Collecting Run-off and re-using

B

Bz Deep

Member
Does anyone collect their run off? Does any one re-use it?

I was trying out setting my plants on a small container that collects run-off water. Otherwise my plants sit in a puddle. Wondering if it is re-usable as it is already PH'd.

Any benefits or risks to doing this?
 
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DoubleAtotheRON

DoubleAtotheRON

Well-Known Member
No.. it's not a good idea. First, your run off will buffer differently than what you feed it initially. And not getting 20% runoff makes it even worse. The build up will wash out and you'll find that if you fed in 1100ppm, your run off (without constant semi flushing), will accumulate, and you'll find your runoff at 2300ppm.... then you'll end up burning your plants with excess runoff. I make sure I get the feed water rushing out of every pot at feed time. I have tested my runoff, and it's just a bit higher that what Im feeding, but as I said, I semi flush every time. And I know it sounds like im wasting nutes, .. but at least my soil stays consistent in ppm's and PH. This should be the standard. Not feeding till you get 20% runoff will result in salt build up. This is why you see so many plants out there getting burned up with nutes. I feed 1100ppm every time, with no fresh water breaks from clone till harvest, and I don't get any nute burn.
 
Nutty sKunK

Nutty sKunK

Well-Known Member
Bz Deep said:
Does anyone collect their run off? Does any one re-use it?

I was trying out setting my plants on a small container that collects run-off water. Otherwise my plants sit in a puddle. Wondering if it is re-usable as it is already PH'd.

Any benefits or risks to doing this?
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I have done but only with fresh unfed organic soil. Any other media and I wouldn’t bother, even when I start feeding.

You can see it like this. 1 gallon pot - the run off EC Is going to be the same concentration as 2 gallon pot halfway down the container. Salts build as you move down. So in theory initial run off is the same as the middle of a bigger pot.

Thus only applies to organic soil and I wouldn’t bother with salt based soil. Or in fact any heavily nutrified (made up word) soil. The soil I use only has an EC of 1.2 and can be used this way without any ill effects.

But having said that just make sure you make enough water/nutrients in the first place lol
 
lusidghost

lusidghost

Well-Known Member
One thing I've never understood is how you can grow in DWC. I would think having a high enough EC to last a week would burn the plants during the first half of that week. What's the difference between DWC and reusing runoff?
 
jondamon

jondamon

Well-Known Member
lusidghost said:
One thing I've never understood is how you can grow in DWC. I would think having a high enough EC to last a week would burn the plants during the first half of that week. What's the difference between DWC and reusing runoff?
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DWC uses a lower ppm along with plenty of oxygen or moving water in RDWC etc.


the nutrient solution is tested every 24h and corrected.

ppm increase of 150 or more means your plants aren’t using everything in the nutes so reduce ppm.

Ppm decrease of 150 and you can increase feeding ppm.

Without a medium that has a CEC the resulting water doesn’t alter much other than what’s been taken in by the plant.

that’s why testing and top ups etc in DWC are best done more frequently.
 
lusidghost

lusidghost

Well-Known Member
jondamon said:
DWC uses a lower ppm along with plenty of oxygen or moving water in RDWC etc.


the nutrient solution is tested every 24h and corrected.

ppm increase of 150 or more means your plants aren’t using everything in the nutes so reduce ppm.

Ppm decrease of 150 and you can increase feeding ppm.

Without a medium that has a CEC the resulting water doesn’t alter much other than what’s been taken in by the plant.

that’s why testing and top ups etc in DWC are best done more frequently.
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Ah, okay. I thought you left the water in the buckets and just steered the PH for a week at a time.
 
M

Markshomegrown

Well-Known Member
Bz Deep said:
Does anyone collect their run off? Does any one re-use it?

I was trying out setting my plants on a small container that collects run-off water. Otherwise my plants sit in a puddle. Wondering if it is re-usable as it is already PH'd.

Any benefits or risks to doing this?
Click to expand...
It depends on how you grow I guess, I let my plants sit in a puddle (up to 1") in a round tray, 3" larger than the base of the pot, the roots will always draw up some water. if the trays are too full I would use a turkey baster, add it to a bucket of water say 80% water 20% runoff, and water my plants in veg, they don't seem to mind. I do this within 30 minutes of watering the plants.
I don't like wasting anything, some growers even piss in a bucket of water and feed their plants in veg(but that's too far IMO)
 
B

Bz Deep

Member
Markshomegrown said:
It depends on how you grow I guess, I let my plants sit in a puddle (up to 1") in a round tray, 3" larger than the base of the pot, the roots will always draw up some water. if the trays are too full I would use a turkey baster, add it to a bucket of water say 80% water 20% runoff, and water my plants in veg, they don't seem to mind. I do this within 30 minutes of watering the plants.
I don't like wasting anything, some growers even piss in a bucket of water and feed their plants in veg(but that's too far IMO)
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Thanks for the reply. I am wondering about leaving my plants in a puddle. That question actually sparked the question of this thread. My temps are 75F at the hottest. If I water all four of my 5gal plants then I have quite a puddle. Figured it'd be a vector for mold, so i started collecting the run off in a bucket. Measured the Ph and checked for 20% and its all about right.

SO you have never had a problem with leaving your plants in a 1 inch puddle of water?

Thanks to all who replied.
 
PopAndSonGrows

PopAndSonGrows

Well-Known Member
On my first couple grows, i was tossing my runoff onto bare spots in the grass hoping it might help out, and it didn't. I was gona use it in the garden beds but nah, I'd rather not.
 
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