Newbie24
Indoors I am hydroponic grower,, I have tried 5 gallon buckets, the plants roots grow around the air stones and kind of want lift the air stones up toward the base of the plant but other issue is the bucket is full of roots .
I am a big fan of large pots or containers for the plants root system.
The fastest grow system is aeroponics,,, because the plants roots are being misted with water and the hanging roots are in oxygen too.
Roots being in stagnate water NO OXYGEN makes the root rot in every grow system known to man .
My point is design your grow medium to allow good drainage and where the root system is getting oxygenated water .
I copy info and paste allot because of my writing skills .
But allot of info in here about how to grow healthy cannabis plants in natural to hydroponic grow systems.
Hope you learn from this info .. best of luck.
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Updated on: May 21, 2024
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The short answer is ‘yes,’ of course, but there is a lot more to it than that! It is easy to dismiss the importance of oxygen when growing cannabis. After all, dry air contains approximately 20.95% of it, so your plants are okay, right? Even at 100%
relative humidity, the atmosphere consists of 20.4% oxygen. However, if you don’t allow for excellent air circulation in the grow room, your plants could suffer.
Cannabis & Respiration
Respiration is the act of breathing. Like every other living organism, plants respire. While their needs are less complex than those of humans, they still require a well-ventilated growing area to thrive. Your cannabis plants use their roots, stems, and leaves for aerobic respiration. They use oxygen as an oxidizer. Dark respiration does not depend on light, whereas photorespiration does.
It is a 24/7 process but is more intense at night because of the cessation of
photosynthesis. In case you wanted a quick recap, here is what photosynthesis looks like:
- The plant draws water through its roots.
- The leaves take in carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air and trap energy from the sunlight.
- Next, the plant uses the sun’s energy to turn water and carbon dioxide into sugars and oxygen.
- The plant releases the oxygen into the air and uses the sugars to grow.
Without photosynthesis, the depletion of oxygen in the atmosphere would occur within a few millennia. As you can ascertain from the information above, photosynthesis involves several processes. This is why plants have a higher respiration capacity at night and why every marijuana growing guide you have read tells you to keep the nighttime temperature lower than during the day.
Another reason cannabis plants need air is the CO2 levels they provide. Today, the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is over 400 parts per million (ppm). For the record, it is the highest level in the last 800,000 years!
Elevated CO2 is
not suitable for humans, but plants thrive on it. Ideally, your grow room will contain a carbon dioxide level of between 1,000 and 1,400 ppm.
Other Important Components of Respiration
It is also essential that you keep the substrate and roots well-oxygenated. Growers who use
organic soil need an even higher level of oxygenation because the microorganisms in the earth also require oxygen. The porosity of your substrate also impacts the respiration capacity of the soil. Improve matters by adding perlite or coco coir to your soil mixture.
Your marijuana plants contain a myriad of tiny pores called stomas. Think of these as the plant’s ‘nostrils,’ which they use to absorb CO2 and release oxygen. If you find most of the stomas on the underside of the leaves, spray both sides with water twice a day. The ideal temperature of the water is between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Stomas are minuscule and get clogged easily, so regular cleaning is required.
Outdoor growers don’t have this problem, as rainfall does the work for them.
During photosynthesis, your crop absorbs CO2 and releases O2. At night, it absorbs O2 and releases CO2. If you grow your plants outdoors, you have automatic air circulation. Indoor growers, on the other hand, need to invest in well-placed fans or a ventilation system. An intake fan is also necessary to bring in fresh air, and an exhaust fan to remove stale air.
Why Air Circulation Is Crucial
Constant air exchange is the key to a s
uccessful indoor grow. The three things to worry about are:
- Clean stomas
- Good air circulation
- Consistent air exchange
Remember that even distribution throughout the entire room is a prerequisite. Otherwise, you will end up with areas featuring stagnant air. It is a balancing act because you must ensure the air is neither too moist nor too dry. We recommend avoiding air layers because hot air gathers in higher areas, while cooler air usually flows downward. The result is a slower-growing crop that is more susceptible to insect infestation and
mold growth.
Useful Air Circulation & Exchange Equipment
The following is not an exhaustive list, and you do not need to buy all of it. Your needs depend on the size of your grow room. If you have a
small grow tent, for example, there is no need to buy half a dozen items from this list!
- Intake Fan: Brings oxygen-rich air to the growing space.
- Exhaust Fan: Removes air that is low in oxygen.
- Active Carbon Filter: A necessary purchase if you grow stinky weed and don’t want to attract attention!
- Ventilation Ducts: You can purchase ducts to remove stale air and others to allow fresh air in.
- Acoustic Box: Reduces the noise caused by the fans.
- Ceiling Fan: As the name suggests, you suspend this fan to your grow room’s ceiling, ideally between the lamp and the tops of your plants. A ceiling fan helps cool down the layer of hot air that accumulates in that region.
