I'm sure I could post this question on another thread, but I do grow Auto's alone. Here is a question about transplanting. One of my hydro units is the rainforest 66/318... Just different lids really...
My question. I started them in 3 inch net pots, they did fine, great roots and all, but that hydro unit was using a submersible pump, so as they mature they desire less reservoir temperatures. I believe this why they did well in the beginning, warmer root zone temps. But they started to show negative signs about 2 weeks in, roots were browning, growth stunted, and I just couldnt keep cooling down the res, (That was hitting 80+ temps at times. )
I transplanted them to 6" net posts to put in the rainforest system. I have only grown in the rainforest from begining to end before, I have never transplanted from 3" net pot to 6" net pot before... So the question.. Whats the best way? I put a thin layer of hydroton on the botton, then carefully circled the roots around the outside, figured they had the easiest root to nutes that way, and carefullly surrounded 3" pot with hydroton... Every one of them stunted.. Now keeping in mind Im using an auto blueberry, which is already sensative. A little bit of leaf curling, but nothing major, but near 0 growth on any for over a week, where as they were doing fine....
The roots are finally poking out of the 6" net pots and exposed to the areoponic yummy nutes, fresh bringht green new growth is popping up and they look to be cruising again, root zone is about 68 degrees. They look like they will be fine, but because its an auto I cant make up the growth lost during that time, and a week of veg time on an auto is HUGE, especially 3rd week.. They should have been launching like rockets, well, begining too....
Once the roots popped out, one by one they greened up and started again, so there is no doubt in my mind the transplanting was the issue... I dont have room to start everything in 6" pots, The system I use starts in 2" or 3" and then transplant to 6"...
For those with experience, do I have to change how I do this, and start and finish in the same sized net pot? I guess yes because the least amount amount of root disturbance would be best, but people transplant all the time and if done carefully should be fine.. Thoughts on the best way to do this? I have AK's coming up in 3" and I dont want this to happen again. those auto's need every day of un interupted grownth as possible, they werent autos I could just make up the time with a week of veg growth, but obviously not an option here...
did some counting
this little girl is 61 days since germ. the trichs are starting to cloud up. another week. started flushing 3 days ago.
. Also with the sensor exposed like so do you have a problem with the reading of the temp as well. It seems that the gauges are off to me.
