New 4x4 grow some advice?

Jmerc

Jmerc

Active Member
Hey guys, I’m starting a grow, first time, I was opting for coco at first now I’m trying to see into hydroponics, now it’s really hard to find complete systems that could be reliable, I will have everything shipped to a country outside the United States so I don’t want something to go wrong and I won’t be able to get a replacement part in time... but if anyone know of any systems that are reliable and come in a complete kit where I will not need to get anything extra that would be super help full... I live in a topically hot climate, but I will indoor grow of course, in an apartment, 4x4 tent... probably go for a 4 bucket system and see if I can have something cooking every 4-5 months thank you in advance for the suggestions
 
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Larry3215

Well-Known Member
Hempy buckets are the simplest, most failure proof, reliable, lowest maintenance hydro system there is. By far.

There are exactly zero parts to fail. No pumps, no pipes, no bulkheads, no valves, no timers.

All you need is some buckets, with or without lids, and bags of perlite, and some hydro nutes. Thats it.

Well, you still need lights and maybe fans, tent etc., But nothing else for the hydro part.
 
Jmerc

Jmerc

Active Member
Larry3215 said:
Hempy buckets are the simplest, most failure proof, reliable, lowest maintenance hydro system there is. By far.

There are exactly zero parts to fail. No pumps, no pipes, no bulkheads, no valves, no timers.

All you need is some buckets, with or without lids, and bags of perlite, and some hydro nutes. Thats it.

Well, you still need lights and maybe fans, tent etc., But nothing else for the hydro part.
Click to expand...
Do you know any name brands? Or sites where I can purchase the perlite and hydro Nutes ?
 
L

Larry3215

Well-Known Member
Read through that World of Hempy thread above. All your questions about how to do it will be answered.

You can get buckets at any hardware store, paint store, or building supply, etc. You can order perlite from Ebay or most any on-line garden supply, etc.

For nutes Google Jacks321 hydro. I get mine from a guy selling on Etsy, but again, Ebay sells it world wide. Jacks is just about the cheapest nutes available too. Dont use any nutes derived from plants - no seaweed, worm castings or anything organic. Just pure mineral salts. Thats what jacks is.
 
1

1212ham

Well-Known Member
Larry3215 said:
Hempy buckets are the simplest, most failure proof, reliable, lowest maintenance hydro system there is. By far.

There are exactly zero parts to fail. No pumps, no pipes, no bulkheads, no valves, no timers.

All you need is some buckets, with or without lids, and bags of perlite, and some hydro nutes. Thats it.

Well, you still need lights and maybe fans, tent etc., But nothing else for the hydro part.
Click to expand...
Agreed, a Hempy bucket with Jacks nutes is pretty much fool proof.
I would just add this API aquarium ph test kit, but it's less than $6. It's narrow range/higher accuracy, best I've seen for hydro.

 
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BigBudsNPK

Member
Jmerc said:
Hey guys, I’m starting a grow, first time, I was opting for coco at first now I’m trying to see into hydroponics, now it’s really hard to find complete systems that could be reliable, I will have everything shipped to a country outside the United States so I don’t want something to go wrong and I won’t be able to get a replacement part in time... but if anyone know of any systems that are reliable and come in a complete kit where I will not need to get anything extra that would be super help full... I live in a topically hot climate, but I will indoor grow of course, in an apartment, 4x4 tent... probably go for a 4 bucket system and see if I can have something cooking every 4-5 months thank you in advance for the suggestions
Click to expand...
Have you considered the ease of soil for your first time? It's not that I don't think you can grow in coco or hydro... but reading through the beginner mistakes really makes me wonder if one should "begin their journey" with those systems.
 
Jmerc

Jmerc

Active Member
BigBudsNPK said:
Have you considered the ease of soil for your first time? It's not that I don't think you can grow in coco or hydro... but reading through the beginner mistakes really makes me wonder if one should "begin their journey" with those systems.
Click to expand...
Definitely understand your point... I thought the same thing... go super safe and learn from the first grow... but idk, I have time to dedicate to it, I work from home, so I think I can manage... if a 4x4 tent with hydro works for me... I will do more... was planning hid, but brother convinced me that these new led are way better although they cost more... but I will need the lower electric bill anyway for stealth purposes any known good led lights for a 4x4? Not super expensive but not those cheap led?
 
Jmerc

Jmerc

Active Member
Jmerc

Jmerc

Active Member
Larry3215 said:
Read through that World of Hempy thread above. All your questions about how to do it will be answered.

You can get buckets at any hardware store, paint store, or building supply, etc. You can order perlite from Ebay or most any on-line garden supply, etc.

For nutes Google Jacks321 hydro. I get mine from a guy selling on Etsy, but again, Ebay sells it world wide. Jacks is just about the cheapest nutes available too. Dont use any nutes derived from plants - no seaweed, worm castings or anything organic. Just pure mineral salts. Thats what jacks is.
Click to expand...
Any advice on the brand for the perlite? There seems to be quite a few...
 
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Larry3215

Well-Known Member
Jmerc said:
Any advice on the brand for the perlite? There seems to be quite a few...
Click to expand...
I dont hink brand matters much, but size does.

herbsathome.co

What is perlite good for? Uses, types, and comparing growing media

Perlite boasts extensive benefits as a growing media for indoor and outdoor gardening. What is it good for? Read on to learn more about this natural rock, it’s benefits in gardening, and comparison to vermiculite.
herbsathome.co herbsathome.co

You dont want really small particles or the jumbo size. I would recommend medium or coarse particle sizes, with a slight preference for coarse.

