Xlr8's "Flo N Gro" Hydro Multiple Strains 2011

[SteveHman]

Xlr8, sorry for your journal becoming the unofficial BPN network

@BPN, I had an idea. Are you able to package small DIY packets? For example a small foil pouch of the ingredients for the Zone mix (maybe two pouches if the chems aren't compatible in dry form---pack A, B). Then you could sell those and the user can buy a gallon of distilled water at the store, add your packet and bud-a-bing, BPN-Zone.

How many possible amendments could be sold that way? Small packet, just add H2O and save $30! Shipping will be lower and you should be able to crank these out if you have a means to seal pouches (I get the uline catalog, lots of options for not too much).

 

[Mr. Krip]

Xlr8, sorry for your journal becoming the unofficial BPN network

@BPN, I had an idea. Are you able to package small DIY packets? For example a small foil pouch of the ingredients for the Zone mix (maybe two pouches if the chems aren't compatible in dry form---pack A, B). Then you could sell those and the user can buy a gallon of distilled water at the store, add your packet and bud-a-bing, BPN-Zone.

How many possible amendments could be sold that way? Small packet, just add H2O and save $30! Shipping will be lower and you should be able to crank these out if you have a means to seal pouches (I get the uline catalog, lots of options for not too much).

I'm guessing it would be tough to keep some of the beneficial organisms alive in dry form for an organic mix. Base minerals are one thing, but microbes are a whole other issue!

 

[SteveHman]

Great white is all powdered form micros, like dry yeast, add water and nutrients and off they go.

 

[Mr. Krip]

Great white is all powdered form micros, like dry yeast, add water and nutrients and off they go.

Nice! Like Sea Monkeys!

If they could do it, it would certainly save a LOT of money on shipping!

 

[Blue Planet Nutrients]

Xlr8, sorry for your journal becoming the unofficial BPN network

@BPN, I had an idea. Are you able to package small DIY packets? For example a small foil pouch of the ingredients for the Zone mix (maybe two pouches if the chems aren't compatible in dry form---pack A, B). Then you could sell those and the user can buy a gallon of distilled water at the store, add your packet and bud-a-bing, BPN-Zone.

How many possible amendments could be sold that way? Small packet, just add H2O and save $30! Shipping will be lower and you should be able to crank these out if you have a means to seal pouches (I get the uline catalog, lots of options for not too much).

I have done this. Actually I shipped out enough materials to Thailand a few weeks ago with instructions for making 7.5 gallons of my 3-part. That took some time to accurately weigh everything out and was actually a pain in the ass . Also, I didn't include the phosphoric acid and potassium carbonate because that stuff is so caustic that I didn't want to take a chance sending that through the mail. I don;t think it would have been legal if I had done so anyway. The 3-part also has to be filtered and buffered which could be a pain in the ass. And, if a mistake was made and some of the wrong chemicals were mixed by mistake, everything would be ruined. My 2-part contains different liquid extracts that would be tough to ship as well. This would be feasible for a very, very large quantity. But then I still couldn't be there to buffer it and filter it which would concern me.

It would be impossible to ship the materials for my organic line. That stuff has to compost in a highly aerobic environment for about 4 weeks and be stirred daily. I have a few 300 gallon containers with a modified "bubbler" on top of each one. basically it is just some 2" pvc pipe with a "pee trap" filled with water which lets gasses escape and prevents flys from laying eggs which would cause me to have 300 gallons of maggots. Same concept when brewing beer if anyone here has ever done that before. I am waiting on a metric ton of High P Archipelago bat guano so I can brew more Organic Bloom. I am almost out

The easier supplements like the DM root zone could possible be shipped in powder form I believe. I don't use copper sulfate in any of my products but I may order some next time I place an order for bulk fertilizer ingredients. I am thinking about designing some new stuff soon and I will definitely need some testers. I don't want to put labels on the test products. I hope that some of y'all will be interested in testing out some stuff! I am designing a root accelerator with PGR's that are safe for consumable crops that I will definitely need help testing!

Mycorrhizae. I am about to switch over to a new supplier so I can improve my Root Magic. I have a bunch of GREAT information that I will share later on about the biology of Mycorrhizae and exactly which species benefit cannabis the most. Most products have a ton of species that do nothing for cannabis which is not all bad but just because a product contains 30 different strains doesn't mean it is better than one with say 4 strains. My stuff has some ecto-species that aren't beneficial to cannabis which is why I am switching soon...I will keep everyone posted on that once I make the switch.

