leova's CFL Wal-Mart Grow

leova

Well-Known Member
After the sad end to my first grow, I'm gonna move on to Attempt #2.
For a nice read, a couple jailbait pics, and to see my first Grow, head to:
https://www.rollitup.org/aerogardeners/188673-super-newb-aerogarden-grow.html

As for the "Wal-Mart" in the title, that's merely because 95% of everything I'm using, or plan to use, can be bought from Walmart, Home Depot, or any other such big-building, mega-selection store.
The only things NOT from there are the FoxFarm nutes, the seeds(online), and the hydroton/mylar(though they shouldn't be too hard to find in most places)


Now, on to business!

Step 1: Lessons learned

1) Turn off the AG water pump once the roots hit water. Otherwise, they will grow into the filter, and the plant may suffer root rot.

2) Do NOT overestimate how much water the AG can hold. It's less than a gallon, only about 100oz of space available after you get the base in there, the airstones, etc

3) DO NOT LEAVE IT UNATTENDED FOR MORE THAN A DAY. Yeah, this is also related to Lesson #2. I left my first grow for 3 days, came back to the freakin' Sahara!

4) Don't plant too many plants. The AG works best when its at 2-3 plants MAX, and is even better with just 1. Lots of plants = lots of roots, and it also leads to bigger drains on the water and nutrient supplies, as well as tangling plants, light issues, and other stuff.

5) Chill the fuck out. I tell myself this often, yet ganja-gardening can be so "omg" and "holy crap", that we all need to just chill and relax from time to time. Thankfully, we all share a great hobby for just this very same thing!


Step 2: The Plan

I planted 6 seeds, and 3 of them are doing just fine(see pics). 1 seems to have over-soaked in its shell, and i'm certain it's a goner, while the others are still shelled. I figure i'll give em another weak, then remove em to give the other guys plenty of space.
With 3 growing plants, I only want 2 in the AG full-time. Hopefully, I can clone off of the 3rd one, and then try and move it to a hydroton-plastic bucket type of system.
FoxFarm nutrients and Brita water all the way through, no shady AG tabs. 4x 42-Watt Daylight CFLs, 2x Soft White 26-Watt CFLs, plus AG lighting.


Step 3: The Pictures!

Enjoy!
 

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krakennkenji

Well-Known Member
Good luck this go-around man. With what you learned from the first experience I'm sure this one will be a success.

And yeah I really think one plant in the AG is probably best. I've only got one left in mine and you san see from my most recent pics that one is all I ever could have realistically fit.

Subscribed.
 

leova

Well-Known Member
Small update, but hey, they're still young....

Switched to 18/6 a couple days ago, hope to have rootage soon. The 3 beans that didn't make it....well, they didnt make it. Still only 50% germ rate, but I'm glad I planted a bunch :)

I suspect that the "cup of water" technique may have over-soaked the beans, hence why the "dry" ones germ'ed fine, while the soaked ones I put in a couple days later, didnt... :shock:

Guess that means they were quality beans to begin with, right?

Still no real nutes, but I've been putting like, a half-soda-cup worth of like 1/8 strength FF nute...figure a tiny bit won't hurt, eh?
 

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krakennkenji

Well-Known Member
I started mine out with like 3/4 strength FF Grow Big and they took it very well. I'm really not a believer in the "no nutes first 2 weeks" idea. I mean, they gotta have something.
 

leova

Well-Known Member
Moved to my nute schedule yesterday, 5ml of GrowBig in a 1-gallon jug. Also adjusted the plants to space them out better.

PH is still running kinda high, and its still damn hot in there...but other than that, no issues yet.

Enjoy the pics!
 

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FoxCompany426

Well-Known Member
Moved to my nute schedule yesterday, 5ml of GrowBig in a 1-gallon jug. Also adjusted the plants to space them out better.

PH is still running kinda high, and its still damn hot in there...but other than that, no issues yet.

Enjoy the pics!
A little stretchy, but healthy none the less! Good work!
 

leova

Well-Known Member
They freakin' exploded in the last week or so!
Definitely starting to smell a bit now, 1 month into vegetative...
Moved the AG hood up 1 notch, first move so far, looks like its worked out nicely.


Only thing I'm worried about is that little guy out front, his big sister is hoggin' some of his grow-space. I've been moving around the lights every few days to avoid over-growing in one direction, but I'm wondering how to deal with this "sharing" issue...

Should I just clone off that big one to free up some space?

Also, I'm gonna up my nutes to 7.5ML for the 1-gallon jug tomorrow. Still not quite the full recommended 10ml dose, but I figure best to step it up piecemeal...
 

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FoxCompany426

Well-Known Member
They freakin' exploded in the last week or so!
Definitely starting to smell a bit now, 1 month into vegetative...
Moved the AG hood up 1 notch, first move so far, looks like its worked out nicely.


