Transplanting From Soil Into Dutch Buckets/Clay Pellets

puntacometa

Well-Known Member
I've got a bit of a dilemma here. I'm an experienced dirt grower who is teaming up with a new operation. They are using Dutch buckets with clay pellets. I've got quite a few plants in soil that were transplanted from clones into 2 gal pots about a month ago. Some of them are well over 12 inches tall.

It seems to me that putting an air stone in a large bucket full of PH'ed water, removing the pot from the root ball and gently bubbling the soil off would be the most gentle way to start. After this, perhaps removing the root ball from this water and quickly dipping it in another bath of PH'ed water with a 100/1 solution of 30% hydrogen peroxide would serve to decontaminate the root ball before setting it in the dutch buckets and layering in the pellets in hopes of supporting the plant until it recovers (hopefully) from the shock.
This is a big system and I'm worried about contaminating the nutrient solution with residues from the dirt (and organic fertilizers I was using). I've got a lot to learn in a short time so any help/advice would be much appreciated.
 

ocho

Active Member
I am in week 3 of a soil to hydro conversion. I use DWC 5 gal buckets with the baskets and clay pellets. I soaked the root ball in cold water for about 5 minutes for each plant.
They were in 2 gal buckets. I then gently massaged the root ball and ran slow water over the roots. mostly a dipping action under the fawcet into the bucket I was using to rinse in.
This process took about 4 hours for 8 plants. It can work and you will have a touch of dirt left over.
I found that gently pulling the roots through the basket helped to get them situated quickly.
 

puntacometa

Well-Known Member
I am in week 3 of a soil to hydro conversion. I use DWC 5 gal buckets with the baskets and clay pellets. I soaked the root ball in cold water for about 5 minutes for each plant.
They were in 2 gal buckets. I then gently massaged the root ball and ran slow water over the roots. mostly a dipping action under the fawcet into the bucket I was using to rinse in.
This process took about 4 hours for 8 plants. It can work and you will have a touch of dirt left over.
I found that gently pulling the roots through the basket helped to get them situated quickly.
Thanks Ocho. Much appreciated.
 
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