Organic AeroGarden

I am pretty much a noob - where is the cheapest place to get a ppms meter?

Also, I know Cervantes says organic is more difficult with hydro, but what experience do folks have going that route. I want to do it for flavor and principles and because as a cancer patient I really don't have any interest in anything that's not organic if possible.

I decided it was time to leave the noob area and come ask questions that you have all probably heard a million times before. But no alternatives when I didn't get the answer fully from Cervantes' bible. (What an awesome book).

On top of that, until I get better set up, I am using the biggest AeroGarden puppy and trying to figure out how to use it right for the job. Am going to put the light part on a timer and leave the pump at 24 hours constant. Is that the right choice? I figure I will have to be fairly short on the vegetative state in order to have enough room with my 24 inch height restriction, but thinking if I prune some, because honestly, aside from aesthetics, I could care less about how big the buds I get are, I can keep them shorter with more buds...

I am trying Skunk #1 and Orange Bud plus 1 each Red Shiva and Afghani (the latter for night time help). I tried to research varieties that would give me the high I am looking for, plus growth characteristics that would work for me. Did I do okay? Oh, yes, plus something I could afford.

I don't know how much help I will get when I attend a meeting - I registered with my state as a medical user. But you folks are here, now, so...

Thanks in advance for any help.

Hey Bleu,
I'm sorry to hear you are struggling with the battle against cancer, but I do hope you have success with your treatment as well as your grow. I have just recently started my Aerogarden after reading very deeply into the forums. I know little about organic hydro, but I do know that the Aerogarden has been a success (regardless of its critics). You will find that you can disassemble the AG light and mount it higher (creatively), but I really suggest buying some extra lighting. CFLs or HPS should be sufficient. I personally will be using CFLs and building my own fixture since they seem to be cheaper. I've researched CFLs, and they seem to be quite the success (low E too). However, I do suggest you germinate your seeds in a wet paper towel or something, since seedlings are quite difficult to start using the AG. As far as keeping your plant short, keep the light as close as possible (i wish the AG light could go lower), and don't over prune. Most AG veterans are saying to flower around 2-3 weeks, that way the plant will not outgrow the AG. You should still get a decent yield for personal use, but keep in mind that the AG can only hold 1-2 mature plants. With that in mind, go ahead and use all 7 pods that way you still have a good chance of getting a decent female. Anyways, I hope you have success, and keep us updated.

Hey Bleu,

i am very interested in hydro-organics, myself. I want the high yeilds and quick growth of hydroponics and I want the health and taste benefits of organic. i have just started a thread of my first experiment with hydro-organic. see the link in my sig to follow my progress. a few posts in, i have a link to another webpage describing the basics of hydro-organic, as well.

to summerize, if you are growing hydroponically, like with the aerogarden or DWC, you cannot grow organically. organics requires the roots to be in soil, with benefitial bacteria and 100% organic nutrients so you do not kill the bacteria. you can, however grow a hybrid method and get the benefits of both. in this case you will not need a ppm meter. and testing ph is reduced and simplified. organics do not require as much attention to these things.

you are going to want to start your seedlings or clones in a small soil container. let the roots grow confined to that small space. after apprx. 4 weeks repot in your aerogarden with the root ball in the mesh pot that it comes with but be sure to have a layer of rockwool undernieth your soil. the idea is to hand feed the rootball on top with organic nutrients, with just enough that it does not drip down, thru the rockwool, into your reservior.

there will be no nutrients in your reservior. just plain water. that's why you dont need a ppm meter. the bottom 2/3 roots of the plant will grow down into the aero and get plain water and oxygen. the top 1/3 will be above in soil getting all the nutrients it needs.

that's the idea. 100% organics nutrients do not work very well in hydroponic systems. all hydro nutes are salt based. if you go with a salt based nutrient delivery system in your hydro unit it will not be organic. so, hydro-organic is a multi-step process but in the end the process is less work and the product is better quality, IMO.

let me know if you have any questions. good luck.

Well, I grow in an actual hydroponic system, using only inert media with no chemicals or pesticides, and that is what I call hydro-organic. That Cannabis Culture system is a soil-based system that uses a water basin to irrigate the roots, when you use soil. If you use inert media, and feed it hydro nutes, with the res under the media, it's just like GH's Waterfarm.

HTH

Hi WoW, Closet.cult and potroast - Thanks to you all for the welcome and help, folks. It's something this girl can sure use at present. My only grow was years back in a garage, with inadequate light and no knowledge. I can't do chemo for a variety of reasons, so am doing various well-researched alternatives thru an immunologist in California. One of his recommendations is medical marijuana - not expecting it to do the whole job but it helps in a variety of ways.

Main deal - I don't want to run out before I can grow outdoors this summer.

I soaked my seeds overnight - hope to get at least 2 females from the skunk and Orange Bud. I guessed that 2-3 weeks veg was about what was needed with the AG - And I have at least done a whole lot of reading, have Cervantes latest book which is a great help. But on a much larger scale than my needs. I will be able to grow outside come summer but getting to next fall is the problem.

I figure I will have my current ladies out by mid to late spring - since I will only have 2, I will want to set up a hydro system in the room in the next few months to lap these for later production.

I will think through your suggestions and see what is going to work for me. As for the AG, maybe I can use it for creating veg state starts and transplanting them in some form and use the room for a bloom room. I have a couple of AGs, so that might work. In fact, it might be wise for me to just try hard to get the room set up for hydro now while the girls are small, and then transplant, and start another round on veg. I can go 24/7 on the light to help compensate for the fluorescent start.

So after all that yack, I guess I would like opinions, and more specific ideas of how I can most conveniently arrange a 5x4 section of my closet for the ladies. I don't need to, can't, grow too many plants at once. A nice little pre-made setup that wasn't too spendy would be good as I have physical limitations. I have a small hood I can put a HPS into - no idea where the best place to buy gear is.

But sure appreciate all your help and your welcome. As I said, it's a good thing to have just now. I didn't find a specific place for folks with cancer or other specific illnesses to talk about that part of the journey, so point me if you know. I find this kind of forum sometimes a little daunting tho I am well used to a lot of other aspects of online life.

Thanks, and will now shut up.

FromageBleu

(Among other things, like wine, which I grow and make, I make cheese - my best accident last summer was a blue brie)