MrBubbles Perpetual Grow

[mrbubbles87]

Hey bubbles everythings looking good so far. After your beans had a little ordeal, but the good thing is they re shipped your order and were under way. Only advice is go slow with nutes. Im 40 days away from my first harvest. Fed all. My plants the same schedule and only one would show signs of burn. Every individual plant is different. Sure genes and pheno type have alot to do with it,but just go slow and increase as you see needed. Do your research and stay on this great site of people willing to help and your plants will be beautiful! stay green

Thanks for the great info and stopping by. Ill be sure to check yours out when I get a chance. I know exactly what you mean about watching individual plants and taking it easy. Just like humans it's better to underfeed than over feed lol.

 

[MendoCino]

Thanks for the reply! Can't wait to see the harvest! One thing I've heard about Fox Farm is its high in salt content but their feeding schedule recommends flushing once per week with sledgehammer. Do you think that's necessary or just a main flush at the end unless they show nute burn? I don't have the sledgehammer so id be flushing with straight water.

Honestly I believe that FFs knows that there is gonna be salt build up using nutes the way us farmers like to use them. That's why they made the SledgeHammer. It is designed so that you can still feed them while using it to bust up the salts and allow the roots to take up

nutes. I only used it when I thought my plants may be nute locked or after about 3 weeks of good fertilizing to just be on the safe side. In my aero grow I followed the FF hydro schedule and flushed when recommended. I think water will do the job as well, like King

mentioned above. We farmers like to over react and convince ourselves that if we don't use "A" to flush with and "B" to feed with, we won't succeed. I do it too All in all, water is fine. My grandpappy never heard of FF, just good ol rain water.

 

[KingJohnC]

Thanks for the great info! I'm hoping to feed them every watering but we'll see how they respond.

When watering 3 gal pots I'm only using about 2cups of water per plant. It seemed to completely saturate the soil. It will be moist 2 inches down for several days but I'm not getting any runoff. Should I water more than this? One mistake I made is I didn't put newspaper or rock at the bottom of my pots just straight soil. I figured with 50/50 perlite drainage wouldn't be an issue.

your drainage should be perfect with a 50/50 mixture. i believe you are watering as required by your plants, as the roots grow you will be able to water more without water logging the roots and water to runoff.

Goldengoose7 posted a HomeMade Clearex Recipe, i just received the Sodium Benzoate i needed to make up this recipe myself.

HomeMade Clearex Recipe!
Make Your Own Flushing Solution for Pennies on the Dollar!

I have posted this recipe on a few other journals and threads around here, but I have never made an official post in my own journal complete with my usual photo documentation. Until now!

This recipe makes 2 litres worth which should last most home growers an entire season

Combine the following dry ingredients in a saucepan along with 2 Litres of Fresh RO Water...

120 grams of Dextrose (I use Coopers Brand - Used for Beer Making)
60 grams of Sucrose (Your Common White Table Sugar)
1.5 grams Sodium Benzoate (* Optional as a preservative)
1-2 drops of Green or Blue Food Coloring (For Effect! + Makes it Obvious It Isn't Just Plain Water)

In order to fully dissolve the Sodium Benzoate into solution, I heat the mixture to 200 degrees on the stovetop. This ensures that all of the sugars and preservative are dissolved evenly into solution.

* If you keep the mixture in the freezer till needed, you can skip adding the preservative. But BE WARNED! Sugar water grows bacteria like gang-busters so you either freeze the product till needed or use the preservative. I prefer to use the preservative so I can store the finished product at room temperature indefinitely along with all my commercial additives.

Just like the commercial version, you use 15ml of this mixture per gallon of water for flushing.

The finished product ready for use on your flowering plants!

Enjoy!

 

[mrbubbles87]

Honestly I believe that FFs knows that there is gonna be salt build up using nutes the way us farmers like to use them. That's why they made the SledgeHammer. It is designed so that you can still feed them while using it to bust up the salts and allow the roots to take up

nutes. I only used it when I thought my plants may be nute locked or after about 3 weeks of good fertilizing to just be on the safe side. In my aero grow I followed the FF hydro schedule and flushed when recommended. I think water will do the job as well, like King

mentioned above. We farmers like to over react and convince ourselves that if we don't use "A" to flush with and "B" to feed with, we won't succeed. I do it too All in all, water is fine. My grandpappy never heard of FF, just good ol rain water.

Lol thanks for the info Mendocino! Eventually I plan in upgrading to technafloras success starter kit or blue planets high yield. I just have a ton of FF to get rid of first. Btw I have mentioned previously and no one commented.

My FF trio is about 5 years old. I've read that they should be ok as long as you don't have big chunks that you hear when you shake the bottle. Is that correct?

