Al B. FAQt

[Al B. Fuct]

heh, thanx. Let us know if the meter starts behaving itself after a little soak & a bit o' damp sponge in the cap.

FYI, that sponge bit can get a bit funky after a while. Change it every couple of weeks and clean the meter probe tip with a toothbrush & a soln of 1ml 50% grade H2O2 in 10ml water.

 

[Chumlie]

whats up Al? Hey one of my plants has zinc def, and it's probably form nute lock. The new leaves haver oragne the brown tips. First if it is nute lock then I shuldn't add any slag tea, are will it hurt it? Well its the only one with it so it may nut be nute lock.

Well my main question is how to make tea with slag. You think a cup would be enough for the one plant even though it will mix and go into the other plants?

 

[Al B. Fuct]

For nute strength-I am preparing to take them to 1100ppm for day7-14 of veg up from the 700ppm for day 1-6. Its ok??

yep, should be fine.

Saw your post in regards to the aeroclonre v. rockwool for cloning. I am an experienced propagator (no canna exp. but a shitload of woody ornamentals)

bitchefershure, I could use your help propagating grevilleas and some Wollemi pines.

saw the aerocloner as a way to save some time and headaches but at 400usd I wonder if I made a mistake in the purchase. You have not seen the "foolproof ease" they claim to offer?? Or just personal preference for you and the rw?

Sorry, but I'm afraid you've spent about $300-350 more than you needed to. Did you keep the receipt? Hope so.

I never found aerocloners to be foolproof at all. I got inconsistent results with them, probably due to inability to control the rootzone temp as closely as one can with RW cubes on a heat mat.



Can't be much more than $50-100 to set up a clonebox with a couple fluoros, a small exhaust fan & thermostat and a heat mat, depending upon what bits for one you might already have lying around.

 

[GypsyBush]

Hey Al...!

Hope it's all good in your neck of the woods...

Gotta question about HPS lights and distance from the plants...

I've been reading that a 100 Watt HPS is good enough for a 2x2 at a 2 foot distance from the tops...

I have a very small clone garden with some CFLs and a 35 watt HPS with 2250 initial lumens and 1900k... and yes it is an Aerogarden... but let's just pretend it's not... I know you don't like them...

Since it runs so cool, I can keep it 3 to 4 inches away without burns...

Does it being so close compensate for the fact that it is only 35 Watts...

I have been contemplating getting a 70 Watt to compare the temp diff, but then again I could just double up on the 35's and get better distribution... yes?

What are your thoughts...?

Thanks for letting me pick your brain... I did search around, but no one uses that small of a set up, with such small plants...

Cheers!!!

Gypsy...

 

[Al B. Fuct]

it is an Aerogarden... but let's just pretend it's not...

Lighting is your smallest problem. You've got serious root disease and that's probably related to pathogens (pythium, fusarium) in the Aerogarden. Tear it apart, clean all water contact surfaces with a solution of 10ml 50% grade H2O2 in 1L water. Apply 50% grade H2O2 to standard (not organic) nutes at 1ml/L every 3-4 days. Change nutes every 2 weeks. Verify that the oxygenation system in the Aerothing is working, however that is accomplished, by air pump or water spraying.

Replace all your small HPS lights with a single 150 or preferably 250W HPS. You'll get more lumens/watt than your hodgepodge of small lamps, much more intensity and a good chance of making some dense nugs. Got to fix the root problems first.

What I like least about Aerogardens is that you can have a damn competent 250W wardrobe grow which reliably puts out an oz every 2 weeks for the same amount of dough. 'As seen on TV' does not mean 'good.'

 

[Al B. Fuct]

Let's be clear here; I dislike Aerogardens because they're too small to grow cannabis plants and they flower with fluoros, a recipe for low quality & poor yield.

While I think the Aerogarden is not well suited for the task of growing cannabis and is not good value for money, I don't dislike the people who use them; I really feel sorry for them. They've thrown a lot of cash at something which is going to disappoint them. There's better ways do do the job, much more cheaply.

All that aside, I can make a troubled Aerogarden grow work, given sufficient HPS lighting and a room/tent with good ventilation/temp control. It's a small aeroponic system like any other, albeit with some control circuitry that for the most part doesn't suit cannabis and makes it just that much harder to use. It'll have the same problems as any other aero grow.

