Hey,
I have a few questions, and like everyone else I'll apologize in advance if they have been answered, but:
1.) In the consolidation on page 75, SB sez that the cloner lights should be on an 18/6 schedule with the pump running 1 minute on and 5 off, but in his DVD he sez lights for clones should be on 24 hours straight and the pump cycle should be 15 minutes on and 15 off. Did I miss an update somewhere along the line?
1A.) The light timings can be anywhere from 18/6 to 24/0 with excellent results. The amount of heat needed will determine your light timings. In the cold northeast winter, i run my cloner lights at 24/0 beacuse I need the heat. The pump can also be run with different schedules depending on heat needed. It can be run constantly, 1-on/5-off or 15-on/15-off. I've tried them all and there isn't much diference. I find that the nute temperatures have the most to do with the speed of root propagation. I keep mine at 68 degrees in the winter with a heat mat under the res. You can do this with the heat the pump adds by running it longer/shorter depending on need.
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2.) Similarly, the consolidation sez that the veg formula is 126ml Cal-Mag, 180ml Karma, and 540ml Pro Veg, and the bloom formula is 126 ml Cal-Mag, 150 ml Sweet, 180 Karma, and 540 Pro Bloom. In the DVD he sez the bloom formula is 250 Cal-Mag, 175 Humic acid, 175 Sweet, and 550 Pro Bloom , and then he sez if you're mixing for veg, you would use 550ml of Pro Veg instead of 550ml of Pro Bloom, implying that there is a new veg formula that also has Humic acid. Botanicare doesn't even sell humic acid, and the Cal-Mag has been about doubled. WTF?
2A.) The first amounts are correct. They are just the recommended Botanicare feeding schedules based on 18 gallons. Humic acid is Liquid Karma. I've never seen the DVD. I've just used this site for the figures. You can also add 75-90ml of sweetner of choice (i use Flora Nectar) during veg.
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3.) SB sez that bloom formula (the first one) will take an 18 gallon res to 2900 PPM, but he starts off at 1700. In the DVD he is seen pouring about 1/3 of the mix into the res, and I'm assuming that that's the amount that will result in a PPM of 1700. Is the other 2/3 just for replacing nutrients for the next 3 weeks?
3A.) I never poured the entire batch in the res. I sometimes make a double batch as I have two reservoirs. I just pour some in and test to get to 1500-2000 PPM, depending on the strain. You will learn eventually about how much to add with repetition/experience. A 3 oz dixie cup filled with concentrate takes my 18 gallon res up 350-400 PPM. G13 likes to start at 1500, while Super Lemon Haze can handle 2000 right from the start. The plants will let you know what too much is. The concentrated mixed nutes store a long time. I find I need to add nutes every 4-5 days as they will drop 500 PPM during this time for my strains. Yes, the extra 2/3's are for the future.
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4.) Anyone in the Phoenix area interested in trading some clones?
Thanx again, Robert in Arizona
4A.) Sorry, snowy Northeast here.
