Hail Hydro 2.0: New Beginnings

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PhatNuggz

PhatNuggz

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Sadly, I killed another HK seed (2 left-gulp). How you ask? Well, due to all my past issues where I got root rot from overwetted starter cubes, I doubled the net pot, which put too much distance between the roots and the nutes. Horrible lesson learned, I popped one more HK 2 days ago. In the mean time I started one of my Blueberry Cheesecake seeds, and it's doing great. See pics

The 2 at the top in the pictures are unlikely to make it, one is the HK that dried out due to not getting wet. The healthy seedling on the lower left is BBCC, the one yet to emerge is HK

Also I significantly upgraded my SWC tub using the underside of a large cooler lid. I also replaced my small 2 head air pump with an adjustable 4 head, though only using 2 heads. First thing I noticed is the resultant bubbles are much smaller, which is a good thing. The pictures are with the 2 head pump
 
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N4M

N4M

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I germinated a Skywalker Ghost and Bio Haze and they both died after the tap root showed, the end of the tap root is brown. The Skywalker I trashed because it wasn't making progress. The Bio Haze I have wrapped in a damp paper towel, folded up inside a zip lock bag. Unfortunately I think maybe it dried out and died. The Bio Haze I left on my desk near my monitor to get some heat (testing) and I got home from work 14 hours later and it was totally dry. 😢 So I'm looking to increase my germination success with different methods. Maybe I need a heating pad? Is germinating more successful under light or in dark? I have been keeping them in the dark. The 3 seeds that I have growing, I soaked for 24 hours, wrapped in a damp (Kroger spring water) paper towel inside a zip lock bag, and put it in my closet with no light. One the tap root was good enough, I transferred to Root Riot. Does the PH matter when you are germinating?
 
PhatNuggz

PhatNuggz

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I germinated a Skywalker Ghost and Bio Haze and they both died after the tap root showed, the end of the tap root is brown. The Skywalker I trashed because it wasn't making progress. The Bio Haze I have wrapped in a damp paper towel, folded up inside a zip lock bag. Unfortunately I think maybe it dried out and died. The Bio Haze I left on my desk near my monitor to get some heat (testing) and I got home from work 14 hours later and it was totally dry. 😢 So I'm looking to increase my germination success with different methods. Maybe I need a heating pad? Is germinating more successful under light or in dark? I have been keeping them in the dark. The 3 seeds that I have growing, I soaked for 24 hours, wrapped in a damp (Kroger spring water) paper towel inside a zip lock bag, and put it in my closet with no light. One the tap root was good enough, I transferred to Root Riot. Does the PH matter when you are germinating?

In nature, seeds are started in the Spring, when temps are cool and light is not intense.

My newest germ method is super easy and works great; unlike using paper into which the root hairs can grow causing potential problems when removing to put into a cube/medium. I put the shot glass in a low light kitchen window and put an opaque container over it until the first leaf set. Of course I have to make sure the rapid rooter stays wet, but not soaked. I did notice that my most recent seed, the RR hole is too big and the tap root did not anchor. Hoping to save it, by repositioning the tap root and tearing a little bit of the RR and putting it into the hole. Fingers crossed

FYI, the 2 at the top both died as I expected they would, but nothing to lose by trying

You can't go wrong pHing the water/diluted nutrient

hth
 
PhatNuggz

PhatNuggz

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I am happy to report that the newest Hindu Kush seedling that had not anchored in the Rapid Rooter is now showing it's first leaf set since repositioning and infilling the hole with some of the RR and the BBCK is short, but already making its 3rd leaf set
 
PhatNuggz

PhatNuggz

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I made a slight transition in my DIY Shallow Water seedling starter. Where there was no lid, I had a lid with 3 @ 3" holes already cut with heavy duty foil to block the light. Much older Blueberry Cheesecake on the left, Hindu Kush on the right

Pics show both plants before inserting them into the lid
 
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PhatNuggz

PhatNuggz

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Well, it is painfully obvious that the brightstones aren't working as I thought they would, at least as they come out of the box. The problem seems to be that the roots breaking out of the starter cube are unable to make contact with the BSs curved surface area (see pictures).

They probably will work if broken apart such that their surface area will come in contact with the roots. So, I removed the RR (see pics) and replaced the BS with small ornamental stones, like those in the young Hindu Kush, which is growing
 
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PhatNuggz

PhatNuggz

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If anybody here also subscribes to Chuckers Paradise, please contact them. I am no longer able to log in and have sent several requests for a new PW, but no response. Thanks
 
PhatNuggz

PhatNuggz

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Update

I started a sat seed in my new method (now 100%) this morning I transferred it to a 3" net pot but as a test I broke up a bunch of Bright Waters to get more surface area.

My BBCC has yet to respond to replacing the unbroken up Bright Water stones with small ornamental stones. I anticipated a few days, but getting concerned now
 
PhatNuggz

PhatNuggz

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Update

all 3 are growing

I broke up a bunch of Bright Waters and filled the sides of the sat. So far, so good
 
PhatNuggz

PhatNuggz

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After a month of stagnant growth I think one of the problems was that hydro and micros are not a match. The solution got quite dark and the air stones covered in what must have been a huge overgrowth of microbes. I decided to add digestive enzymes, which quickly ate most of the microbes and cleared up the solution. Then within 24 hours the plants responded with rapid growth 😍
 
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PhatNuggz

PhatNuggz

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Sadly, one of the 2 started showing signs of coconuts. Sometimes they go away, but, I dropped 2 triple berries yesterday to be safe
 
PhatNuggz

PhatNuggz

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Unfortunately, 1/2 seeds was upside down and though I tried to flip it, it did not survive. Dropped another Tripleberry seed yesterday
 
PhatNuggz

PhatNuggz

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I used to have a terrific green thumb. My biggest mistake was pushing the envelop. Our beloved plant is a weed and will produce just fine with average attention.

Here's a couple pics from days gone by
 
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PhatNuggz

PhatNuggz

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Im sooooooo happy that Im finally seeing a plant growing like it should. And the new TB opened its cotyledons late yesterday
 
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PhatNuggz

PhatNuggz

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Quick Update

I transferred both plants from the shallow starter (an upside down Igloo lid) to a 5g tote. Made fresh nutes @ ~ 420ppm and 3 @ 4"disc air stones
 
PhatNuggz

PhatNuggz

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After a year+ of frustration I moved off the shallow igloo lid and back to a 5G tote (uses way to much nutrient to start a couple seedlings/clones), but I still had problems, so....

I decided to use my tried and true DIY cloner. As expected, one of the 2 did not make it, but one is definitely pulling through. YEAH! AND, each container only uses ~ 1/3 gallon of nutes

The first root pic was taken just a couple days ago. It shows a few new roots popping out of the net pot. and now, as can be seen, they are growing like crazy. Why? I have no clue, well MAYBE one, but it's hard for me to believe the NPK RAW Grow formula was the culprit all along. To be safe I used my free ~ 2 yo sample Mega Crop. I was concerned because when I opened it the contents were very wet, but felt I needed to try a different nute line for grow at least
 
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PhatNuggz

PhatNuggz

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Im so excited. Plant has grown roughly 2" since yesterday's picture
 
PhatNuggz

PhatNuggz

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The Good news is it's growing like, well... a weed

The Bad news is... it's a hermi

Yesterday I dropped my last Hindu Kush

this morning an unknown seed from a tiny plastic pack that someone gifted me some time ago
 
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