Basically I'm looking for a hand watered grow medium that allows you to feed, organically, as frequently as possible. I was researching coir but stumbled upon the hempy buckets which are supposed to be impossible to over water but I have read reports of root rot due to the reservoir always being topped up suffocating roots on the bottom. I did learn from the hempy bucket thread that chunky perlite was a neutral, well draining, and light medium that promotes root growth. So my question is is it possible to do a hand watered 100% chunky perlite grow with the drain holes on the bottom? If so links are appreciated. If you have any other suggestions on a setup that fits what I'm looking for that would also be appreciated.
100% Perlite? No drip or Hempy.
- Thread starter MBD
- Start date
Little Tommy
Well-Known Member
I just switched over to hempy a couple months ago and have the first 2 in the flowering room. I was always a soil grower and thought it was an interesting concept. I am using 5 gal buckets. As for holes in the bottom, not such a good idea in 100% perlite. The plants will likely dry out unless watered a couple times per day. If you are planning on growing larger plants, the perlite doesn't offer such a great anchor for the roots and tend to lean over when the branches start getting heavy. That idea may work if you mixed in some vermiculite, maybe 10-25%. I am using about 25% vermiculite and 75% perlite. This allows me to water/feed every 3 days. As the plants get larger they use up the water in the bottom 2" res pretty fast. It is amazing how fast they take off after the roots hit the res. I am growing the best plants I have ever grown (been growing about 4 years) using this style of grow. It has been my experience that this is pretty idiot proof and I will be growing hempy from here on out.
I want a quick drying medium so that I can water, monitor, and adjust easily. I'm the type that wants to be in the garden daily but I see that the majority want automated systems and to be able to leave their plants for a week at a time. I treat mine like my children lol. How about a coco/perlite cut?
monkeyinthemist
Well-Known Member
you can do that . i just finished my hempy and it was amazing the buds are so dense they may cause damage if thrown.
BobCajun
Well-Known Member
Experiments have proven that pure vermiculite gives better growth than perlite or perlite/vermiculite mixture. You use pots or buckets with drainage holes about 1" above the bottom. This gives a small reserve which allows the plants to go all day on a single watering. It's been shown that a water level of 1" won't hurt the roots even though it's not aerated. I don't know about feeding with organics only though. You'll probably need hydro fertilizer. Best to be careful about keeping vermiculite dust down by careful handling because I've read that it can have small amounts of asbestos in it. Don't know if it's true, probably depends on the source country. Still it's good to be careful and a dust mask wouldn't hurt. Perlite dust is also bad. It will cause silicosis if you breathe a lot of it. You can wet down perlite before pouring it, to reduce dust.
tusseltussel
Well-Known Member
First hydro. Me and my dad did a non-organic soil grow together, now I'm staring my own. He's 54, I'm 21, and we're both about to start up again separately. If I out perform him he's going to give me a house to grow in otherwise he's going to do it. I'm funding this grow. I'm not really trying to complicate things, I just like to research all my options thoroughly before I begin. Right now I'm thinking going hempy with a smaller reservoir, coco/perlite, or straight perlite. If I go hempy how much smaller should I make the res for daily waterings? I'll have to water a few time a day until the roots hit the res correct? Whats a good perlite/coco mix for my needs? I see it's common for a 50/50 but I dont see anyone going more perlite to coco. No one thinks straight perlite with holes on the bottom is the way to go, so I'll probably have to try that on my own on another grow. My dad talks mad shit and if I lose he will not stop, I'll have to pull the gloves lol.
I'll post up a journal on here to help those such as myself within the next few weeks. I'm growing blue dream using 1000W MH and 1000W HPS used coliseum style, I'm looking for 6'-6'6" trees.
