. Will they get too big?

Pot size is really a personal choice, but obviously larger pots mean bigger plants. I've found a sweet spot with hempy in my garden at 1-gallon pots, but I've run a batch of pots that only held about 2 cups of perlite and pulled an average ounce off each plant. I've also pulled 6 ounces from a plant in a low and wide pot that held about 2.5 gallons of medium.

Those 1-gallon pots pull a consistent 1-3 ounces per plant. It's why they're my go-to. That run with the smaller pots got me thinking though. A batch of small pots, untopped, grown like budscicles.........kinda like what Graytail has going in soil.

bummer, seems I jumped the gun and wasted some $ on a ph up/down set. My well is sampling well under 6 so not likely to need much of an adjustment .... don't the FF nutes push the ph down a bit themselves?

I did the same thing. Told myself that I got it for a reason, it just isn't this one and laughed it off. The next week my host needed one. It all worked out.

Finally got my ass in gear with a grow journal, the seed just went to the solo cup, my sig has the link.

Welcome to the joy that is hempy. I swear, this is the easiest method yet to grow top-shelf cannabis in the comfort of your home.

I've been watching beez and prodding him with leading questions in my quest to discover what his secret is, because ladies and gentlemen, these are by far the prettiest, healthiest-looking damn plant I've seen to date. Sometime soon I'll have an in-depth report. Right now I'm doing my best to pick his brain.

 

[Ganjagrowergu]

I am getting ready for the next bout of hempy heaven. Switching out aquarium gravel for lava rock and the messy coco coir caps I have been using will be replaced with rockwool starter cubes. I will likely have to cover the the tops of the pots to slow evaporation, but I have a bunch of that mylar bubble wrap stuff laying around begging for a purpose.

Leaning towards Maxwell house coffee cans or some other uniform roughly 1/2 gallon container (my sweet spot).

 

[Tead]

I will likely have to cover the the tops of the pots to slow evaporation

Ya know.... that's not what you want.
The idea in hempy are to keep that flow of evaporation going. When the top evaporates, it dries. Nature fills a void, and the evaporation causes an area 'void' of water. This causes water from the bottom to be pulled up thru the medium.
If you go with a non-porous medium like rocks, be sure to stay with small ones. The rocks don't allow for anywhere near the water motility that the completely porous mediums provide. Kind of a related issue.
Evaporation off the top of a hempy pot is your friend baby... keep it flowing.

 

[Ganjagrowergu]

Ya know.... that's not what you want.
The idea in hempy are to keep that flow of evaporation going. When the top evaporates, it dries. Nature fills a void, and the evaporation causes an area 'void' of water. This causes water from the bottom to be pulled up thru the medium.
If you go with a non-porous medium like rocks, be sure to stay with small ones. The rocks don't allow for anywhere near the water motility that the completely porous mediums provide. Kind of a related issue.
Evaporation off the top of a hempy pot is your friend baby... keep it flowing.

I will keep that in mind. I am getting the 1/4-1/2" lava so we should have plenty of porosity. The gravel and coco I was running works great but after recycling twice the coco just washes to the reservoir and I would bet money I have coco sludge in all of my current "buckets". Pretty sure you called my mess some kind of gumbo once, well now it is more like slop. The recycled stuff works great, just not in hempy.

 

[Tead]

I will keep that in mind. I am getting the 1/4-1/2" lava so we should have plenty of porosity. The gravel and coco I was running works great but after recycling twice the coco just washes to the reservoir and I would bet money I have coco sludge in all of my current "buckets". Pretty sure you called my mess some kind of gumbo once, well now it is more like slop. The recycled stuff works great, just not in hempy.

I settled on the 1" chunky perlite. Luvin it all around. Recycle with a light bleach wash and heavy rinse. Easy.

 

[BTzGrow]

Maybe I got the volume wrong, but these look like the same black tall oval wastebaskets that my brother @BTzGrow used in his hempy grow:

3rd Grow: Super Lemon Haze & Gold Leaf

I'm fairly sure they are the same ones I have bought from the same source. The 7quart volume sound about right. Not sure If I have any with the labels still intact, but will check and correct if not.

