Watering hundreds of solo cups

[MidnightSun72]

Hi i am looking for ideas on how to water vast numbers of solo cups.

Currently I am doing clones in perlite and coco 50/50 once they've root and then they stay in solo cups for 6 weeks until they are ready to flower. Trying to get a bunch ready for the upcoming outdoor but would like a way to water all of them satisfactorily so they can grow lush and happy. I think drip stakes will be too many lines etc.

What about filling the bottoms of trays with perlite and just pouring their daily water allotment in there? Would EC build up be a problem? Any ideas would love to see your setups!

 

[OSBuds]

https://www.irrigation.equipment/guide-to-blumat-regulated-capillary-mat-systems/

 

[MidnightSun72]

https://www.irrigation.equipment/guide-to-blumat-regulated-capillary-mat-systems/

Thanks for this I'll have to look into this product some more.

 

[mudballs]

NFT rails

Im a big DIY guy and this is something id look into for numbers ur talking.

 

[Herb & Suds]

6 week veg in coco and beer cups
Sexing alone sounds like a nightmare

 

[thumper60]

No way ya keeping rooted clones in solo cups for 6 weeks.

 

[Herb & Suds]

No way ya keeping rooted clones in solo cups for 6 weeks.

In coco

 

[MidnightSun72]

6 week veg in coco and beer cups
Sexing alone sounds like a nightmare

No sex all clones.

 

[mudballs]

You can use cheap house gutters and not buy those expensive purpose built rails

 

[Herb & Suds]

No sex all clones.

Better but clones in coco for six weeks I don’t think you can go less than a half gallon pot

 

[MidnightSun72]

No way ya keeping rooted clones in solo cups for 6 weeks.

Thug pug ghost breathe. I am a bad grower what can I say. But this clone is about 6 weeks now why would I lie about that?

 

[Star Dog]

I've used a tray and saucers to water plants it works fine the nutrient gets taken up instantly but you might need to offset the ec.

Capillary is a good method but ime needs covering with plastic and sites cut from it otherwise the ec is affected, it turns green with algea and gives a high humidity.

 

[Rurumo]

It has been hard keeping up with feeding my single solo cup challenge plant 4 times per day-and honestly it would be doing way better if I was feeding 6 times per day. So yeah, go with some kind of capillary system-just watch out for the coco EC creeping up, you'll need to flush them occasionally. These plants will be quite root bound after 6 weeks in cups though, be sure you untangle the roots as much as possible when you plant even if you have to tear up the roots a bit, they'll do much better than if you just stick the bound root ball directly into a hole outside.

 

[MidnightSun72]

NFT rails
View attachment 5081991
Im a big DIY guy and this is something id look into for numbers ur talking.

Thanks I'll check these out. But you gotta go bare roots for this right? I started rooting in straight coco and really been liking that.

 

[mudballs]

I've used a tray and saucers to water plants it works fine the nutrient gets taken up instantly but you might need to offset the ec.

Capillary is a good method but ime needs covering with plastic and sites cut from it otherwise the ec is affected, it turns green with algea and gives a high humidity.

Ha! I knew this would be a thing, like the side of fabric pots right?...only every square inch of the floor looks like that lol

 

[MidnightSun72]

I've used a tray and saucers to water plants it works fine the nutrient gets taken up instantly but you might need to offset the ec.

Capillary is a good method but ime needs covering with plastic and sites cut from it otherwise the ec is affected, it turns green with algea and gives a high humidity.

I already have to water these girls twice a day in the cup and more probably would be better. They are almost always light. I am in there water basically every morning and every evening.

 

[MidnightSun72]

Better but clones in coco for six weeks I don’t think you can go less than a half gallon pot

Based on what? Getting root bound? Having to water too often??

 

[Herb & Suds]

Based on what? Getting root bound? Having to water too often??

Yes and yes
Plus I’m not sure the benefit

 

[mudballs]

Thanks I'll check these out. But you gotta go bare roots for this right? I started rooting in straight coco and really been liking that.

Idk honestly...i just know of it for year round greenhouse veggies. They basket them i believe, just like hydro...then a tiny stream flows to fertigate as it runs down rail thats at a gentle angle.
You can do em right in the solo cups and fertigate few times a day

 

[MidnightSun72]

Yes and yes
Plus I’m not sure the benefit

Saves me a ton of room cramming them all together until needed. And just easier to deal with when moving them to the flower room or giving clones to friend. wanna move 50 clones in solo cups then an Amazon box will do the trick. Moving 50 clones in pots becomes a whole job.