Hey Rad.. I'm catching up on your journal and saw that pic of the foam and the trays there... what are the black trays and if you don't mine letting me know where you got them. I'm looking for large trays like that for under my plants .. for me it's for a sorta flood tray, not for watering but in case run away autopot! That and I want to increase my foot print..
TIA
Back to catching up!
I'll second that question, Rado. Right now I'm using a old stainless steel darkroom sink I had lying around, but it is a bit bulky.
That is an official 4'x8'x10" Flood Table. It looks like a stack because it has graduated/stepped sides at the 60 gallons, 80 gallons, and 100 gallons. I think it was a Botanicare. I used it for about 2 years as the floor for my 4x8' flower room. I walked all over it (always barefoot) and it stayed water tight. In look at feel it is a lot like the bed liner on a pickup truck, though not quite as tough.
I started out using it as a tray for overflow from top watering. Later on I used it for SWICK bottom watering (about 40 gallons of plain water under perlite) - a frugal version of the autopot watering system.
I had to leave it behind (there is only so much that can fit on two 30+ foot long moving vans.) I purchased it at a local hydro store for about $250. Shipping has to be pretty expensive on it, since 4x8' in the INSIDE dimension. It might have been cheaper to build the sides of a box, lay 2 inches of sand on the floor, and install a swimming pool liner - but buying a large tray was faster and not so expensive when you consider it is only about the price of 1 oz of street weed.
I'm currently using a slightly smaller 3x4' version in my flower room that I had been using for Late Veg. It holds 6 7-gal fabric pots or 8 5-gal fabric pots. The 4x8' could handle 12 7-gal pots. With 2 600W HPS, I maxed out at 8 pots with a space to stand in between the lights.
Ok all caught up brother.... Rad, I've been watching your work for a pretty long time now. Several years .. maybe since you've been here in 420mag really.
i gotta say.. this grow is the best effort you put forth so far. You're doing EXTREMELY well. All the girls are as healthy or healthier than I've even seen in your garden.. and yer just getting going! Good on ya buddy keep up the hard work
Doc Buds kit and you are getting along great.. sometimes a little structure helps .. I know it helps me but I pretty much march to a different drummer than most so I'm easily distracted and want to "experiment" or just try something new and different. I think gardening helps me focus tho and brings me much love and pleasure. I see that in your work here... the love and pleasure part. That's awesome.
I'm loving the health and vigor of your plants and wish you many green and bountiful harvests.
PS: I don't have patience for those little autos.. I keep trying to run them but for me they never get large enough. I just chopped 4 and I'll be lucky if I get an ounce dried.. Good on you for hanging in there ... that said I just spent 2 hundy on some Dark Devil seeds AGAIN.. they are usually larger tho.
Are you getting your outdoor garden seeds planted yet?? We've been working on Cardoon seedlings for a week or 2 and transplanted them into big girl pots. It's Feb 17th and we have 4 days with temps in the high 50s and 60s .. that's crazy. Should be like 28F and snow.
tulips already punching out ... snow drops flowering..
KIG buddy!
Thanks Buddy. I've been watching your grows for about 2 years. I never seemed to get my IPM, foliar sprays, and Teas together without messing things up chasing a theory or being late to do the right thing. You on the other hand, are a master of foliars and teas. You have a working system
Doc Bud also has a system of foliars, teas, and nutrients that gives impressive results. He sells 'the kit' and 420 magazine peopleoffer support. If I don't follow it to the best of my understanding, it is me being stubborn or stupid. Following instructions is paying off in foliage - we'll see how the harvests go
I have not done outdoor spring garden plans. Last fall, I laid out the pathways, planted a few trees, installed 4 trellis arches in the backyard, 2 trellis at ends of the front porch, started fixing some drainage issues, planted about 200 bulbs and a handful of specimen bushes, vines and perennials. Over the winter I have collected half a dozen garden towers and elevated metal planters, a pair of medium sized urns, a smaller fountain for the front yard, and some garden furniture and benches.
In terms of garden design, I have the rooms and most of the furniture (although my wife has swiped some for inside decor.) As far as the actual plants go, I am sort of a throw it against the wall and see what sticks type of gardener. I'm not good at babying outdoor plants. If they need more than an occaisional trim, harvest, or hand watering they won't last in my yard. I'm a little gun shy after trying to install a garden in Massachusetts, but I have faith that things will grow better in the midwest. With 3 consective days over 60F while MA has snow on the ground, it's hard not to see things as brighter
A few of My tulips have started to nudge up, but nothing to take a photo of yet. Cardoon would be good. I'm the only one on the family that actually eats vegetables on a regular basis. Herbs and flowers will get more attention. My seed starting so far has just been to see me through the winter. I up-potted a Cilantro to quart sized today. I have 3 chamomile mounds, a mint, and an unidentified plant cutting from a neighbor in quart containers.
Before I start any outside work, I need to install a chandelier in the master bedroom, move the kitchen 'monastery' light to the dining room, and move either the master bedroom or dining room dome light to the kitchen. Also possibly rearrange the exercise equipment I just installed in the newly painted basement exercise room.
My next yard goal is to refinish the outdoor furniture that needs sanding and or painting and varnishing. Before I start, I'm going to spend a week painting the dining room and spot refinishing the floor.
When the ground is soft, I have digging to finish up my drainage dikes, prep for climbing vines, and finish defining the pathways in the back of the back yard. Before I start, I'll probably spend 2 weeks painting the living room and spot refinishing the floor and woodwork.
After that i'll take the 30-50 types of seeds I have left over from previous years that are suitable for starting indoors and see what germinates and grows. I may wait until April so that I can go from a 2" pot seedling indoors direct to outside without hardening off.
Before I start I'll be repainting, installing crown molding and baseboard molding, and hanging hardware in the downstairs half bath.
All plan are subject to change when my wife says - I want this growing there
But don't despair, at some point I will have the garden well enough in hand that I can relax and start painting the outside of the house
- - Dang I'm long winded tonight. It must be that chatty street weed my wife is smoking
I don't really have issues that CBD would treat, but it comes very well recommended by the growers on s'finder.com.