Budget Two-Level Stealth Cab

cashgrassnazz

Well-Known Member
The tomato plant took a major turn for the worst yesterday. Several days ago, I had concluded that its growth had been stunted and its leaves seemed to be a little burned. Assuming that it was due to nutrient lockout, I decided to flush it with distilled water for a few days. The big mistake came from my half thought out attempt at supplying the plant with nutrients via foliar feeding. The mental note that will never leave me is.. "NEVER apply undiluted nutrients directly to a plants leaves!!" ..Oh well, the plant was a brandywine heirloom which folks claim to be one of the tougher plants to grow even in an outdoor environment. That being the case, I'll give it another go with some Siberian tomatoes which mature very quickly and can tolerate lower temperatures. At least this gives me a chance to learn from my silly mistakes while I continue to make further adjustments to the cabinet. Speaking of which, the addition of the laptop cooling pad/fan between the shelves made a huge difference not just in ventilation but also providing a good source to block light from bleeding through to each chamber. I'm also able to do a little tweaking on my reservoir as well as DIY'ing a better mount for the UFO LED.
I have jokes for days, but not gonna take off on you. But at least other areas are coming together. And a plus "it was tomatos".. Lesson learned hopefully other crops too.
 

cashgrassnazz

Well-Known Member
To speak of a boo boo of mine i had a veggie garden with yellow squash, spinach,collards,corn etc most I didn't eat just seeds and space. And a hydro grow indoors and needless to say i had mites everywhere.

Where I messed up is that I used to pour the spent water from the hydro to the garden and there it was.
 

IHalveKnownAim

Active Member
I'm kicking myself in the ass for days. Currently waiting on my Siberian tomato seeds to arrive so that I can continue to develop a feel for not doing anything stupid ..again.
 

IHalveKnownAim

Active Member
Yep, still growing.. (Siberian tomatoes) ..in my cabinet. This is 'the official' thread although I don't update every step of the process. However, I have decided to ditch the DWC in the top chamber for the old Hand-Watered Bucket technique using a 1.25 gallon bucket with crushed pea stone and a drain at the bottom of the bucket.. (about an inch from the bottom) ..To that drain, I've connected a hose that drains back into the same one gallon wine bottle that I top-feed from. I also keep two air stones running on the left and right sides of the bucket. A week ago, I dropped ten seeds just below the top surface of the stone and I bottom fed through the bottom drain hole.. (by feeding my air pump into the wine bottle and then into the drain hole) ..I used a propagation mat and a clear bucket on top of my grow bucket as a humidity dome. I bottom fed until the first few seedlings broke the surface. My germination success rate was 100 percent. For now, the seedlings sit under one CFL. Once the first true leaves appear, I'll turn on the LED and will add a few more CFLs. I'll post some pics in a few days.
 
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IHalveKnownAim

Active Member
After seven weeks, the hand-watered bucket has finally paid off with nine tomatoes so far and a hand full of flowers that have yet to set fruit. I ditched the Siberian tomato plant that I had going in the lower section (in an AeroGarden) because the plant became too leggy and difficult to maintain. Most folks say that the Hempy Buckets are the easiest method of growing. In my opinion, the HWB is much easier. Simply fill and drain three or four times a day. I've even been able apply co2 directly to the roots by blowing into the drain tube after the last watering of the day.

The ScroG screen comes in handy allowing me to tuck the foliage under while giving the flowers more light. The funnel at the front of the bucket is placed in a one inch diameter clear plastic tube that goes to the bottom of the bucket. I decided to add the funnel in order to make it easier for me to flood the bucket without having to keep bumping the bottle into the frame of the screen.Siberian tomatoes 12-28-2015 (1).JPG Siberian tomatoes 12-28-2015 (2).JPG Siberian tomatoes 12-28-2015 (3).JPG
 

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IHalveKnownAim

Active Member
After seven weeks, the hand-watered bucket has finally paid off with nine tomatoes so far and a hand full of flowers that have yet to set fruit. I ditched the Siberian tomato plant that I had going in the lower section (in an AeroGarden) because the plant became too leggy and difficult to maintain. Most folks say that the Hempy Buckets are the easiest method of growing. In my opinion, the HWB is much easier. Simply fill and drain three or four times a day. I've even been able apply co2 directly to the roots by blowing into the drain tube after the last watering of the day.

The ScroG screen comes in handy allowing me to tuck the foliage under while giving the flowers more light. The funnel at the front of the bucket is placed in a one inch diameter clear plastic tube that goes to the bottom of the bucket. I decided to add the funnel in order to make it easier for me to flood the bucket without having to keep bumping the bottle into the frame of the screen.
 

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IHalveKnownAim

Active Member
After seven weeks, the hand-watered bucket has finally paid off with nine tomatoes so far and a hand full of flowers that have yet to set fruit. I ditched the Siberian tomato plant that I had going in the lower section (in an AeroGarden) because the plant became too leggy and difficult to maintain. Most folks say that the Hempy Buckets are the easiest method of growing. In my opinion, the HWB is much easier. Simply fill and drain three or four times a day. I've even been able apply co2 directly to the roots by blowing into the drain tube after the last watering of the day.

The ScroG screen comes in handy allowing me to tuck the foliage under while giving the flowers more light. The funnel at the front of the bucket is placed in a one inch diameter clear plastic tube that goes to the bottom of the bucket. I decided to add the funnel in order to make it easier for me to flood the bucket without having to keep bumping the bottle into the frame of the screen.
 

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IHalveKnownAim

Active Member
After seven weeks, the hand-watered bucket has finally paid off with nine tomatoes so far and a hand full of flowers that have yet to set fruit. I ditched the Siberian tomato plant that I had going in the lower section (in an AeroGarden) because the plant became too leggy and difficult to maintain. Most folks say that the Hempy Buckets are the easiest method of growing. In my opinion, the HWB is much easier. Simply fill and drain three or four times a day. I've even been able apply co2 directly to the roots by blowing into the drain tube after the last watering of the day.

The ScroG screen comes in handy allowing me to tuck the foliage under while giving the flowers more light. The funnel at the front of the bucket is placed in a one inch diameter clear plastic tube that goes to the bottom of the bucket. I decided to add the funnel in order to make it easier for me to flood the bucket without having to keep bumping the bottle into the frame of the screen.
 

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IHalveKnownAim

Active Member
Pardon the repetitive posts but this site was acting peculiar yesterday. Admin, can one of you please delete the excess? If not, no worries.
 

n0tmycupoftea

Well-Known Member
Those... are.... some very bulbous balls you got there.

Love seeing people grow other things aside from cannabis on here! Great job on the setup.

Actually, now that I think about it. Growing cannabis was what led me to gardening. So much fun, so much to learn. And even though the 'budget' thing went out the door with the LED's you can't hate on the results :lol:.
 

IHalveKnownAim

Active Member
All set up for aquaponics. A 20 gallon fish tank in the lower chamber and a 20 gallon grow bed up top. Seedlings (tomato) are in the Aerogarden waiting for the first set of true leaves to develop before I transplant.
 

grouch

Well-Known Member
It takes a couple runs to get the aquaponics established and performing. Pulling up a seat with some experience if you need help
 

IHalveKnownAim

Active Member
Hey @grouch, is it possible (advisable) to foliar feed with maxicrop, epsom salts etc. I have no need to ..yet. Just wondering about what to do when/if my plant starts showing signs of deficiencies.
 

grouch

Well-Known Member
I was using small amounts of nutes straight into the tank with the fish. Couldn't be any worse for them than farm run off imo
 
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