A grow question , in general

tiny roach

tiny roach

Active Member
There is a continual arguement, here, in my home, over which of us is right about a simple grow technique.

At the very bottom of the planters, where I put my seedlings, for their new homes, should I have gravel , at the first layer below my soil mix, or sand ?

Help me win this wager, with answers, please.........
 
MariJesus

MariJesus

Active Member
If you are doing hydro, you would want gravel at the base. My question is why would you plant the seedlings in so deep? You really only want them maybe 1/4" to 1/2" below the soil line, to give the optimal room for root development. Your roots should be attempting to grow towards the water source, so the farther the base of the plant from the source, the more root growth you should get.
 
Cascadian

Cascadian

Well-Known Member
My initial thought was neither are necessary, just add perlite to the soil mix. I did some searching and found this, it is just an excerpt from an article:

The Reality Nearly 100 years ago, soil scientists demonstrated that water does not move easily from layers of finer textured materials to layers of more coarse textured. Since then, similar studies have produced the same results. Additionally, one study found that more moisture was retained in the soil underlain by gravel than that underlain by sand.

Therefore, the coarser the underlying material, the more difficult it is for water to move across the interface. Imagine what happens in a container lined with pot shards! Some of my previous columns have mentioned soil interfaces and their inhibition of water movement. We can see the same phenomenon occurring here: gravitational water will not move from a finely soil texture into a coarser material until the finer soil is saturated.

Since the stated goal for using coarse material in the bottoms of containers is to "keep soil from getting water logged,” it is ironic that adding this material will induce the very state it is intended to prevent.

This makes sense to me, so I guess I would vote for rough/larger sand because it is closer to how course the soil is.
Also, it will give the plants more silica which is important for maintaining strong cell walls. Not sure which side of the argument you are on but this makes sense to me.

Peace,
Cascadian
 
tiny roach

tiny roach

Active Member
Cascadian said:
My initial thought was neither are necessary, just add perlite to the soil mix. I did some searching and found this, it is just an excerpt from an article:

The Reality Nearly 100 years ago, soil scientists demonstrated that water does not move easily from layers of finer textured materials to layers of more coarse textured. Since then, similar studies have produced the same results. Additionally, one study found that more moisture was retained in the soil underlain by gravel than that underlain by sand.

Therefore, the coarser the underlying material, the more difficult it is for water to move across the interface. Imagine what happens in a container lined with pot shards! Some of my previous columns have mentioned soil interfaces and their inhibition of water movement. We can see the same phenomenon occurring here: gravitational water will not move from a finely soil texture into a coarser material until the finer soil is saturated.

Since the stated goal for using coarse material in the bottoms of containers is to "keep soil from getting water logged,” it is ironic that adding this material will induce the very state it is intended to prevent.

This makes sense to me, so I guess I would vote for rough/larger sand because it is closer to how course the soil is.
Also, it will give the plants more silica which is important for maintaining strong cell walls. Not sure which side of the argument you are on but this makes sense to me.

Peace,
Cascadian
Click to expand...
Thanks, you answered my question, and , helped me win my wager. I have always put sand in my plants, I thought, for easier drainage, and to prevent root rotting.

Then , I was told, I was doing it wrong, that gravel was what I needed to use.

In the long run, the plant, with gravel as it's bottom layer, did not grow well, and I eventually, gently transplanted it, into ,my usual mixture, of sand as the bottom layer, and , it is alive, still, as we type.

Thanks............;-)
 
tiny roach

tiny roach

Active Member
MariJesus said:
If you are doing hydro, you would want gravel at the base. My question is why would you plant the seedlings in so deep? You really only want them maybe 1/4" to 1/2" below the soil line, to give the optimal room for root development. Your roots should be attempting to grow towards the water source, so the farther the base of the plant from the source, the more root growth you should get.
Click to expand...
My seedlings always go into a 7 - 8 inch deep , planter, until they are big enough to transplant into a deeper planter.Basically, I'm winging it, and just doing what experience has taught me works best, since my plants are only for personal use .

They do pretty well, not as well as what I see, pictured here, but then , I don't NEED huge plats, or very many plants, when it comes to it .

The buds, I do smoke, and all the scraps, and trimmings, give me enough for a cup of tea, a few mornings a week.

Minimal need , for me, just enough for my own pleasure .

NOW.........if I only knew how to grow Kratom.........that would please me immensely !!
 
MariJesus

MariJesus

Active Member
7-8 inch deep should be fine for most plants, what I'm stating is the depth at which you plant your seedlings in that 7-8 inch.
 
BWG707

BWG707

Well-Known Member
Ill never put gravel in my pots again. I used gravel in a couple pots last year and both of the plants had root issues. The plants with nothing but soil and perlite had no problems.
 
tiny roach

tiny roach

Active Member
MariJesus said:
7-8 inch deep should be fine for most plants, what I'm stating is the depth at which you plant your seedlings in that 7-8 inch.
Click to expand...
Should I go smaller? That may be why I lose around 30 % of the seedlings, after they are planted in the 7 inch pot.

My largers , I grow in a pot , with a depth of, about 10 inches. This is all just , from googled advice, and personal experience, and I do lose plants, in the early stages.

Once they have a strong enough stem , I move them to the deeper planter, and if they survive that, they will usually thrive.

What depth do you suggest, for my seedlings, instead?