Only thing I'm worried about is that little guy out front, his big sister is hoggin' some of his grow-space. I've been moving around the lights every few days to avoid over-growing in one direction, but I'm wondering how to deal with this "sharing" issue...

Should I just clone off that big one to free up some space?

Also, I'm gonna up my nutes to 7.5ML for the 1-gallon jug tomorrow. Still not quite the full recommended 10ml dose, but I figure best to step it up piecemeal...
Looking good leova, keep it up!!!

I don't know about the cloning thing, that's gonna be up to you.
 

cardinal7syn

Active Member
Awesome looking grow! Those babies are startin to look real nice. Can't wait to see mine that big. I will be LSTing it around the entire aero garden.
 

leova

Well-Known Member
thanks for the support guys! bongsmilie

Just moved into my new room today across the hall, but moving the AG was mind-numbingly scary! The whole 20ft i carried it, i was freaking out... :shock:

but anyways, now its got a MUCH better setup and location, and the fan is even positioned better, so the grow is staying between 85 and 95 consistently. Used to hit 100 sometimes, but the fan solved that! (I hung it from the opposite clothes-rack, angled to blow just over the top of the AG hood)

Decided to top my big girl, make sure the other guys can catch up height-wise. Had to move the AG hood up twice in one week!

Tomorrow, I replace the reservoir with 7ml/gallon nute mix, should hopefully bump up growth a bit :)
My room smells so dank every time I walk in, oh yeah! :hump:


Enjoy the pics! :joint: :peace:
 

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leova

Well-Known Member
Saw something today that worries me...is this the early stages of stem rot guys?
Or is it just the stalk brushing up against the grow-pod-paper-cover things?

a trick of the light? The plant looks healthy otherwise, but it's worrisome... :confused:
 

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FoxCompany426

Well-Known Member
Saw something today that worries me...is this the early stages of stem rot guys?
Or is it just the stalk brushing up against the grow-pod-paper-cover things?

a trick of the light? The plant looks healthy otherwise, but it's worrisome... :confused:
That doesn't look good. Looks like mine did when it was starting to get stem rot. Have you turned your AG pump off yet? What's the humidity in the grow room? If it gets worse, you might need to get some fungicide.
 

leova

Well-Known Member
AG pump has been off for ages...as for humidity, no idea, never got a humidity-meter-thing


part of me says "fuck it, just flower now and see what happens", especially since they're still small and manageable...thoughts?
 

cardinal7syn

Active Member
When were you planning on going into flower stage? After 3 or 4 weeks?


I dont know what it looks like. Like fox said, get some type of fungicide as a pre-measure. Just for shits and giggles :>
 

leova

Well-Known Member
well, the grow as a whole is 4 weeks old. still vegetating. I've read of people flowering early at 4 weeks, with the only issues being lower yields...


What kinda fungicide do you guys recommend? I've been all over the "plant problems" section, and though there are VERY few threads of similar issues, the ones that are there do suggest stem rot.

They don't, however, say "buy Fungicide X and put X drops in your AG reservoir"....
 

FoxCompany426

Well-Known Member
well, the grow as a whole is 4 weeks old. still vegetating. I've read of people flowering early at 4 weeks, with the only issues being lower yields...


What kinda fungicide do you guys recommend? I've been all over the "plant problems" section, and though there are VERY few threads of similar issues, the ones that are there do suggest stem rot.

They don't, however, say "buy Fungicide X and put X drops in your AG reservoir"....
It would be fine to go ahead and flower. I flowered at 4 weeks.

As for fungicide, hit up home depot or lowes and look for some stuff in a red spray bottle that's called "daconil." All you have to do is spray the stem where the rot is once a week til it's gone. Worked for me.

Good luck, I hope it helps.

:joint::peace:
 

cardinal7syn

Active Member
I didnt find or have found a additive for fungicide but anything that relates to fungus has to do with Humidity. I bought this. Gives temp for outside,inside and Humidity level. Was cheap to at waly world.


Not sure if you rad this thread but it gives some pictures and some idea's. https://www.rollitup.org/hydroponics-aeroponics/8163-stem-rot.html

Wish i could be more of a help.

I wish my humidity was a little higher,Myself. But being in the desert it just does not get high at all.
 

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leova

Well-Known Member
Thanks Fox! I got the day off work tomorrow, so I'll hit up HD and Lowe's, try and find that Daconil stuff you mentioned...



I assume that's what you mean?


How much of it should I spray on...and will it damage the other plants that AREN'T rotted if I accidentally hit 'em with it?
 

leova

Well-Known Member
cardinal, i actually must have missed that thread....I really hope it's not that Pythium horror!
The plant seems more or less hardy though, should I try scraping off the brown part, or try the Daconil first?


Also, it seems to be partially a moisture issue...keeping the AG reservoir partially-full should help here, right? Less chance of excess water reaching the grow sponges and whatnot?


Also, I guess a Humidity meter is now on my shopping list...
 
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