Mars Hydro Grow Journal: TSL 2000, 1st Time In Coco, DIY Drip Build, 2x4, Jack Herer SOG

[Sangmang]

3rd Week Flower

I moved the manifold from the bottom and was able to cut off a whopping 6" from the table legs. Now my light is 10" away from the canopy. If they are going to keep stretching im gonna have to pinch and bend some branches I guess.

Ive just been feeding calmag, base nutrients and drip clean. I'll add a pk boost in a couple weeks. I decided to just keep it ultra simple this run. I also plan on switching away from advanced nutrients after this grow after reading some unsavory shit about their company. Plus it's over priced.

I did some below canopy trimming plus a couple fan leaves for air flow. I wish I had the space to not do any trimming, heavy defoliation doesn't make sense to me.

Theyre all showing little buds now and the tuna can plant is looking like it will make it the whole way!

 

[GoogleGenie]

I really really like your set up @Sangmang! I have a profound appreciation for a DIY setup. My system is also a DIY. I love your solution for the run off. That's always a pain with potted plants. I build some self draining saucers, but i prefer your solution.

I used to grow with Coco/Perlite. But I don't use Perlite anymore. I use 100% Coco. As long as the coco is always at least "barely moist" you shouldn't see salt build up unless you are feeding excessively. Never let the Coco dry out, it will damage the roots. If you do, prepare to have to flush. Personally, when using 100% coco I rarely feed to run off. Just top up enough to keep the medium moist. I do feed to run off when using Coco/Perlite due to the perlite causing the medium to dry out quicker, which is one of the reasons I don't use perlite anymore.

If you'd welcome an opinion about the number of plants you have - I'd say you have a few too many plants in that tent. I'd have gone with 2-4 depending on how long you want to veg for. Unless you're doing a SOG grow but i'm not sure you have the height for it.

I'm sure these will turn out great - they're beautiful and healthy, and flowering nicely. I'm coming along for the ride if you don't mind. I'm hoping I can pick up some DIY tips and tricks along the way

 

[Sangmang]

I really really like your set up @Sangmang! I have a profound appreciation for a DIY setup. My system is also a DIY. I love your solution for the run off. That's always a pain with potted plants. I build some self draining saucers, but i prefer your solution.

I used to grow with Coco/Perlite. But I don't use Perlite anymore. I use 100% Coco. As long as the coco is always at least "barely moist" you shouldn't see salt build up unless you are feeding excessively. Never let the Coco dry out, it will damage the roots. If you do, prepare to have to flush. Personally, when using 100% coco I rarely feed to run off. Just top up enough to keep the medium moist. I do feed to run off when using Coco/Perlite due to the perlite causing the medium to dry out quicker, which is one of the reasons I don't use perlite anymore.

If you'd welcome an opinion about the number of plants you have - I'd say you have a few too many plants in that tent. I'd have gone with 2-4 depending on how long you want to veg for. Unless you're doing a SOG grow but i'm not sure you have the height for it.

I'm sure these will turn out great - they're beautiful and healthy, and flowering nicely. I'm coming along for the ride if you don't mind. I'm hoping I can pick up some DIY tips and tricks along the way

Thanks I really appreciate the input. Yeah I was attempting a SOG but I ended up letting the plants veg for like 20 days becuase I thought I had to let the clones root through the final 1gal pot before flipping to 12/12. I think I would have been fine if I had went into flower right away.

The runoff table is very convenient but unfortunately limits the space quite a bit. I might look into getting a taller 2x4 in the future.

 

[Spitz]

Love the setup! I’m excited to follow along with the mother hunt as well. Good luck!

 

[Sangmang]

Heres a couple more details/tweaks to my drip system...

I used 3 drip emitters(2gph) per ring/halo. Each ring puts out about 200ml per minute but I'd like to go a little slower so I might swap them for 1gph. I have ball valves at each halo but when I use them to restrict flow the halo doesn't pressurize evenly. Just a minor tweak that may or may not even make a difference.

I put 1/4" quick disconnects on each drip ring which has been extremely convenient. Not sure what I would have done when I needed to take them out for pest management.

I have an inline mesh strainer in the 1/2" pvc after the pump that is necessary to keep the drippers clear of all this cat hair. After that I have a disconnect so I can move the res easily for cleaning. After that is a 1/2" ball valve I can close so I dont dump water on the floor when I disconnect. It also made testing the pump/rings a lot easier.

