AK48 in AutoPots

[2001M2]

What's up ladies and genitals!

I wanted to share my first real grow with everyone. I'm using AK48 seeds from Nirvana and an AutoPot kit from Future Garden. I added 2 additional auto pots to the setup with some coir and Growstones (instead of perlite) from my local hydro shop (http://greenmattersonline.com/). I picked up a Sun Blaze 46 (6 - 4' T5) there too. I built my own little grow cabinet with some 4x4's and 11/32" plywood with flat white paint. (I ran out of paint before I got to the last 2x4s as you can see in the pics lolz)

I numbered the plants 1 through 4 based on which ones poked out of the seed first. I'm not sure if it's a coincidence but plants number 2 and 4 are the ones I used the coir/growstones mix with and, oddly enough, they're light years ahead of the other two that are in the coir perlite mix. I uploaded them in order but I'm not sure if they'll stay that way when I post. You can see the two with the perlite easily.

I started out with the paper towel method on 04/16/12 and now, just over a month later, this is what I have going on... (Allegedly of course)

 

[hunter21312]

Hell yeah man looking great! What size pots and how much did they cost ya i been thinking about getting some auto pots..Do they water them automaticly?

 

[Saldaw]

what exactly is an autopot?

 

[2001M2]

The AutoPots are pretty impressive. The pot modules are two 10" pots. The autopot valve sits between the two pots in the module and it uses gravity to keep a constant level of water in the base. The way the pots are designed, the coir soaks up the water and stays moist so that the root ball isn't in water but it sits in moist coir. The 10" pots might be too small for the roots to be completely happy but that's the best I can do right now.

You can see from the last pic that I have two modules in line. There's a 1/4" tube that runs from the bottom of the 47 liter reservoir to a T fitting. One leg of the T goes to the first valve and the other leg of the T goes to the second valve.

The kit from Future Garden was $100 and I added another module (2 more pots) for $70. The kit comes with coir, perlite, nutes, and the autopot system. Check it out here: http://futuregarden.com/future-garden-products/easy-2-grow-autopot-kit.html

I had an issue where the second valve wasn't getting water because I had the reservoir too low. I moved the reservoir up about 8" higher than the valves and everything is cool now.

 

[Saldaw]

very cool indeed. + rep

 

[2001M2]

Thanks Saldaw!

Look at how much growth the girls have managed in just a few days.


I actually started the wet paper towel germination on 04/22/12, not the 16th. So that puts us at 5 weeks from starting the seed germination. Allegedly of course

 

[ineverveg]

im subbed m8, been looking for a good autopot thread. added bonus is the ak48has been my favourite strain now for a year, im more than interested to see what they do in autopots.

 

[2001M2]

Here's where we're at today. I did some trimming to allow air to circulate a little better. Trimming makes me nervous but hopefully I did more good than harm.

It looks like the fan is doing an awesome job at building a strong stem.

Allegedly of course.

 

[ExtremeMetal43]

They look awesome the node spacing is awesome.

 

[nas2007]

hey there i just started my first autopots to, whats your medium and nutes? is your tank's ph going up every day? or is it steady? i set my ph to 5.8 and the next day its it 6.4, im using canna coco as my medium coco A&B, rhizotonic as my nutes

subed

 

[2001M2]

I'm using two different mediums. In pots #1 and #3 I'm using Ultrapeat coir from a brick and perlite that came in the autopot kit from futuregarden.com. Pots #2 and #4 (the bigger plants) I'm using Roots Organics cocopalms and Growstones that my hydro guy suggested.

Right now I'm using the Liquid Earth nutes that came with the autopot kit. It seems to be doing fine but since this is my first real grow I don't know any different. Probably in another week or so I'll be getting to the bottom of my nutes and I'll have to pick some new ones. I'm going to go with whatever my hydro guy suggests.

Since you asked I went and checked my pH. The reservoir is at 6.7 and in each of the trays it's 6.5. I usually start out at 5.9-6.0 when I mix nutes. That's about the same results you're seeing too. Do you have condensation in your reservoir? I have some on the inside walls. My guess is that it might have something to do with that. I really have no idea WTF I'm talking about though haha

 

[nas2007]

I'm using two different mediums. In pots #1 and #3 I'm using Ultrapeat coir from a brick and perlite that came in the autopot kit from futuregarden.com. Pots #2 and #4 (the bigger plants) I'm using Roots Organics cocopalms and Growstones that my hydro guy suggested.

Right now I'm using the Liquid Earth nutes that came with the autopot kit. It seems to be doing fine but since this is my first real grow I don't know any different. Probably in another week or so I'll be getting to the bottom of my nutes and I'll have to pick some new ones. I'm going to go with whatever my hydro guy suggests.

Since you asked I went and checked my pH. The reservoir is at 6.7 and in each of the trays it's 6.5. I usually start out at 5.9-6.0 when I mix nutes. That's about the same results you're seeing too. Do you have condensation in your reservoir? I have some on the inside walls. My guess is that it might have something to do with that. I really have no idea WTF I'm talking about though haha

most of the boys on here use canna coco as they medium with the auto pots it works out the best from all the medium as far as my research goes.
also do you have a air pump connected in your tank? i have a air pump connected to a air stone, the air stone is sitting bottom of the tank, you will want this to keep you nutrients fresh or they will start to go off after 2 days, in my experience it is better to do your research here on these threads rather then listening to your hydro guy, dont gt me wrong they be right at times but not all the time,

this is one of my pals thred on autopots this will be a good research for you on what you might want to use on ur autopots next
https://www.rollitup.org/blogs/blog786-lowryder-2-grow-journal-canna.html

this is my thred i got gong on autopots at the moment
https://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/527965-autopots-canna-coco.html

 

[44ounces]

nice one man.

 

[2001M2]

Here's the girls at 6 weeks from starting the seeds. They've grown a lot and the grow space is filling up quickly.


Allegedly of course

 

[2001M2]

After 7 weeks since seed this is the last day of veg. Tonight is the first night of darkness (in Dave Chappelle voice)!



Allegedly of course

 

[nas2007]

After 7 weeks since seed this is the last day of veg. Tonight is the first night of darkness (in Dave Chappelle voice)!



Allegedly of course




View attachment 2205581View attachment 2205582View attachment 2205583View attachment 2205584View attachment 2205585View attachment 2205586

looking good!!!!!!!!!!

 

[2001M2]

After 9 weeks from germination and 12 days into flowering, we're starting to see some buds. The girls are getting big for sure. The #2 and #4 girls are blocking out some of the light the runt of the litter (#3) is getting.



Allegedly of course...

 

[nas2007]

what nutes are you using? and at what rate?

 

[ManishWayz]

Your ladies are looking beautiful and you have a nice set-up. Can't wait to see those ladies in full bloom.

 

[2001M2]

@nas2007 I'm using the Liquid Earth nutes that came from Futuregarden.com. I'm following the recommended dosage that they have listed on the back of the bottles. It's 10ml of their Vigor with 20ml of their Bloom formula per gallon of water. During veg it was 10ml of Vigor with 20ml of Grow.

The only issue is that it was designed for 1 Autopot module (2 plants) and I added a second one. I'm probably going to run out of the Vigor before they're done. We'll see though. It might just be cutting it close.



Thanks ManishWayz!