On another topic related to these waste baskets I found it awesome to see 10 lined up nice and tidy. I'm using a 2'x2.5' footprint tent and the best I can do is 5 with a little space around them. In the end I feel that 5 is a bit much for my size tent and am only going to do 4 from now on. I'll be watching as you get these deep into flowering.

The only other problem I had was growing plants that had different heights. Fortunately like you I use two light fixtures and able to adjust separately.

Thanks for sharing, I'll be subbing in.

 

[Ganjagrowergu]

I settled on the 1" chunky perlite. Luvin it all around. Recycle with a light bleach wash and heavy rinse. Easy.

I wish I had room to store a big bag, keeps my options more than limited. Damn that apartment livin'. Lol.

 

[beez0404]

The only other problem I had was growing plants that had different heights.

Instead of raising lights up and down consider putting shorter plants up on pedestals to bring them up to the height of the other plants.

 

[Sctanley007]

Pot size is really a personal choice, but obviously larger pots mean bigger plants. I've found a sweet spot with hempy in my garden at 1-gallon pots, but I've run a batch of pots that only held about 2 cups of perlite and pulled an average ounce off each plant. I've also pulled 6 ounces from a plant in a low and wide pot that held about 2.5 gallons of medium.

Those 1-gallon pots pull a consistent 1-3 ounces per plant. It's why they're my go-to. That run with the smaller pots got me thinking though. A batch of small pots, untopped, grown like budscicles.........kinda like what Graytail has going in soil.




I did the same thing. Told myself that I got it for a reason, it just isn't this one and laughed it off. The next week my host needed one. It all worked out.



Welcome to the joy that is hempy. I swear, this is the easiest method yet to grow top-shelf cannabis in the comfort of your home.

I've been watching beez and prodding him with leading questions in my quest to discover what his secret is, because ladies and gentlemen, these are by far the prettiest, healthiest-looking damn plant I've seen to date. Sometime soon I'll have an in-depth report. Right now I'm doing my best to pick his brain.

Where do you source your 1 gal containers. I’ve been looking and find white 1 gal pails at the hardware store. Anything else I see is tall and skinny making it seem like it will tip.

 

[Sctanley007]

Perhaps a dumb question but does hydroton work well? I was thinking that down to the resivoir hole then perlite to the top. Thinking perhaps keeping more weight at the bottom of a 1 gal or even a 2L.

 

[SweetSue]

Now that’s a healthy hempy grow!

So how's he do that? Well, turns out beez is a detail-oriented man who pays close attention to the basics.

Hempy Secrets: beez0404

"It's nature. With nature you can only control so much, and if you control those elements to the best of your ability you give the plants their best chance for optimal growth." beez0404

Dark Devil Auto

• SweetSue
• Jan 12, 2019

Impregnated with Quarter Pounder pollen
Beauty by beez0404

* Precision counts.
- All water is about 79-80° F. Temperatures effect pH levels.
- All nutrients get weighed. No exceptions.
- Nutrient increases are 1/10 or 2/10 of a gram, and no changes to increase for 7 days.
- All drenches are correctly pH'd to suit the medium. Hempy is 5.5, soil at 6.5. No exceptions.

* Before the main drenching (every other day) drain the reservoir. This eliminates the old and leaves room for fresh water with fresh nutrients.

beez0404’s Steps to hempy success

• SweetSue
• Jan 12, 2019

Drain out the remaining water before drenching.

* Water every day. beez mixes his Mega Crop nutrients (with some Fox Farm additives) in either a gallon or a half-gallon volumes. One day the plants get watered to runoff. The next day they get enough water to fill their reservoirs.

* Tape off the reservoir hole.

Ok, I'm going to tell you how he does drenches step-by-step.

Hempy adaptations

• SweetSue
• Jan 12, 2019

1. Remove the tape and drain the pot, as much as possible without spilling the perlite.

beez0404’s Steps to hempy success

• SweetSue
• Jan 12, 2019

Drain out the remaining water before drenching.