- Clip Fan: A smaller fan that is ideal for small tents.
- Oscillating Stand Fan: Allows for even air distribution.
- Floor Fan: Helps recirculate the area near the floor. In general, only those with a large growing area need this device.
- Dehumidifier: Helps reduce the humidity in a room.
- Humidifier: Increases the level of humidity in a room.
- Thermohydrometer: Measures a room’s temperature and humidity.
Boost Yield with Dissolved Oxygen
Dissolved oxygen (DO) relates to the level of oxygen saturation in the water. The more O2 in water, the better off your marijuana plants’ roots are. The process of a plant exhaling water vapor, oxygen, and
nutrients via the stomata is known as
transpiration. It enables your plants to cool down, alters osmotic pressure in cells, and ensures a steady flow of water and nutrients up from the root system.
When your weed’s roots are in an environment with lots of oxygen, they are more efficient at absorbing nutrients. O2 helps provide the metabolic energy needed for nutrient uptake. When you expose cannabis roots to high levels of oxygen, you benefit from greater root mass and healthier root tips.
A lack of oxygen in the root system
reduces the rate of water and nutrient uptake. This results in a reduction in plant growth and occasional wilting due to heat stress. Throw in a lower level of photosynthesis and decreased glucose transfer abilities, and your crop has a lot of problems!
We haven’t even mentioned the enhanced production of ethylene. This flammable hydrocarbon gas could cause cell collapse and increase the risk of disease. If that isn’t enough, you also have a calcium shortage to contend with. In a nutshell:
Less oxygen = lower transpiration = bad news!
How Much Do You Need?
First and foremost, the only way to measure dissolved oxygen is to purchase a special DO meter. Most growers know how vital pH and EC are and have no issue buying a device to measure those readings. However, you can purchase a pH or EC meter for no more than $30. In contrast, a DO meter can cost up to $300! It is also
much harder to use and often requires watching videos to know what the hell is going on.
Water in a low-pressure boiler typically has a dissolved oxygen rate of no more than 2.0 ppm. However, boiler plant operators try to keep it below 0.01 ppm. In
tap water (at room temperature), the DO level rises to perhaps 5-9 ppm. According to most experts in the field, you only notice a difference at a rate of 12+ ppm. Research by the University of Wisconsin and the University of Minnesota suggests that plants utilize nutrients effectively when the DO in water is 10 – 12 ppm.
Charlie Hayes has a biochemistry degree and owns Advanced Treatment Technologies, a company that specializes in providing water treatment solutions. During his research, he found that marijuana’s health and production benefits reach a plateau at a DO rate of 40 – 45 ppm in the root zone. However, to deliver the right amount to the roots, you need to begin with a far higher concentration in a treatment system.
Increasing the Water’s Dissolved Oxygen Level
There are several methods of increasing DO levels in the water. Aeration of water through the use of a bubbler is the most popular way. The process involves injecting air into the water. However, you must pay attention to Henry’s Law. It states that the solubility of gas is controlled by concentration, temperature, and pressure. For instance, CO2 is 20 times more soluble than oxygen.
Hayes asserts that the use of ozone is the most effective method of getting DO into the water, as it is 12.5 times more soluble than oxygen. You need a treatment system capable of handling a high concentration of ozone before you use an ozone generator. The system must also have the ability to mix the molecule properly and hold it in the solution. As Hayes states, ozone is unstable, with a half-life of as little as 3-5 minutes when converted to DO.
If you use a
hydroponics system, another option is to place a stirring pump at the bottom of the reservoir, attached to minimal tubing. It mixes the solution on a timed cycle or continuously. The process is akin to how the water in the oceans keeps moving due to the work of currents. When you mix or move water, you enable the already dissolved oxygen to remain stable. You also see an increase in DO because the water mixes with air on the reservoir’s surface.
Growers also use
hydrogen peroxide, but this could cause toxicity that ultimately harms plants.
Don’t Forget the Water’s Temperature!
When exposed to temperatures below 60 degrees, the roots of your marijuana plant will decrease metabolic activity. The so-called sweet spot is between 62 and 66 degrees. Don’t allow the temperature of the root zone to go above 75 degrees, or else you risk root rot.
Fully oxygenated water at 68 degrees could hold a DO level of up to 9 ppm. The same water at 86 degrees has a DO level of just 7.5 ppm. Therefore, it makes sense to use room-temperature water when feeding your plants.
Final Thoughts on Marijuana Plants & Oxygen Levels
Ultimately, your crop should grow just fine without the need for increased dissolved oxygen levels in the water. However, advanced growers know that increasing the DO in the water they provide to their plants is a difference-maker.
While it may not make sense to spend heavily on dissolved oxygen increasing equipment or a meter to read the level, it is a worthwhile investment if you intend to grow commercially. When your roots receive water with a heavy dose of DO, your plants will feel refreshed and energized. The result is
faster growing and healthier weed, along with an increased yield.
