Well it's finally time to switch to hydro. My last soil run yielded 6.4 lbs off 4000 watts hps and co2. I'm happy enough with those results but sick to death of hand watering. I bought a 16 pot autopot setup and I'm going to be using coco/perlite as the substrate. No airdomes this time around and I'm using Canna coco nutes line as well as Canna coco. I'll set up a scrog before the flip. Any advice for a newbie to the coco and autopots scene? I'm mostly nervous about lockout with a bottom fed system.
Autopots and coco
- Thread starter MissTHC
- Start date
Gemtree
Well-Known Member
Should be fine as long as the coco stays wet just run low ppm like 4-500 to start and see how it goes
Red stag
Member
My first grow with the Auto pot system I just have a small 4 pot system with coco an perlite. The Auto pots are the new design with bigger valves
I am using Nutrifeild Coco A an B. Its only been 2 weeks since running the system as I hand waterered first 2-3 weeks to let the roots grow
so far so good can see the coco stays moist as the top layer never drys out, Im finding it great and getting into explosive growth with Autos
Bubblegum and Girl Scott Cookies .
Thanks for the feedback. How long do you plan on vegging for? I'm trying to guage when harvest will be. Wait did you mean autoflower bubblegum and GSC?
Red stag
Member
Yeah Autos never tried growing them before so far so good
Poontanger
Well-Known Member
Make sure you have an air stone in the base of each pot as well as your res
I didn't do air domes this time maybe next time I will add them. I also heard a small water pump on a timer is better for the res as an air stone makes the ph fluctuate too much. I need to be away from the res for potentially many days (having a baby and was in hospital for 7 days with my first) so I need something I can set and forget.
Oh I see. I ran autos outside as kind of a bonus crop one year thinking they would stay small and out of sight. Them bitches still got over 3 feet tall and they were pure indica. I wouldn't pay to run them inside though since they tend to not yeild as well as photos. That and I have a seperate veg tent so I only have to wait a couple months between harvests. For my set up they aren't worth it. I was glad I tried them once though it's pretty cool to just see them start growing buds without the whole process of "flipping"
Poontanger
Well-Known Member
I don't think it matters
Fishbulb
Well-Known Member
Discs are 100% needed they just help stop roots growing into the valves
Fishbulb
Well-Known Member
I've used them and saw no difference with or with out
Fishbulb
Well-Known Member
I have a big pump with 8 air stones in my Res.
I can leave my setup for 2 weeks when I go on holidays with the family
I know they are needed I guess I wasn't clear, I think it was supposed to be copper side down not up. Not sure though as I read conflicting things. Thanks for the reply!
Awesome I was worried! Thanks.
Fishbulb
Well-Known Member
I've done both and both times it stopped the roots going out the bottom of the pot
Whiterabit
Member
I've used the autopots for years. Great results... When done properly.
The main issues I found is air tube blockage and nute lockout.
To fix those I use airstones instead of the blue tubing that comes with the air domes and cut down veg time + a salt cleaner like enzyme komplete.
Definitely don't run organics. Lastly, every couple of weeks to a month (depending on nutes) clean the auto feeding mechanisms. I've had a few leaks.... Not fun. Lol
Good luck!
Ps. Use the root discs! There is a certain way they go, too. The copper goes a long way to preventing roots reaching the system.
The main issues I found is air tube blockage and nute lockout.
To fix those I use airstones instead of the blue tubing that comes with the air domes and cut down veg time + a salt cleaner like enzyme komplete.
Definitely don't run organics. Lastly, every couple of weeks to a month (depending on nutes) clean the auto feeding mechanisms. I've had a few leaks.... Not fun. Lol
Good luck!
Ps. Use the root discs! There is a certain way they go, too. The copper goes a long way to preventing roots reaching the system.
Thanks for the tips I def don't want leaks! Which way did you use the discs? I put them in the pots copper side up...