2. Tack a new piece of tape to the rim of the pot above the drain hole for easy accessibility.
3. Drench the plant.
- To begin, beez pours some to the front right, then a little on the front left, then an arch around the back of the pot, pouring until he gets a decent run-off stream.
- He lets it drain almost completely to the drain hole, but right before he tips the pot back to stop the flow, wipes the area dry, and slaps that waiting piece of tape on to hold the rest in. This results in the reservoir being just a little higher than normal on these days.
- On alternating days he mixes his drench volume to just fill the reservoirs, and doesn't remove the tape.

Nutrient increases are done as slowly and methodically as we suggest for cannabinoid dosing, and at the first sign of nutrient stress beez backs up one step and stays there. What sign is he watching for? This downturn of the leaves tells him the plant has reached its limit.

Downturn of leaf indicating nutrient threshold

• SweetSue
• Jan 11, 2019

Once he sees this sign he backs off and stays there.

All plants start at 25% the stated starting dose. Autos run at half-strength.

I think that's all. If I missed anything, I'm sure beez will let me know and I'll correct it later.

 

[SweetSue]

I wish I had room to store a big bag, keeps my options more than limited. Damn that apartment livin'. Lol.

I know that feeling. It sure beat trying to store multiple bins of soil.

Where do you source your 1 gal containers. I’ve been looking and find white 1 gal pails at the hardware store. Anything else I see is tall and skinny making it seem like it will tip.

I spent $5 each and bought mine from Big Lots, bathroom dept. They can be found on line. It was more than I'd hoped to spend, but the quality of the plastic, it's ability to cut any light from the medium without duct tape, and stability found in a straight sided can won me over, and I bought six more.

The Dollar Tree has a multitude of choices, most of which may require some type of taping to cut light. Buy two and you can set them inside each other to cut light pollution. Keep your eye open for after holiday sales (all year 'round) in department stores and general stores. Rubbermaid makes a nice pitcher that has the advantage of a handle, but you'll have to wrap it with tape. Dollar store buckets,are a godsend.

Perhaps a dumb question but does hydroton work well? I was thinking that down to the resivoir hole then perlite to the top. Thinking perhaps keeping more weight at the bottom of a 1 gal or even a 2L.

Nothing will wick as efficiently as perlite, and Tead's learned the larger particles work well and clean up easier.

 

[Sctanley007]

So how's he do that? Well, turns out beez is a detail-oriented man who pays close attention to the basics.

Hempy Secrets: beez0404

"It's nature. With nature you can only control so much, and if you control those elements to the best of your ability you give the plants their best chance for optimal growth." beez0404

Dark Devil Auto

• SweetSue
• Jan 12, 2019

Impregnated with Quarter Pounder pollen
Beauty by beez0404

* Precision counts.
- All water is about 79-80° F. Temperatures effect pH levels.
- All nutrients get weighed. No exceptions.
- Nutrient increases are 1/10 or 2/10 of a gram, and no changes to increase for 7 days.
- All drenches are correctly pH'd to suit the medium. Hempy is 5.5, soil at 6.5. No exceptions.

* Before the main drenching (every other day) drain the reservoir. This eliminates the old and leaves room for fresh water with fresh nutrients.

beez0404’s Steps to hempy success

• SweetSue
• Jan 12, 2019

Drain out the remaining water before drenching.

* Water every day. beez mixes his Mega Crop nutrients (with some Fox Farm additives) in either a gallon or a half-gallon volumes. One day the plants get watered to runoff. The next day they get enough water to fill their reservoirs.

* Tape off the reservoir hole.

Ok, I'm going to tell you how he does drenches step-by-step.

Hempy adaptations

• SweetSue
• Jan 12, 2019

1. Remove the tape and drain the pot, as much as possible without spilling the perlite.

beez0404’s Steps to hempy success

• SweetSue
• Jan 12, 2019

Drain out the remaining water before drenching.

