Aerogarden going great...Got some good questions though

I found that the area I was growing in was probably getting too hot, and I underestimated the importance of having good circulation...probably the best thing I can suggest to anyone is circulation...
Thanks to those who helped me...
I have one pod that has taken off really great since I lowered the aerogarden down off the top shelf and added the fan...
I have since germinated and added in the other pods and have various stages of plants from right after germination to the largest which has approx. 6 to 8 branches.
I have waited to add the nutes till this last week but yellowing started to occur...(2 to 3 days after nutes)I only used a half of a small nutrient tab provided by aerogarden...but they didnt seem to like the change or nutes.
I also noticed small brown spots being burnt through some of the leaves, so I took down the tin-foil surrounding as I read this could focus light to cause said dammage. I will have a ph tester tomorrow and foxfarm nutrients soon.

Question: How long can I grow successfully with just water, and what should I look for to indicate I can wait no longer to add nutrients.

Currently to keep healthy plants I change the water ever week, week and a half...
which makes me remember another question...What is the best way to change the water in the aerogarden without damaging the roots...
Thanks to everyone who has any ideas for me. I really appreciate the help.

Also, I have done all this without the use of airstones...how do I integrate this into my setup...just insert one into the tank and turn it on...?

I would flush and change the rez water, and let them sit in fresh water, get the pH test kit ASAP,

aftr a couple days, start at 1/4 of a nute tab, so a half of a half,

air stone

ASAP

ok thanks...so that picture...just put it in the bottom...and how often do I run the air stone...
also, is it necessary for me to mix the nutes w/ water first, and then ph test it, before I dump it into the basin...or how do I do this...

have the pump on 24/7


wash out the rez, rinse the base, then add your nutrient mix you made, and yes, mixe nutes with water then adjust pH

then thru out the week you will eventually have to fill it up in between feeding, so what ever water you put in there once they start to drink alot, make sure you adjust the pH,

keep it at 5.5 to 5.8

BurnCruise said:

.What is the best way to change the water in the aerogarden without damaging the roots...

Click to expand...

https://www.rollitup.org/aerogardeners/194912-better-way-flush-reservoir.html

there are 2 supports going from front to back of basin that sit directly under the base of some of my pods...took them out...that shouldnt cause any ill effects correct?

thank you thank you

those things do nothing, fuck em
youre all good

It has not even been twelve hours and I can see more growth than I have seen in the last 3 days. this happens every time I change the water...they love it and they shoot up but i am afraid eventually they will need nutrients. Whats the best I can get for the least $$. I was thinking of using foxfarm... but could use some suggestions...thanks

well if you dont want to fork any cash, used the AG nutes

which nutes would be good to purchase

i feel as if the plants i have, have really been stressed hard early in their lives...is this going to affect the outcome of the plants in terms of sex and yeild?

leova said:

https://www.rollitup.org/aerogardeners/194912-better-way-flush-reservoir.html

Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion...really worked great.

shouldnt effect them too much if they was any stress

look into either Fox Farms or General Hydroponics

What's up?

As for siphoning the res, that will be OK for the first few weeks. Once you begin using more and more nutrients, it's a good idea to scrub the res out with a sponge or something suitable. This will get all the deposits stuck to the res out preventing them from causing unseen problems, such as pH fluctuation.

General Hydroponics nutrients have worked great for me so far. It's around 40 bucks for the three part system. They also have a feeding schedule on their site that works great.

Once your roots have become well established in your res, turn your water pump off to prevent stem rot and other fungus from developing.

As for the stress factor, I believe that sex is determined through genetics, and minutely through stress. This doesn't mean that it's hard to turn a perfectly healthy female plant into a hermie.

Good luck, and I'm subscribed.

ok. so I put that quarter tab of nutes in the other day...when should I up it to a half...then three quarter...whole...how long between each nutrient increase?

FoxCompany426 said:

What's up?

As for siphoning the res, that will be OK for the first few weeks. Once you begin using more and more nutrients, it's a good idea to scrub the res out with a sponge or something suitable. This will get all the deposits stuck to the res out preventing them from causing unseen problems, such as pH fluctuation.

General Hydroponics nutrients have worked great for me so far. It's around 40 bucks for the three part system. They also have a feeding schedule on their site that works great.

Once your roots have become well established in your res, turn your water pump off to prevent stem rot and other fungus from developing.

As for the stress factor, I believe that sex is determined through genetics, and minutely through stress. This doesn't mean that it's hard to turn a perfectly healthy female plant into a hermie.

Good luck, and I'm subscribed.

Click to expand...

ok. thanks. some questions...

I find that whenever I put the lid (containing the pods with roots) back on the res. after a cleaning, I almost always seem to pinch a stray root or two under the pump stands legs... I hate to mess with the hanging roots cause Im afraid Ill dip the roots into some germs or contaminate, or forget to wash my hands and touch the roots with nicotine fingers, or do some unforseen harm to them by manipulating the roots. Got any good suggestions on what to do with the roots while I clean the res.?

Also you said that I should turn off the pump to avoid root rot...wouldnt that make it worse...sitting in a stagnant pool?

Good to hear that sex is determined by genetics...that means I got a fifty-fifty shot with each plant. I just started adjusting the ph 3 weeks in and I was worried this might affect sex also. For the first 3 weeks, Im guessing they were in really basic water.

Also, is it normal that the water in my res. seems to drop in ph as the week goes by...?? Seems like its getting closer and closer to 5.0. Thats too low right?

BurnCruise said:

ok. thanks. some questions...

I find that whenever I put the lid (containing the pods with roots) back on the res. after a cleaning, I almost always seem to pinch a stray root or two under the pump stands legs... I hate to mess with the hanging roots cause Im afraid Ill dip the roots into some germs or contaminate, or forget to wash my hands and touch the roots with nicotine fingers, or do some unforseen harm to them by manipulating the roots. Got any good suggestions on what to do with the roots while I clean the res.?

Click to expand...

I never really worried about it too much. On my second grow, I handled my roots quite a bit, but I never had any problems in my res. I always took them out with the top and all and set them in a glass baking dish with pH'd water.

Also you said that I should turn off the pump to avoid root rot...wouldnt that make it worse...sitting in a stagnant pool?

Click to expand...

Not if you have airstones running constantly. Only turn off the AG water pump.

Also, is it normal that the water in my res. seems to drop in ph as the week goes by...?? Seems like its getting closer and closer to 5.0. Thats too low right?

Click to expand...

Never had that problem before. What kind of water are you using?

OK...Setting it in a tray of balanced water sounds like a good idea.

In regards to the type of water I use:
I use tap water that I let sit for 24 hours. It has a high ph from the tap(like 8+). With the nutes provided by aerogrow.

Yea, looks like every few days it could be getting lower... or it could be possible, that, while balancing the ph I did a test when it wasnt thoroughly mixed... Ill check again in a few days...but I really do think its getting lower...

Also, I have been on a 16.5 light to 7.5dark schedule, and I would like to switch to a 20/4 to get some more growth on these plants before they start to flower. Will it be a problem to switch to this cycle and then back again? Keep in mind I have several plants growing, the youngest about a week and the oldest going on a month...

My plants seem really small too(and compact)...I have more lights to add but I want to wait until they are strong enough for all the heat...or is this not something to be concerned about?

I don't know about the pH, just play with it.

I don't think it'll do that much harm, but your plants should begin to flower quicker if you leave them on the setting they're at now.

Small and compact is fine. They'll explode when you switch to flower.