 

[SteveHman]

@BPN, I was thinking more along the line of add-ons. Like a zone, a carbo, a clearex etc... They all seem to be fairly simple formulas ans would be easier for the average consumer to buy a pre-mix pack than say 10-100lbs of copper sulfate, which wold literally last more than a lifetime for most growers. But that same 100# bag could be repackaged (maybe with some salt peter) to form a 1 gal blend of zone? It might cost you about $1 for materials and packaging, you could sell it for $5 and I don't think anyone would complain.

Also, I'm always game for testing stuff out. It's what I enjoy most about growing. Send me whatever you want to see in a side-by-side and I'll set one up.

 

[Blue Planet Nutrients]

@BPN, I was thinking more along the line of add-ons. Like a zone, a carbo, a clearex etc... They all seem to be fairly simple formulas ans would be easier for the average consumer to buy a pre-mix pack than say 10-100lbs of copper sulfate, which wold literally last more than a lifetime for most growers. But that same 100# bag could be repackaged (maybe with some salt peter) to form a 1 gal blend of zone? It might cost you about $1 for materials and packaging, you could sell it for $5 and I don't think anyone would complain.

Also, I'm always game for testing stuff out. It's what I enjoy most about growing. Send me whatever you want to see in a side-by-side and I'll set one up.

Hell ya I could do that. I have my hands full now but I will do something like that in soon......very soon and you will get a PM when it is ready to be tested.

@ XLR8, sorry I am clogging up your thread....

 

[Xlr8]

XL ladies are looking very sexy lol your the main reason I want to switch over to hydro my friend soon very soon loving that choco and skywalker great work, how do you like your new system I'm debating on DWC or EBB n Flo

Hi Crower -

Thanks buddy - so far I really like the new system, but we'll see how it goes. So far so good, though. Yes, I can't wait to try some Chocolope!

 

[Xlr8]

Xlr8, sorry for your journal becoming the unofficial BPN network

@BPN, I had an idea. Are you able to package small DIY packets? For example a small foil pouch of the ingredients for the Zone mix (maybe two pouches if the chems aren't compatible in dry form---pack A, B). Then you could sell those and the user can buy a gallon of distilled water at the store, add your packet and bud-a-bing, BPN-Zone.

How many possible amendments could be sold that way? Small packet, just add H2O and save $30! Shipping will be lower and you should be able to crank these out if you have a means to seal pouches (I get the uline catalog, lots of options for not too much).

I'm guessing it would be tough to keep some of the beneficial organisms alive in dry form for an organic mix. Base minerals are one thing, but microbes are a whole other issue!

Great white is all powdered form micros, like dry yeast, add water and nutrients and off they go.

Nice! Like Sea Monkeys!

If they could do it, it would certainly save a LOT of money on shipping!

I have done this. Actually I shipped out enough materials to Thailand a few weeks ago with instructions for making 7.5 gallons of my 3-part. That took some time to accurately weigh everything out and was actually a pain in the ass . Also, I didn't include the phosphoric acid and potassium carbonate because that stuff is so caustic that I didn't want to take a chance sending that through the mail. I don;t think it would have been legal if I had done so anyway. The 3-part also has to be filtered and buffered which could be a pain in the ass. And, if a mistake was made and some of the wrong chemicals were mixed by mistake, everything would be ruined. My 2-part contains different liquid extracts that would be tough to ship as well. This would be feasible for a very, very large quantity. But then I still couldn't be there to buffer it and filter it which would concern me.

It would be impossible to ship the materials for my organic line. That stuff has to compost in a highly aerobic environment for about 4 weeks and be stirred daily. I have a few 300 gallon containers with a modified "bubbler" on top of each one. basically it is just some 2" pvc pipe with a "pee trap" filled with water which lets gasses escape and prevents flys from laying eggs which would cause me to have 300 gallons of maggots. Same concept when brewing beer if anyone here has ever done that before. I am waiting on a metric ton of High P Archipelago bat guano so I can brew more Organic Bloom. I am almost out

The easier supplements like the DM root zone could possible be shipped in powder form I believe. I don't use copper sulfate in any of my products but I may order some next time I place an order for bulk fertilizer ingredients. I am thinking about designing some new stuff soon and I will definitely need some testers. I don't want to put labels on the test products. I hope that some of y'all will be interested in testing out some stuff! I am designing a root accelerator with PGR's that are safe for consumable crops that I will definitely need help testing!

Mycorrhizae. I am about to switch over to a new supplier so I can improve my Root Magic. I have a bunch of GREAT information that I will share later on about the biology of Mycorrhizae and exactly which species benefit cannabis the most. Most products have a ton of species that do nothing for cannabis which is not all bad but just because a product contains 30 different strains doesn't mean it is better than one with say 4 strains. My stuff has some ecto-species that aren't beneficial to cannabis which is why I am switching soon...I will keep everyone posted on that once I make the switch.