Poly tubing SUCKS imo. Its so stiff that it permanently stays in the shape it was rolled in when you bought it and it kinks very easily. I need some 1/2" black vinyl like my 1/4" spaghetti tubing. I considered using all pvc but having a short length of tubing between the tent and res allows some wiggle room for moving the res around.

I moved the manifold up in with the plants to free up space which makes more sense anyways because now if it leaks it will leak into the runoff tray.

I have a very small pump with 1/2" tube waterfalling water back into the middle of the res to keep the water moving. My 15 gallon res lasts about 4-5 days and I can go through 2 res changes before it gets a little slimy at which point I clean with bleach. I would love to have a res that lasts a week or longer.

 

[Spitz]

Beautiful. Have you considered running a recirculated system instead of drain to waste? I haven’t tried it yet. If/when I do, it will probably be with grow cubes and not coco. I guess one could build a filter to strain the runoff? Might still plug those jets though. You’d need to add air to your reservoir. That might actually be a good idea anyway Along with some Hydroguard or other beneficial water conditioner.

A ball valve on your 1/2” pvc might do the trick. It shouldn’t matter really but I wouldn’t be surprised if it acts differently than adjusting at your manifold. Looks great!

 

[Sangmang]

Beautiful. Have you considered running a recirculated system instead of drain to waste? I haven’t tried it yet. If/when I do, it will probably be with grow cubes and not coco. I guess one could build a filter to strain the runoff? Might still plug those jets though. You’d need to add air to your reservoir. That might actually be a good idea anyway Along with some Hydroguard or other beneficial water conditioner.

A ball valve on your 1/2” pvc might do the trick. It shouldn’t matter really but I wouldn’t be surprised if it acts differently than adjusting at your manifold. Looks great!

Good call! I already have one on the 1/2" just never thought to adjust it duh. Thanks

 

[Sangmang]

Beautiful. Have you considered running a recirculated system instead of drain to waste? I haven’t tried it yet. If/when I do, it will probably be with grow cubes and not coco. I guess one could build a filter to strain the runoff? Might still plug those jets though. You’d need to add air to your reservoir. That might actually be a good idea anyway Along with some Hydroguard or other beneficial water conditioner.

A ball valve on your 1/2” pvc might do the trick. It shouldn’t matter really but I wouldn’t be surprised if it acts differently than adjusting at your manifold. Looks great!

Recirculating would be pretty convenient but I don't know if I would like not knowing exactly what they're getting every feed. I haven't looked into it much but I'm sure I'll do some more research

 

[Sangmang]

End of week 3 Flower

Flowers are starting to grow noticeably now. My runoff ppm was getting a little high so I ran a liter of plain water through each plant today. My total feed ppm is 1000 and my runoff was at like 1600.

Im gonna have to ditch my whole runoff table due to lack of space but that's better than bleached buds.

 

[Sangmang]

I made the switch to Emerald Harvest 3 part nutrients today, the guy at the hydro store was pushing it so I figured why not. I'm a little nervous to switch half way through flower but we'll see how it goes.

I also picked up a bigger circulation pump for my res, hygrozyme to try out, and he gave me some free samples of Floralicious plus. Anyone use Floralicious? Id like to reuse my coco if possible so i think hygrozyme will help with that.

More importantly though, the tuna can plant is starting to get frosty already. I'll be pretty stoked if it goes to harvest!

Oh and I'm feeding 4x a day now.

 

[GoogleGenie]

Looking good in here mate! Those flowers are coming along nicely. Shame about your drain table but as you say, for the best.

My runoff ppm was getting a little high so I ran a liter of plain water through each plant today. My total feed ppm is 1000 and my runoff was at like 1600.

Keep an eye on this, it might be that your initial EC is too strong. 1000ppm(2.0ec?) is pretty high. And you run the risk of salt build up which can lead to all sorts. Personally, I'd be aiming for anywhere between 500-700ppm(1.0-1.4ec) at this point. And if she needs more she'll tell you.

Also be careful of running just water in coco. Your coco is buffered and by running plain water through you may disturb the buffered cation sites. Keep an eye out for Ca/Mg deficiency. You are better off leeching a weak nutrient solution rather than plain water with Coco for that. I only ever feed plain water right at the end. Or if you do, make sure you run through a nutrient solution with cal/mag, after you let the plain water set (30mins or so).

