How long to flush when using clearex?

doniawon said:

I like the swimming pool quote, so which little pretty bottles do you use? do you lower the ppm? im willing to keep experimenting with no flush because its a pain in the ass with a perpetual garden but i cant be just imagining the chem taste and ive harvested without flushing several times in many years. My only thought would be the ppm's are to high at the end, maybe i should drop them or just keep at steady 1100ppm start to finish. Im gonna go chop some 1200 ppm buds and ill post in a week. fingers crossed.

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If you're feeding your girls 1200ppm at the height of flowering then I'd recommend feeding at about 1/2 that during your final week. If you pay attention to your plants, they'll tell you what they need in the last few weeks of their life and I've found that what they don't need is heavy feeding. For a 9 week strain, my feeding levels for the last two weeks are down 25-50% from peak levels, depending on the strain. I don't flush, but I should also add that I'm not dumping excessive nutes in my res in order to get a last minute push for weight.

In addition to my 'no flush', I want to emphasize that I do leach salts at least two times during the flowering period. As someone else pointed out, I use clearex for a few hours and monitor the ppm over that time period. Usually after two hours, I'm able to leach 500-700ppm (depending on the nute brand) of salts which goes down the drain and the res gets filled with fresh nutes.

also why are they droppin new flavors of sweet about every month now? snake oil?

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The flavors are funny and some of those products out there are absolutely snake oil. Sweet on the other hand has a good dose of sulfur which has been shown to increase essential oil production, it also has sugars to feed your microbes (if you're running them), and aminos which can be of some benefit to some. I've found products that contain 2% sulfur to aid in aroma as well but the caveat is the more aromatic, resinous products have not been more potent.

homebrewer said:

If you're feeding your girls 1200ppm at the height of flowering then I'd recommend feeding at about 1/2 that during your final week. If you pay attention to your plants, they'll tell you what they need in the last few weeks of their life and I've found that what they don't need is heavy feeding. For a 9 week strain, my feeding levels for the last two weeks are down 25-50% from peak levels, depending on the strain. I don't flush, but I should also add that I'm not dumping excessive nutes in my res in order to get a last minute push for weight.

In addition to my 'no flush', I want to emphasize that I do leach salts at least two times during the flowering period. As someone else pointed out, I use clearex for a few hours and monitor the ppm over that time period. Usually after two hours, I'm able to leach 500-700ppm (depending on the nute brand) of salts which goes down the drain and the res gets filled with fresh nutes.

The flavors are funny and some of those products out there are absolutely snake oil. Sweet on the other hand has a good dose of sulfur which has been shown to increase essential oil production, it also has sugars to feed your microbes (if you're running them), and aminos which can be of some benefit to some. I've found products that contain 2% sulfur to aid in aroma as well but the caveat is the more aromatic, resinous products have not been more potent.

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I have to say i agree completly with this line of thought. Im going to make the adjustment to cut out flushing. i also use h202 so im done with carbs and sugars. i have no bb anyway. And i totally agree that 90% of the hydro store is snake oil.

doniawon said:

I like the swimming pool quote, so which little pretty bottles do you use? do you lower the ppm? im willing to keep experimenting with no flush because its a pain in the ass with a perpetual garden but i cant be just imagining the chem taste and ive harvested without flushing several times in many years. My only thought would be the ppm's are to high at the end, maybe i should drop them or just keep at steady 1100ppm start to finish. Im gonna go chop some 1200 ppm buds and ill post in a week. fingers crossed.

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I use the Lucas method 0-8-16. That formulation runs at about 1020 ppm @ .5 with my tap water. I keep my reservoir in the 900 - 1200 ppm range throughout, never using any additives. I use the 1/3 add-back method and the reservour usually goes for about 8 to 10 weeks between change-outs. I try to adjust pH (5.6 - 6.0) with ether tap water (up) or nutrients (down). When that becomes difficult I do a reservoir change. I spend about $10.00 in nutes over a 8-10 week period. My rule of thumb is...well you already know that, it's my signature phrase.

Peace

^^^Good shit....I love that sig....unfortunately I use 9 dif. pretty bottles throughout my grow..10 if you count PH down...so I can't relate^^^

Edit::: Also..when using the Lucas formula..is that # you gave the ml per gal...also I've heard that some people that use the Lucas increase the ratio when in flower....do you do this???

ENDLSCYCLE said:

^^^Good shit....I love that sig....unfortunately I use 9 dif. pretty bottles throughout my grow..10 if you count PH down...so I can't relate^^^

Edit::: Also..when using the Lucas formula..is that # you gave the ml per gal...also I've heard that some people that use the Lucas increase the ratio when in flower....do you do this???

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Thanks Man, hey I used to use the 9 bottles too and grew awesome dope. But ever since I tried out Lucas I've never looked back, it's just so easy. And no, I don't raise or lower the ppm purposely at any time through the grow.

Peace

Oh, and almost forgot. Love the Avatar

i run clearex for 24 hours between res changes plants have more then enuff nutes to hold out while you get those salts outta the roots. especially if your running organic stuff like me in botanicare line really builds up in couple weeks.. plants love it and never care about 24 hours with clearex

Just my 2 cents: I just harvested two plants that did not get flushed at all for whatever reason. I know they should be flushed properly, but they don't crackle and it is a very smooth smoke. I think as long as you get some sort of flush for a few days depending on nutrient levels and strain I guess, you should be good enough, atleast for being in a bind likt that. Good luck.

MightyZeppelin said:

I use the Lucas method 0-8-16. That formulation runs at about 1020 ppm @ .5 with my tap water. I keep my reservoir in the 900 - 1200 ppm range throughout, never using any additives. I use the 1/3 add-back method and the reservour usually goes for about 8 to 10 weeks between change-outs. I try to adjust pH (5.6 - 6.0) with ether tap water (up) or nutrients (down). When that becomes difficult I do a reservoir change. I spend about $10.00 in nutes over a 8-10 week period. My rule of thumb is...well you already know that, it's my signature phrase.

Peace

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I run lucas also, but i was using kool bloom/gravity changing the res every two weeks. I think ill try letting them go longer. thanks for the info +rep

r1tony said:

i run clearex for 24 hours between res changes plants have more then enuff nutes to hold out while you get those salts outta the roots. especially if your running organic stuff like me in botanicare line really builds up in couple weeks.. plants love it and never care about 24 hours with clearex

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I feed em right till I chop..use biotanicare and smoke is incredible... never flush

when flushing with clearex in an aeroponic system, should you leave the sprayers on normal timing, or let them run longer or even constantly? For instance, my sprayers are set at 1 min on 7 min off, so would I use this timing when flushing?