 

[GypsyBush]

Lighting is your smallest problem. You've got serious root disease and that's probably related to pathogens (pythium, fusarium) in the Aerogarden. Tear it apart, clean all water contact surfaces with a solution of 10ml 50% grade H2O2 in 1L water. Apply 50% grade H2O2 to standard (not organic) nutes at 1ml/L every 3-4 days. Change nutes every 2 weeks. Verify that the oxygenation system in the Aerothing is working, however that is accomplished, by air pump or water spraying.

Replace all your small HPS lights with a single 150 or preferably 250W HPS. You'll get more lumens/watt than your hodgepodge of small lamps, much more intensity and a good chance of making some dense nugs. Got to fix the root problems first.

What I like least about Aerogardens is that for the cost of one, you can have a damn competent 250W wardrobe grow which reliably puts out an oz every 2 weeks for the same amount of dough. 'As seen on TV' does not mean 'good.'

Thanks for replying man...

The root issues come from me not being able to remove 100% of the rockwool the clones were rooted in... those parts were soaked and drowned... I think...

The water pump and the airstone I added are working...

There are new white roots popping up on all of the original clones... Should I try to remove some of that old rotted root material???

I will wash as you instructed...

As for nutes I am using a product called Bloom Juice by NSR Greenleaves, and in the front of the bottle it says 2-5-4... is that 20-50-40???

Do you run any such small bulbs?
I am curious about how much heat they produce at what distances...

I will look into the 250 Watt, but I am afraid I will run into heat issues...
Some tests will confirm that...

As for the value of the Aerothingy...

I got more than just the plastic parts...
It has been an introduction to indoor/hydro growing...
It has taken a lot of the mystery out of the picture...

I agree you can do the same or better with the same money...
But for a beginner with zero knowledge, it has been a great tool...

Would I buy a second one? NO WAY!!!! I will build my own...

But I must say, that I went from zero to having a set up with clones in one afternoon, and that would have been impossible with the knowledge I had at the time...

Well thanks again!!!

Gypsy...

 

[GypsyBush]

Let's be clear here; I dislike Aerogardens because they're too small to grow cannabis plants and they flower with fluoros, a recipe for low quality & poor yield.

So if I switch to a bigger HPS and use it to flower 4 inch clones... does that paint a little better picture...???

While I think the Aerogarden is not well suited for the task of growing cannabis and is not good value for money, I don't dislike the people who use them; I really feel sorry for them. They've thrown a lot of cash at something which is going to disappoint them. There's better ways do do the job, much more cheaply.

I knew that, otherwise you wouldn't have taken the time...

I wouldn't feel to sorry for me, I have had a blast, and the money I have spent is well within my "play budget"...

Also got to take into consideration that I am recovering from a severe leg brake (therefore making the play budget a little bigger, because I can't do shit), and walking the isles of HD or WM is not at all possible without a lot of pain...
Going to the store and picking up one box, was deff, a plus in my situation...

All that aside, I can make a troubled Aerogarden grow work, given sufficient HPS lighting and a room/tent with good ventilation/temp control. It's a small aeroponic system like any other, albeit with some control circuitry that for the most part doesn't suit cannabis and makes it just that much harder to use. It'll have the same problems as any other aero grow.

So maybe a 250 watt HPS inside of a cool tube on a batwing...?

Any idea how close I could keep it to my 4 inch clones?

It sounds overkill...

But you know... I am asking... hehehe!

Thanks again and again and again... you are one cool dude for taking the time to answer everyones questions...!!!

Much respect...!!!

Gypsy...

 

[xtc420]

hi Al... i've read alot of posts from you and there's one thing that i remember you saying that it is okay to give your plants tap water... is that true? because i've got four clones.. just got em today =) (reaaally excited!!first grow) and i checked my tap water and the ph came out around 7.5 and the ppm over 300 =( is this bad.?? if true.. can you please give me some good advice on how to fix this problem? any reply is much appreciated~ thank you in advance!!

 

[Al B. Fuct]

The root issues come from me not being able to remove 100% of the rockwool the clones were rooted in... those parts were soaked and drowned... I think...

Sounds probable.

The water pump and the airstone I added are working...

Sounds like Grandpa's axe- you know, the one that's on its third head and fourth handle- but by gum, that's Grandpa's axe!

There are new white roots popping up on all of the original clones...

Good news.

Should I try to remove some of that old rotted root material???

If you can do so without damaging the new roots, have a go.

As for nutes I am using a product called Bloom Juice by NSR Greenleaves, and in the front of the bottle it says 2-5-4... is that 20-50-40???

No, it's 2-5-4. Sounds like a fairly weak nutrient.

