So i had a good look around this site today
Let me just say there a lot of people that are pretty much wasting a lot time and effort by reading false information on the net
You have people putting all kinds of crap in their systems to solve problems that were caused by themselves by doing silly things
So i thought i might give my 2 cents and hopefully someone might get a better crop
First thing to remember is it’s a weed it will grow almost anywhere easily without our help
The first thing i noticed was people where playing around with their food to much being too picky about being spot on 1200 or 1400
Anything over 400 it will grow fine just a little pale 1200 and 1400 is the absolute high not a must be
When its under it fine close enough is good enough just don’t go over and if you can be a little lower it promotes root growth they go looking for food
My root ball weighs about2 kilos when i chuck it in the bin and is the size of a footy and pure white
Next was the system some don’t even have air pumps with my aero system they get more oxygen than it could ever use
Next was the yellow leaf deal thing people panic when a couple of the bottom shade leaves go yellow they add all kinds of chemicals Well they do that for a reason and it doesn’t need fixing the leaves above them are blocking the light so they just die off as they are no longer needed
So don’t try and fix it
If you want to give the bottom more light use mirrors not plastic crap on the walls mirrors reflect 90 percent of the light that is pointed at them so you can in theory double the amount of light simply by adding a couple of mirrors
Next where possible force the plant grow vertically bend it over asap it forces the side branches to grow up and instead of having one main bud i normally have 20 -25 good size crown heads
Pictures coming
Don’t know if i have already said but tip the whole plant twice once at around 40cm and again the day you put them on head
Stop tipping and touching the day you put it on head all you should need to do is support the buds from above with something that doesn’t burn Garden wire stuff is fine its covered in plastic just don’t do it too tight
Yes your all right i am full of it but it works for me and for others with great results
JUST REMEMBER CANNA OR YOU FOOD OF CHOICE IS THE ONLY THING YOU SHOULD PUT IN YOU HYDRO OR AERO SYSTEM NO ADDITIVES OR RUBBISH THEY ARE ALL A CON
IF THEY WORKED MANUFACTURES WOULD OUT IT IN THE FOOD AND THEY DONT
My Aero system
Bits needed
2 X reflex number 10 black plastic stackable tubs
1 X Reflex number 10 lid
1 X pump
1 Meter of black irrigation pipe 1 inch
6 x black clamps for the end of the pipes they hold the bungs in the end of the pipes and hold the pipe on the pump
2 X bungs 1 inch
2 X DAN Modular Sprinklers i use Small Black Swivel 360° Dont forget the bridge part it pokes in the pipe and the sprinkler pushes onto it X 2 from
www.diyirrigation.com.au
You choice of clay balls or Quartz pebbles ( cleaned and rinsed ) I prefer Quartz pebbles but they can be a little hard to come by sometimes and i feel a little stupid digging around the pebbles in my front yard so clay balls are fine just wash them after each crop
I got stuck using them this crop the local nursery closed down
All this stuff can be picked up for under 100 bucks pump included delivered
Now the most important part of Aero is stopping root matter getting into the pump it will just push it straight through and clog the sprinkler most hydro stores have what’s called a root shield it normally goes in the bottom of pots to stop the roots clogging up your gear here its used to stop stuff falling through the drain holes in the top tank
I use 2 they about 20cm diameter round and just look like black cloth they cover the 2 drain holes in the top tank the holes need to be at least 3cm and have 2
The beauty of this system is it can’t flood your house cause the top tank will hold the entire contents of the bottom tank if it ever got clogged mine has never got clogged and besides the pump can’t lift the last 5 cm of water in the bottom tank
I normally set the system up put a seed in some Rockwool and as soon as the roots poke out of the wool i put it in the system on full strength food 18 hours light (don’t be fooled into giving them 24 it doesn’t work they just get shock ) water it every morning and night with tap water about a glass full is plenty until the roots poke out of the pot and are getting wet by the sprinklers all of this should take about 5 days (with a good seed) to poke out the bottom once they touch the food they explode pretty much i leave mine on grow for 3 weeks in that time it grows about 75cm on average sometimes a lot more i normally bend it over 90 degrees as soon as its tall enough and have it grow vertical till it reaches the other side of the tub (i plant to one side not in the middle as the sprinklers don’t shoot up just sideways)The plant should have al the tips taken out twice once at about 40cm and then the day you put it on head 12hours
I use canna i never use grow just Flower if you use grow your plant will just be totally uncontrollable mine can stretch up to double what they were before i put them on head when i use the grow and space is limited
I use a 10 litter watering can to mix my food 3 caps of each and once every 2 weeks roughly i just use fresh water it makes sure the plant actually uses the food and doesn’t get lockout (absolutely don’t put fresh water in it for 2 weeks prior to pulling it will weaken you choof
I fill every 2 days about 20 liters
Doing the food this way you dont need to change it at all through the grow just top it up
This way you have eliminated all of the variables if there is a problem just change the water there is nothing else to do or check and its all it can be
I have found Budrite to be a very good replacement for Canna when its out of stock