 

[Sangmang]

Looking good in here mate! Those flowers are coming along nicely. Shame about your drain table but as you say, for the best.

Keep an eye on this, it might be that your initial EC is too strong. 1000ppm(2.0ec?) is pretty high. And you run the risk of salt build up which can lead to all sorts. Personally, I'd be aiming for anywhere between 500-700ppm(1.0-1.4ec) at this point. And if she needs more she'll tell you.

Also be careful of running just water in coco. Your coco is buffered and by running plain water through you may disturb the buffered cation sites. Keep an eye out for Ca/Mg deficiency. You are better off leeching a weak nutrient solution rather than plain water with Coco for that. I only ever feed plain water right at the end. Or if you do, make sure you run through a nutrient solution with cal/mag, after you let the plain water set (30mins or so).

Good point on the plain water. My system was set to feed an hour after I flushed but maybe that's even too long without nutes.

So my 1000 ppm is:
130ppm tap water
To
350ppm w/ calmag(1ml/L)
To
1000ppm w/ base nutes
I also add drip clean (whatever the bottle recommends) every time I mix a new res.

So my base nutes are actually at 650ppm, you think that's cool? I'm using full dose of CaliMagic because I read that with coco and LED you need it. My stalks are pretty purple but I'm kind of thinking that's just how it is? They are healthy looking but yeah I never let the coco dry out and ppm still rises so maybe just too strong in general.

 

[Spitz]

Tuna can... love it! The fact the top is still attached and ready to yield a cut worthy of stitches... Priceless!

 

[GoogleGenie]

My system was set to feed an hour after I flushed but maybe that's even too long without nutes.

That's not too bad actually, as long as you are replenishing the calmag after a plain water flush thats the important thing. I do find leeching a weaker solution more effective than plain water flush though as the salkt in the flush solution almost attract the salts in the medium, food for thought.

So my 1000 ppm is:
130ppm tap water
To
350ppm w/ calmag(1ml/L)
To
1000ppm w/ base nutes
I also add drip clean (whatever the bottle recommends) every time I mix a new res.

I say maybe just dial both back a little, your tap water will already contain cal and mag so you could probably drop that down a touch so it bumps you up to 200/250ppm. Then Feed your base to around 600/650ppm and see how they react. CalMag is important with LED but so is water, as plants take up nutrients more efficiently under LED they will take up more water (and more calcium with it). PPMs are tricky, your lights and environment will play a big part in what your plants prefer. It might be they are happy with these levels all the way through, worth keeping in mind though

My stalks are pretty purple but I'm kind of thinking that's just how it is?

This can be caused by all sorts, genetics, stress, deficiency (usually P iirc). Just keep an eye on the canopy for deficiency.

They are healthy looking but yeah I never let the coco dry out and ppm still rises so maybe just too strong in general.

That's the important thing, they look great and the coco is always at least barely moist. Trouble usually beings Week 3/4 when plants demands change, which is why it's worth keeping an eye out for nuteburn/lockout by staying on top of your nutrient strength. Last thing you wanna do is deal with it Week 5/6 and disturb the plants in full flower production mode.

Love the tuna tin also

 

[Sangmang]

Look at all that space! Much better. Also cool seeing them all spread out. I am so overcrowded this grow haha.

 

[Sangmang]

Week 4 Day 1

I think the stretch is finally almost over. Can't wait to watch the flowers grow now. Also, I have been quadlining a clone to fit a friend's small grow space.

 

[Sangmang]

I mixed a res with my new nutrients last night. I took @GoogleGenie's advice and backed off the ppms a little bit.

I bumped my 130ppm tapwater up to 200 with calmag and then went up to 800ppm total with the new base nutes(emerald harvest) following the bottles ratio directions. Added in drip clean, hygrozyme and 1/2 dose of Floralicious plus(free sample, why not). So far they dont seem to mind.

 

[Sangmang]

First signs of frost in week 4

 

[Sangmang]

Do you guys start counting flowering days when you flip 12/12 or when the plant actually starts flowering? I guess it doesn't matter as long as you know the signs that they're ready to harvest. Just curious though.

 

[GoogleGenie]

Do you guys start counting flowering days when you flip 12/12 or when the plant actually starts flowering? I guess it doesn't matter as long as you know the signs that they're ready to harvest. Just curious though.

Looking lovely

Short answer is, I count from the change in light schedule, i think most nutrient companies do too, right or wrong, it's the simplest.