Do you run any such small bulbs?
I am curious about how much heat they produce at what distances...

Nope, the smallest I use is a 400HPS.

I will look into the 250 Watt, but I am afraid I will run into heat issues...
Some tests will confirm that...

Improve the ventilation. Air has to be forcibly removed from the area. A small grow like yours is a good candidate for a freestanding wardrobe or growtent with a 250HPS in a cooltube and a separate exhaust fan.

So if I switch to a bigger HPS and use it to flower 4 inch clones... does that paint a little better picture...???

4 inches tall? Why so short?

So maybe a 250 watt HPS inside of a cool tube on a batwing...?

For a 250, a cooltube with an internal reflector will do, it won't be covering a very large area.

Any idea how close I could keep it to my 4 inch clones?

3-6"

It sounds overkill...

It sounds a 4-6 plant SoG op which yields between .5 & 1oz every 2 weeks to me. How much can you smoke?

 

[purpdaddy]

So if I switch to a bigger HPS and use it to flower 4 inch clones... does that paint a little better picture...???





I knew that, otherwise you wouldn't have taken the time...

I wouldn't feel to sorry for me, I have had a blast, and the money I have spent is well within my "play budget"...

Also got to take into consideration that I am recovering from a severe leg brake (therefore making the play budget a little bigger, because I can't do shit), and walking the isles of HD or WM is not at all possible without a lot of pain...
Going to the store and picking up one box, was deff, a plus in my situation...





So maybe a 250 watt HPS inside of a cool tube on a batwing...?

Any idea how close I could keep it to my 4 inch clones?

It sounds overkill...

But you know... I am asking... hehehe!

Thanks again and again and again... you are one cool dude for taking the time to answer everyones questions...!!!

Much respect...!!!

Gypsy...

instead of getting that 250w. hps or mh..you can get a couple 150w. cfl replacement bulbs for a fraction of the price(2900) Lumens each.I added 4 more plus the old AG hood and i am having no probs with lightiing.But i also agree with al.The AG is not for growing cannabis and needs a makeover, but we can make this thing work,ever since i added the extrs cfl's i am having no probs with light.but if you do dcide to go with the 250w or whatever.dont even use the AG hood.

 

[saturnlily]

damn i just keep pulling prob. out my ass. sorry. i need your help again now they are spotting yellow and brown on theaves and they are crisping.... here are pics.sorry they are a little blurry the pruple circles are what im talking about.

 

[Al B. Fuct]

instead of getting that 250w. hps or mh..you can get a couple 150w. cfl replacement bulbs for a fraction of the price(2900) Lumens each.

1) lumens don't add. The lumen figure is a measure of brightness. No lamp gets brighter because there is another one beside it. 2x 2900lm lamps yields 2900 lumens.

2) A 250HPS yields 28,500 lumens, the lamp tube is $20. An entire kit with ballast and ref is $117.

3) 150W CFLs are about $60 each.

4) Flowering with fluoros is a waste of time. Yields thin, fluffy buds.

5) Giving advice you haven't researched makes you look silly every single time..

 

[Al B. Fuct]

damn i just keep pulling prob. out my ass. sorry. i need your help again now they are spotting yellow and brown on theaves and they are crisping.... here are pics.sorry they are a little blurry the pruple circles are what im talking about.

Looks like either lamp too close or pH probs. How far is your HPS from the leaves?

 

[saturnlily]

it isnt uncomfortable when my hand it above them just warm... like a foot but the ph is not 6.6

 

[Al B. Fuct]

pH should be 5.8, move that light up to at least 36" from the leaves. Seedlings absolutely can't cop an HPS from a foot away.

Fix those, wait a couple days and let me know how you go.

 

[saturnlily]

oh,ok thought it was supposed to be around 6.5 from you charts but ill lower it more and raise the light thanks

 

[Al B. Fuct]

oh, that's right, you're in soil. Yes, you're right, 6.5 then. Move the light up. That should fix the necrotic spotting.

 

[saturnlily]

thanks again damn your helpfull im very lucky your on this site.

 

[Al B. Fuct]

BigBudBalls wrote:

---Quote (Originally by Al B. Fuct)---
pH should be 5.8, move that light up to at least 36" from the leaves. Seedlings absolutely can't cop an HPS from a foot away.

Fix those, wait a couple days and let me know how you go.
---End Quote---

He's in soil, shouldn't the pH be more like 6.5?

BBB, look up three posts... then go change the water in your Aerogarden that you haven't changed in 3 mos.