All help appreciated, btw........;-)
 
RIKNSTEIN

RIKNSTEIN

Well-Known Member
tiny roach said:
Should I go smaller? That may be why I lose around 30 % of the seedlings, after they are planted in the 7 inch pot.

My largers , I grow in a pot , with a depth of, about 10 inches. This is all just , from googled advice, and personal experience, and I do lose plants, in the early stages.

Once they have a strong enough stem , I move them to the deeper planter, and if they survive that, they will usually thrive.

What depth do you suggest, for my seedlings, instead?

All help appreciated, btw........;-)
Click to expand...
I start them in a 16oz solo cup with holes in the bottom, but I only put my beans down about 1/2 in the soil...
 
BWG707

BWG707

Well-Known Member
Speaking of pots, you should look into smartpots. I used one this season and now I'm sold. That's all ill use now.
 
tiny roach

tiny roach

Active Member
BWG707 said:
Speaking of pots, you should look into smartpots. I used one this season and now I'm sold. That's all ill use now.
Click to expand...
ok, will do........thats a new one to me, so I will find what they are, and give them a try.''

I came here, thinking it was a " get stoned and B.S. " forum , and now, I'm actually learning stuff that will help my little closet garden .

I'm impressed, and thrilled.........thank you , everyone, who has responded to me, in goofing off, and in serious questions. More questions will be coming, me thinks !!!
 
tiny roach

tiny roach

Active Member
RIKNSTEIN said:
I start them in a 16oz solo cup with holes in the bottom, but I only put my beans down about 1/2 in the soil...
Click to expand...
OK.........thanks........a friend does that with the solo cups, too. She and I have about the same growth/loss of seedlings % .

BUT..........she gets lazy, and waits to long to transplant her's, so I think her loss % , would be smaller than mine, if she were less procrastonative, in her weed growing
 
RIKNSTEIN

RIKNSTEIN

Well-Known Member
BWG707 said:
Speaking of pots, you should look into smartpots. I used one this season and now I'm sold. That's all ill use now.
Click to expand...
I drill holes every square inch of my 5 gal buckets...it acts just like a smart pot, this is a friends plant, but this is what I do...
 
F

Fondle v Corpse

Member
Worked at Noramerica kitty litter factory putting silica into some of the litter
Its highly cancerous and extremely bad for you
thick gloves. Breathing mask and goggles were required.. they dont need it...at all
 
MariJesus

MariJesus

Active Member
tiny roach said:
Should I go smaller? That may be why I lose around 30 % of the seedlings, after they are planted in the 7 inch pot.

My largers , I grow in a pot , with a depth of, about 10 inches. This is all just , from googled advice, and personal experience, and I do lose plants, in the early stages.

Once they have a strong enough stem , I move them to the deeper planter, and if they survive that, they will usually thrive.

What depth do you suggest, for my seedlings, instead?

All help appreciated, btw........;-)
Click to expand...
Yes you want them to be about 1/2" to at most 1" underneath the surface of the soil. Any more than that and you're forcing your little babies to work too hard, and they can't amass the energy to grow, so they die.
 
MariJesus

MariJesus

Active Member
BWG707 said:
Speaking of pots, you should look into smartpots. I used one this season and now I'm sold. That's all ill use now.
Click to expand...
Smart Pots are wonderful! They act as a soft medium for your plants and allow the roots to utilize their full growth capabilities. No more root rounding around the bottom of your planters! :D
 
tiny roach

tiny roach

Active Member
MariJesus said:
Smart Pots are wonderful! They act as a soft medium for your plants and allow the roots to utilize their full growth capabilities. No more root rounding around the bottom of your planters! :D
Click to expand...
Ok, here's some advice a friend gave me , that he claims works really well, just wondering other's thoughts'......

As soon as the seed, germinates, and you have a leaf showing, HE places a funnel ( paper , for easy removal, later ), directly above the plant, centered , and the plant will grow completely straight up, no need for staking , etc.

I know, personally, I do have to stake my plants, during summer, when they are on my deck.......( I love my townships Cops........they pull up to the deck, and give commentary, on the good, or bad growth , of my plants, and then "grow advice" .)

One , who comes by daily, in summer, took a pic, on his phone , of "Buddy" , to show his friends.
Scared me at first , until a new cop appeared , in a few days, and asked "which plant is Buddy? "

My man says , "thats a perk , of being female, if it was me, they'de rip the plant out of the soil, and destroy it "

OH.....btw........What is the BEST additive or fertilizer, for my " closet plants ? "

They have to stay inside, for the winter, in Chicago. : (
 
MariJesus

MariJesus

Active Member
I am doing a closet grow as well, I'm using the AN line Sensi Grow and Bloom A&B, with Hobbyist bundle. Works great.
 
tiny roach

tiny roach

Active Member
MariJesus said:
I am doing a closet grow as well, I'm using the AN line Sensi Grow and Bloom A&B, with Hobbyist bundle. Works great.
Click to expand...
I have no idea what strain I'm growing........seeds came from a good batch of supposed Purple Kush, I purchased. I hadn't expected any seeds, and when 2 were in the bag, I added them to my closet garden.I probably have a few different strains growing, by now.

All I know for sure, is all my plants make gooood tea, from my trimmings, and the buds are growing, so I'm happy . ( amature grower, here, 4 sure !! )

The buds , when dried out are better than anything I buy, so..........I be thrilled !!
 
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