@BPN, I was thinking more along the line of add-ons. Like a zone, a carbo, a clearex etc... They all seem to be fairly simple formulas ans would be easier for the average consumer to buy a pre-mix pack than say 10-100lbs of copper sulfate, which wold literally last more than a lifetime for most growers. But that same 100# bag could be repackaged (maybe with some salt peter) to form a 1 gal blend of zone? It might cost you about $1 for materials and packaging, you could sell it for $5 and I don't think anyone would complain.

Also, I'm always game for testing stuff out. It's what I enjoy most about growing. Send me whatever you want to see in a side-by-side and I'll set one up.

Hell ya I could do that. I have my hands full now but I will do something like that in soon......very soon and you will get a PM when it is ready to be tested.

@ XLR8, sorry I am clogging up your thread....

Great ideas and conversation on nutrients - I'm always okay with good discussion that stimulates ideas or helps us grow better (or cheaper!) or anything we can all learn from. Thanks guys.

 

[Mr Smith]

Wow,when did this journal get so long? What week veg you on? What ppm? Is it 2 400w? How often are you feeding/watering your plants? I have been very busy and was not able to watch your journal and now it so long I am having a hard time finding where your at. I saw sep 9th pic and plants lookin good. Is that a dwc with drip ring? I feel a lil confused, maybe its the pot. Hope you can bring me up to date. Blue Planet nutes, been hearing the name alot lately, had a sponsor offer some up as a freebie if I pay shipping but I am going to try to win some first. Let me know how you like it. I have been playing with a one part nute lately, Dyna-gro. 29 pages and what are we on, second or 3rd week of veg? Wow, you must have alot of friends on this forum, this journal is going to be a long read. And yes I am stoned of the la cheese again, its wacky strong stuff.

 

[OldMedMan]

Hi Magic Beans and OMM -

Well, I'm planning on experimenting some on that one. I might try an Uncle Ben's topping on one or two, and probably do some LST. I'm not 100% sure, frankly! I'm taking it a day at a time still and thinking it through.

They are all supposed to be pretty similar finish time, with the exception of the Chocolope which is a Sativa that I'll flower early, and the Magic Bud, which should finish about a week earlier than the others (The Magic Bud was originally in case I didn't have a perfect germination rate, I wanted to have another option in case I had a problem with any of the seeds). I ended up with all of them germing well, and now I have more plants than I intended, but I just don't have it in me to kill a healthy plant (unless it hermies).

My health has been a bit suckier lately, so it gets hard to spend much time with them, but I might even do some thing(s) today. I'll take pics if I do!

Good Question guys!

Give it shot!

Remember the meaning of FIM !!! Even mistakes come out OK sometimes.

 

[Jozo-sha]

This is another 5-star epic and example of how our sponsors that interact with us and want us to provide feedback can benefit ALL!

- JZ

 

[OG13]

Wow,when did this journal get so long? What week veg you on? What ppm? Is it 2 400w? How often are you feeding/watering your plants?

I have been playing with a one part nute lately, Dyna-gro.

Pretty funny...and true.

You will like the Dyna "line", Bloom works good too. Been around a long time, no marketing, must be doing something right....

 

[Xlr8]

Wow,when did this journal get so long? What week veg you on? What ppm? Is it 2 400w? How often are you feeding/watering your plants? I have been very busy and was not able to watch your journal and now it so long I am having a hard time finding where your at. I saw sep 9th pic and plants lookin good. Is that a dwc with drip ring? I feel a lil confused, maybe its the pot. Hope you can bring me up to date. Blue Planet nutes, been hearing the name alot lately, had a sponsor offer some up as a freebie if I pay shipping but I am going to try to win some first. Let me know how you like it. I have been playing with a one part nute lately, Dyna-gro. 29 pages and what are we on, second or 3rd week of veg? Wow, you must have alot of friends on this forum, this journal is going to be a long read. And yes I am stoned of the la cheese again, its wacky strong stuff.

Hey there Mr. Smith -

Yes, this journal is just flying along it seems. Not sure how that happens, but I enjoy the participation.

I germinated the seeds about a month ago? Probably about 2 weeks of veg or 2 1/2 -- When exactly do you start counting that anyway, 2nd set of true leaves? I'm a bit high at the moment, too!

(2) 400w in the tent, both MH at the moment. Temp about 75f, RH about 55% at the moment. PPM's are at about 550 using an Oakton meter (.7 conversion)

Right now, doing a 15 minute flood/drain cycle about every 4-5 hours or so. 1 during lights off. Running lights 18/6. They seem to be very happy since entering the Flo N Gro system, I'm not sure I've ever had this much consistent perkiness from my plants in veg. So... liking this style of growing a lot so far.