One of the main benefits of hempy buckets - maybe THE key benefit - is the aeration that occurs when the water in the bottom of the bucket wicks up towards the top of the bucket.

Roots need oxygen as well as water and nutes. The more oxygen the better. Without oxygen, hydro is a swamp and your plants will die.

There are two key things to note here.

1) Oxygen disperses or diffuses through the air very easily and rapidly - even in soil or a bucket of perlite - IF - there are air spaces. There must be air spaces.
2) Oxygen diffuses/dissolves/disperses through water very slooooowly. It takes a long time for oxygen to penetrate to any depth in water. The top most very very thin layer of water will reach 100% oxygen saturation very quickly, but it is very sloooow to penetrate deeper.

The water sitting in the bottom of a hempy bucket will tend to get stagnant as the roots consume the oxygen. Thats takes some time, so dont freak out.

However, that is more than made up for as that water wicks up towards the top of the bucket. Dont think of that water in the bottom as the main source of food/water for the plant. Its just a reserve for the water that wicks up to the perlite above it. Its there so you dont have to constantly water the perlite every day.

The 'wicked' water in the upper part of the bucket is what makes hempy buckets work. It will be in the form of a super thin layer on the perlite particles. Remember #2 above. Very thin layers of water will reach oxygen saturation very quickly. The roots that are in that part of the bucket will always have all the oxygen - and water - they need - IF IF IF - there is room for air around the particles.

Larger particles will allow more air spaces. Smaller particles will end up holding more water, but its the oxygen that is critical in hydro. The more aeration you have, the better the hydro functions.
 
L

Larry3215

Well-Known Member
BigBudsNPK said:
Have you considered the ease of soil for your first time? It's not that I don't think you can grow in coco or hydro... but reading through the beginner mistakes really makes me wonder if one should "begin their journey" with those systems.
Click to expand...
I think hempy buckets are easier than soil in many ways.

In soil, you always have the worry about over watering. Most new growers over water, which can cause major issues. With hempy buckets, its impossible to over water. You can water every hour and it wont hurt anything - except your wallet ;)

You also dont have to worry about which soil types, amendments, 'hot' mixes, what type of pot, etc.

Hempy's really are stupid simple.
 
kovidkough

kovidkough

Well-Known Member
hempy is only simple if you keep your ph and ppm in order, other then that its simple. figure out a way to deal with run off sooner then later
 
L

Larry3215

Well-Known Member
kovidkough said:
hempy is only simple if you keep your ph and ppm in order, other then that its simple. figure out a way to deal with run off sooner then later
Click to expand...
You have to watch PH, PPM and runoff or disposal of old or excess water no matter how you grow - including soil. There can be more runoff with hempy's than soil, but thats not usually a big deal. Im sure there are lots of solutions to that in the thread linked above.
 
Jmerc

Jmerc

Active Member
Larry3215 said:
I dont hink brand matters much, but size does.

herbsathome.co

What is perlite good for? Uses, types, and comparing growing media

Perlite boasts extensive benefits as a growing media for indoor and outdoor gardening. What is it good for? Read on to learn more about this natural rock, it’s benefits in gardening, and comparison to vermiculite.
herbsathome.co herbsathome.co

You dont want really small particles or the jumbo size. I would recommend medium or coarse particle sizes, with a slight preference for coarse.

One of the main benefits of hempy buckets - maybe THE key benefit - is the aeration that occurs when the water in the bottom of the bucket wicks up towards the top of the bucket.

Roots need oxygen as well as water and nutes. The more oxygen the better. Without oxygen, hydro is a swamp and your plants will die.

There are two key things to note here.

1) Oxygen disperses or diffuses through the air very easily and rapidly - even in soil or a bucket of perlite - IF - there are air spaces. There must be air spaces.
2) Oxygen diffuses/dissolves/disperses through water very slooooowly. It takes a long time for oxygen to penetrate to any depth in water. The top most very very thin layer of water will reach 100% oxygen saturation very quickly, but it is very sloooow to penetrate deeper.

The water sitting in the bottom of a hempy bucket will tend to get stagnant as the roots consume the oxygen. Thats takes some time, so dont freak out.

However, that is more than made up for as that water wicks up towards the top of the bucket. Dont think of that water in the bottom as the main source of food/water for the plant. Its just a reserve for the water that wicks up to the perlite above it. Its there so you dont have to constantly water the perlite every day.

The 'wicked' water in the upper part of the bucket is what makes hempy buckets work. It will be in the form of a super thin layer on the perlite particles. Remember #2 above. Very thin layers of water will reach oxygen saturation very quickly. The roots that are in that part of the bucket will always have all the oxygen - and water - they need - IF IF IF - there is room for air around the particles.

Larger particles will allow more air spaces. Smaller particles will end up holding more water, but its the oxygen that is critical in hydro. The more aeration you have, the better the hydro functions.
Click to expand...
Thanks for all this info... I will stick to this hempy bucket... seems like a good way to start, hempy buckets and accessories I could get at the store, I just have to figure out if there is any place here that sells perlite and Nutes...
 
Jmerc

Jmerc

Active Member
Larry3215 said:
You have to watch PH, PPM and runoff or disposal of old or excess water no matter how you grow - including soil. There can be more runoff with hempy's than soil, but thats not usually a big deal. Im sure there are lots of solutions to that in the thread linked above.
Click to expand...
Can I make a hole with a hose and fitting just so it wound get past a certain point? And leak out to like a little tank or something and then flush it down the toilet lol?
 
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