Also, my Grow Big is the hydro not the soil version. I have a whole gallon from my hydro grow 5 years ago. I've read it's ok to use with soil just diluted more. What do you guys think?

 

[mrbubbles87]

Thanks for the post of the homemade flushing agent Kc! What's the best method for getting rid of tiny flies? Think they're fungus flies. I tried flypaper l. Couldn't hang it cuz my fan blew it all over the place. Tried cutting small fly paper strips and putting them in the pots. That's doing nothing. I tried to find the yellow cards and I didn't see them at the store. I know there's sprays you can buy but its a very small problems me id like to avoid pesticide/fungicide if possible. I've read about putting potato wedges in the pot. What's your recommendation?

 

[Backpackin420]

SNS 203 fixed my big tiny fly problem with one treatment through soil drench. All natural rosemary stuff and it smells great.

 

[mrbubbles87]

SNS 203 fixed my tiny fly problem with one treatment through soil drench. All natural rosemary stuff and it smells great.

Thanks for the info! I've read about the SNS 203. Ideally that's what id use but couldn't find it in any of the stores around here. Eventually ill order it from amazon but $16 is steep right now. I found a variety of other pesticides for fungus gnats around $5 but I wasn't sure if they were ok. I did read one article where they just put a potato wedge on top of the soil and all the larvae are supposed to eat into the potato. They said you do that a few times and should get rid of them. Wasn't sure if anyone's tried that or anything similar?

 

[Backpackin420]

Thanks for the info! I've read about the SNS 203. Ideally that's what id use but couldn't find it in any of the stores around here. Eventually ill order it from amazon but $16 is steep right now. I found a variety of other pesticides for fungus gnats around $5 but I wasn't sure if they were ok. I did read one article where they just put a potato wedge on top of the soil and all the larvae are supposed to eat into the potato. They said you do that a few times and should get rid of them. Wasn't sure if anyone's tried that or anything similar?

I would not even bother with that tactic, you want to get the fly's under control as soon as possible. Pick you up some neem oil and follow the directions on the bottle with retreating as necessary. Neem oil should be available at any big box garden store and is natural I think.

 

[mrbubbles87]

Update Day 18:

They're really growing fast now. I still think they're a little smaller then they should be compared to other journals I've seen but they're alive and it's my first grow so I'm happy with what I've got lol. I'm wondering if my PH or slightly higher temps or running my MH at 300watts vs 600watts is causing them to stunt or grow slower. I only have the water/drops method for PH. My nutrient/water was a little high. I'd say roughly 7.5. Not watering enough to tell runoff. I'm hoping my soil is lowering it. Otherwise the plants seem very healthy so not even sure if its an issue lol.

I went with my second feeding today. I fed all of them except the runt 2 cups of water with 1/4tsp grow big hydro (still haven't had a response on this version vs soil so I'm trying to using a smaller dosage), 1/2tsp big bloom, and 1/2tsp molasses all per 1gal. I gave the runt it's first feeding with 2cups 1/2tsp big bloom and 1/2tsp molasses per 1gal.

The soil wasn't completely dry 2in down but it's been 3 days since my last watering and my temps have been getting up to 85.

I've also been having a small fungus gnat problem. I tried using fly paper and got a sticky mess ugh! No sns 303 in my area and too expensive online so I'm going to try and pick up some neem oil in the next few days. I've heard they can really get out of control

Ill try to get some pics updated later.

 

[KingJohnC]

your hydroponic version is most likely the same product, i have no advice on using a product past its expiration date. for soil pests i use diotomaceous earth on top of the soil, it cuts them as they move through it. i bought my diotomaceous earth from an animal feed store, do not use the type meant for pool filters.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous earth

 

[mrbubbles87]

I guess after looking at the pics they are getting pretty big lol. A few hours after feeding them and they look super healthy. We'll see how they look tomorrow morning (fingers crossed). I did try cranking my light up to 600watts for about an hour and it got up to 88. I turned it back down to 300watts where its maxing out at 83. I guess i'll have to wait til i can afford a new fan/carbon filter before I can turn my light up. Should time out well though because it will be for the the last month of flowering

Anyways...here's the pics:

The Group

Critical Jack

Berry Ryder 1

???????

Berry Ryder 2 "The Runt"

Berry Ryder 3

Blue Cheese

Mazar

Bagseeds:

 

[Backpackin420]

Looks good man, your ladies look healthy!

 

[MendoCino]

I have used old nutes before. Hell I have used the ones with the chunks too. I never had a problem. But I also don't know if the fertilizer's potency degrades with time. I hear you though, if you got a lot of FF, then you might as well use it. I have been very, very lucky with insects. I haven't had no problems yet. It is time consuming but I always wiped the inside of my tent down with a disinfectant wipe and made sure all the soil spill over from watering was picked up. I also would never allow standing water in the drainage catchers. Seems to me anywhere you have standing water, you have some sort of insect.