I have 6 plants in the Flo N Grow (Titan Controls version of Ebb N Gro). I also have a Chocolope in a DIY bucket that is kind of a combo Waterfarm/DWC. I grew an auto-flower in it earlier this summer, and it yielded 4.7z, so I'm very pleased with it. I've got a Chocolope I started a week later than my other plants that is just starting to veg in it at the moment that I'll flip to 12/12 with the others a bit small, so that I can hopefully keep it squeezed in there...

As far as Blue Planet Nutrients - I won some when I was awarded MOTM, so I thought I'd try them. I'm extremely pleased so far, and the plants seem to love them. Blue Planet has been really active in the community here, and is participating in a number of journals where people are using his nutrients. Great guy, and happy so far with the nutrients.

Glad you're liking the Cheese! I've got some Exodus Cheese seeds that I may just have to try in the near future. They claim it's the "original" cheese in seed form... We'll see - can't wait to try it.

Happy to have you here Mr. Smith - you're someone I have a ton of growing respect for, and I've watched your journals and experiments with a lot of interest, and have learned things from you to help further my own growing. For example, I was going to put air-stones in the reservoir, but didn't based on your experience and advice. (I do have a small water pump in there that just keeps things stirred up without aerating).

Take care my friend, and please feel free to throw any advice or suggestions my way, as I know how well you know the Ebb N Gro style of growing...

 

[Xlr8]

Give it shot!

Remember the meaning of FIM !!! Even mistakes come out OK sometimes.

Hi OMM!

I got really blazed so that I didn't chicken out, then I went Lizzy Borden on 'em. Pics and details to follow soon...

 

[Xlr8]

This is another 5-star epic and example of how our sponsors that interact with us and want us to provide feedback can benefit ALL!

- JZ

Well, thanks Jozo! Yes, it's pretty cool to have Blue Planet Nutrients participating here, and sharing information that can be helpful to all. The unselfish nature of BPN is refreshing and I hope it pays dividends for him in the future. It's pretty cool Also a lot of great conversation and info sharing from many others here.

 

[4twenty4all]

Nice clean setup, I like what you are doing. Your plants look great! I've been hearing a lot about your line of nutrients lately. I'm anxious to watch this grow finish

 

[Xlr8]

Grow Update - Veg day 16?, day 27 from seed:

Decided to do some topping and experimenting. They were starting to really explode in the Flo N Gro and I had already gotten to 6 nodes on a few plants. I've never been much of a "topper", as I've pretty much stuck to LST prior to this. Needless to say, it's not easy lopping the tops off the first time! I decided to experiment and tried a few different things to garner my own opinions on topping:

I meant to top Lucy #2 above the 2nd node, ala UBT (Uncle Ben's Topping), but I'm not sure I counted the nodes right. Oops. In theory, this will create a plant with 2 main tops instead of the 4 I wanted. We'll see!

I topped Lucy #1 and Skywalker #1 above the 2nd node (UBT- Uncle Ben's Topping). in theory, these should produce 4 main "tops".

I attempted a FIM on the Magic Bud, and Skywalker #2. With the Skywalker, I clipped about 80% off of the grow tip when I Fimmed, and with the Magic Bud about 60%. This was an intentional experiment to make fim cut differently. FIM stands for "Fu*k I Missed" and involves cutting off part of the grow tip, and can result in multiple tops, ideally 4, but it's a bit unpredictable and inconsistent. For those not aware: FIM was the result of a grower (sorry not sure who) that was going to top, but cut part of the grow tip off instead, and discovered it resulted in multiple tops branching from that spot...

I didn't do anything to the Lavender - might do LST, but may change my mind on this...

Pictures!

Group Shot:

Lucy #2 - Uncle Ben's topping? (UBT), topped above 1st Node - oops!:

Lucy #1 - Topped above 2nd node:

Skywalker #1 - Topped above 2nd node:

Skywalker #2 - Fimmed (cut off about 80% of grow tip):

Magic Bud - Fimmed (cut off about 60% of grow tip):

 

[SteveHman]

looking forward to seeing the results of the multiple topping methods. I do clones so I don't have a chance to UBT them. Might try that with my seedlings that will be come bonsai moms though.

 

[Xlr8]

A couple of useful diagrams on Topping, FIM'ing and LST:

FIM and Topping diagram:

Great diagram for LST:

NOTE: All of these techniques are intended to accomplish basically the same overall objective. Create more "tops", a more even canopy, and maximize horizontal space while reducing vertical height.