seamaiden you use to be on riu huh?
Yes, tis moi. I'd ask how things are at RIU, but, well, there's a reason I left.
quick off subject question has anyone run a hempy type system with a soil perlite mix like say 50% to 60% perlite? if the container was not too large and roots were established i dont see why this could not work. i have quite deep drip trays and when the plants have developed roots and are needing daily waterings i figure i may test the drip tray as a resevoir as long as the tray is being drained dry in 24 hours or so root rot should not be a problem. i like involving soil in my grows flavor and general quality are enhanced and i grow mainly for myself so yield is not #1
Instead of soil, coco might be a better choice, then. It can be treated (almost) just like soil. I think the soil would end up at the bottom of the container after a few feedings. Caveat--Ca/Mb imbalances and deficiencies. What you're describing with the soil is one way I start my babies, it's almost a super-lightened up soil mix, if that makes sense.
anyways if you do hempy you should use some vermiculite in your perlite mix just perlite alone does not work as well i would say at least 20%vermiculite.
I've tried mixing vermiculite with perlite, and what I've ended up with is a 3.5'cu bag of vermiculite I don't want. I'm going with a 3" reservoir for these 30gal hempy tubs, and yesterday I put together a totally ghetto hempy using 1gal pots set in a shallow 'res' (it's a plastic thing I bought at Walmart for putting your muddy shoes in, works great!). The verm makes it SO heavy and they don't dry out as quickly as I would like. Plus, one of the reasons for going hempy in this location is my poor back, I've got to be able to move a 30gal tub somewhat up there, can't have too much weight.
Hey... Want a leftover bag of vermiculite?
As for the rest of it, even on a mover and using a batwing, 14 girls seem to be a
lot of girls unless you keep pot size small and SoG them--fast veg & flower out.