 

[mrbubbles87]

Looks good man, your ladies look healthy!

Thanks!

 

[mrbubbles87]

I have used old nutes before. Hell I have used the ones with the chunks too. I never had a problem. But I also don't know if the fertilizer's potency degrades with time. I hear you though, if you got a lot of FF, then you might as well use it. I have been very, very lucky with insects. I haven't had no problems yet. It is time consuming but I always wiped the inside of my tent down with a disinfectant wipe and made sure all the soil spill over from watering was picked up. I also would never allow standing water in the drainage catchers. Seems to me anywhere you have standing water, you have some sort of insect.

I figured the same with the nutes. Worse case scenario they're not as strong which just means adding more. So far they're doing great tho.

These damn fungus flies always seem to bother me. Not sure if its from my soil or from overwatering. Planning to get some neem oil ASAP. I did disinfect prior to growing. No standing water either. Pretty sure it's my soil. Stupid miracle grow ugh! Wish I had a decent grow store around here and id use FF soil. I've been researching TLO quite a bit though. Hoping to go that route once I'm out of nutes. The problem is I have enough for 3 more grows lol.

Thanks for stopping by and all the great info!

 

[mrbubbles87]

Update Day 21:

The plants are all doing great. I still haven't watered/fed since my last update. Ill be doing that tomorrow night probably. Not sure when they're supposed to show sex though. They're all supposed to be feminized.

Those damn flies are getting worse! I was going to get neem oil but I recently won a small bonus at work so I placed an order for a new 6in inline exhaust fan ( Dirt Genius DGILF6 6" Hydroponics Inline Active Exhaust Duct Fan Blower 400 CFM - price was reasonable, reviews looked great, and I like the lip design. Just hoping its not too loud) and a 16oz bottle of sns 203.

I still need to get insulated ducting, a speed controller, and a carbon filter. I should be able to get everything by 8/15. Just hoping they don't stink too much before then.

Here's the pics...


The Group

Critical Jack

Berry Ryder 1

Berry Ryder 2

Berry Ryder 3

Mazar

Blue Cheese

Bagseeds - They need to be transplanted badly. Still waiting for my buddy to get his room setup first.

 

[mrbubbles87]

So I just discovered my feeding schedule may be wrong. I was reading more of the thread I posted earlier and the measurements were messed up. I was calculating everything at teaspoons when some of the measurements were supposed to be in tablespoons. I can't figure out what the correct measurements are now. I've been researching online and most people say to follow the fox farm schedule but cut it in half. I've looked up the schedule and it seems pretty strong compared to what I've been giving them. Any opinions?


Here's the schedule... https://foxfarmfertilizer.com/images/pdf/SoilENG.pdf

 

[KingJohnC]

can you post the amounts you have been feeding per gallon? the FoxFarm Soil and Soiless Feeding Schedule is an aggressive feeding schedule, if you are just using the 3 primary nutrients you should be alright at those rates as long as you slowly build up to them.
one teaspoon (TSP) is 5 millilitres.

 

[mrbubbles87]

can you post the amounts you have been feeding per gallon? the FoxFarm Soil and Soiless Feeding Schedule is an aggressive feeding schedule, if you are just using the 3 primary nutrients you should be alright at those rates as long as you slowly build up to them.
one teaspoon (TSP) is 5 millilitres.

My schedule so far has been:

Week 1 - water only

Week 1.5 - water only

Week 2 - 1/2tsp Molasses and 1/2tsp Big Bloom

Week 2.5 - 1/2tsp Big Bloom, 1/2tsp Molasses, and 1/4tsp Grow Big

Week 3 - 1/2tsp Big Bloom and 1/4tsp Grow Big

 

[mrbubbles87]

Really excited tonight. Got my new exhaust today and have it all hooked up for when the lights turn on tonight. This fan is awesome! It's very powerful. At first it was pretty loud and was pulling too hard. The walls of my tent looked like they would collapse lol. I can't afford the speed controller yet so what I did was rig up another icecream bucket diffuser. This has made the fan very quiet and it isn't pulling as hard.

I realize long term this setup would affect the life of the fan. It doesn't seem to be affecting it tho. No odd noises or anything. Hoping it will hold me by a few weeks while I save up for my speed controller.

Also it's been getting pretty skunky. I'm still saving up for a carbon filter so what I did in the mean time is fill the icecream bucket diffuser with dryer sheets. This works amazing! No more smell at all and I can always add new dryer sheets.

I attached the fan to a piece of plywood for support and created a housing for it out of the box to help with sound.

I also built a new shelf for my ballast. Here's some pics...