2. Tack a new piece of tape to the rim of the pot above the drain hole for easy accessibility.
3. Drench the plant.
- To begin, beez pours some to the front right, then a little on the front left, then an arch around the back of the pot, pouring until he gets a decent run-off stream.
- He lets it drain almost completely to the drain hole, but right before he tips the pot back to stop the flow, wipes the area dry, and slaps that waiting piece of tape on to hold the rest in. This results in the reservoir being just a little higher than normal on these days.
- On alternating days he mixes his drench volume to just fill the reservoirs, and doesn't remove the tape.

Nutrient increases are done as slowly and methodically as we suggest for cannabinoid dosing, and at the first sign of nutrient stress beez backs up one step and stays there. What sign is he watching for? This downturn of the leaves tells him the plant has reached its limit.

Downturn of leaf indicating nutrient threshold

• SweetSue
• Jan 11, 2019

Once he sees this sign he backs off and stays there.

All plants start at 25% the stated starting dose. Autos run at half-strength.

I think that's all. If I missed anything, I'm sure beez will let me know and I'll correct it later.

COMPLETE GOLD INSIDER INFO RIGHT HERE!!! Loving this and taking notes.

I did learn the water temp trick on my own after I watered with freshly mixed freezing cold water. Now the water is a few degrees warmer than tent temp.

Don’t know why exactly i decided to do it but they seem to like it.

 

[Tead]

Perhaps a dumb question but does hydroton work well?

Yes... especially with a perlite cap, but the perl will work thru the hydroton a touch and in a smaller container (<1gal), the perlite alone would probably be better... the hydroton just has less surface area than perl, thus less water movement.

 

[DrDoob]

Just flipped thses to 12/12. There are four in 3.5gal pots and four in 2 gal pots. Hopefully they get too crowded since I have another vacant tent I can move some too.

 

[Kismet]

DSC02659.JPG

• Kismet
• Jan 13, 2019

Cheese roots in the 1 gall hempy.

DSC02664.JPG

• Kismet
• Jan 13, 2019

Rinsed perlite.

DSC02666.JPG

• Kismet
• Jan 13, 2019

Gelato home hempy. 4 galoon.

DSC02667.JPG

• Kismet
• Jan 13, 2019

Gelato hempy roots 1 gallon.

DSC02668.JPG

• Kismet
• Jan 13, 2019

GelatOG roots hempy.

DSC02669.JPG

• Kismet
• Jan 13, 2019

Transplanted 4 gallon hempy pot.

DSC02671.JPG

• Kismet
• Jan 13, 2019

Will hit the coco girls with an inch or two of perlite tomorrow/today?

DSC02657.JPG

• Kismet
• Jan 13, 2019

Cheese home.

DSC02654.JPG

• Kismet
• Jan 11, 2019

Hula Girl and Purple Dinosaur showed up to whisper encouragement in Lil Sue's ear.

 

[TorturedSoul]

10"h x 6"w x (8.5" tapered to 6.25")length. These things only cost me a dollar each and can be found on the dollar tree website.

Thanks. I was trying to figure out how many would fit into a 3' x 3' space. There's a Dollar Tree on the other side of town, I'll have to look around inside next time I'm near enough to make a visit reasonably convenient.

Perhaps a dumb question but does hydroton work well?

It doesn't really mass anything to speak of. If you're paranoid about tip-over, throw a (sterile) heavy rock in the bottom and just allow for the volume it occupies by placing the hole a tiny bit higher. But it can still happen - and with just about any setup, if the plant is unsupported and of sufficient size. I had one lean far enough that one side of a five-gallon bucket (full of soil) was off the ground. Yes, the container was in need of water, but it wasn't that massive, just... leverage and all that.

 

[SweetSue]

With my straight-sided 1-gal black trash cans from Big Lots, filled with perlite there’s never been a concern about tipping, other than the occasional careless knocking about.

 

[Sctanley007]

Dear God...now what am I gonna do with eight 3 gal baby blue buckets???

Well...off to Big Lots I go!!!

I just got a bunch of seeds from @SeedsMan...a rather large variety. Maybe we can decide together

 

[Kismet]

Can't imagine trying to take those girls all the way through flower in a 1 gallon container. May try clones in 2 gallon containers my next run though.