Cropsteering In-depth daily journal using TrolMaster

[jb420710]

This will be a in-depth daily journal of my first attempt to Cropsteer using the Trolmaster hydro x pro , aqua x , solus water content sensor as my tools and data for precision irrigation and environmental control. I’m also running a flood table experiment for the first time In a tent as well. Still waiting on a bunch more equipment before I can get everything set up but here’s how things are looking right now. Need all the help I can get

 

[jb420710]

Just gave them their first feeding, still have to dial in the environment but here’s the data. Still haven’t figured out how often I’m supposed to feed them

 

[GrowHobo]

👁 good luck bro

 

[tobh]

I don't know about crop steering in a f&d setup, but the idea is lower EC, more frequent fertigations in veg, and less frequent higher EC in flower. light intensity lower in veg, higher in flower. vpd lower in veg, vpd higher in flower. I'm doing my first real venture into crop steering in the run I'm in now, though I'm in top feed, dtw rockwool, so I'm signing up to see what you do.

 

[jb420710]

I don't know about crop steering in a f&d setup, but the idea is lower EC, more frequent fertigations in veg, and less frequent higher EC in flower. light intensity lower in veg, higher in flower. vpd lower in veg, vpd higher in flower. I'm doing my first real venture into crop steering in the run I'm in now, though I'm in top feed, dtw rockwool, so I'm signing up to see what you do.

The flood table is just an experiment not going to be focused on crop steering in the tent really just posting it while I wait for my seeds to get bigger and my clones to root and the rest of my equipment. My main room is going to be top fed Rockwool as well

 

[Cashmeh]

I cannot comprehend crop steering, nor can I understand the on and off drip systems, or even the flood and drain. I cannot see a reason why you wouldnt want the roots fully submerged 24/7. If the medium becomes oversaturated, add drainage and go 24/7. From my understanding the Aero setups only work well because they deliver a perfect ratio of air/water to the roots 24/7, same with rdwc and my fallponics. So is it to slow the growth so you can do something like phenohunt easier? Perhaps im wrong, I just dont see how allowing a root to become over-saturated or under-saturated can be beneficial. Ill also say if the water has enough oxygen in it, its impossible to over or undersaturate the roots.

I have only grown in dwc, then rdwc. I dont plan to use any other systems in the future. Im sure theres is a lot of comformation bias in my logic, but from what ive seen, there should only be one way of growing lol. I also dont mean to come off as rude. Im sure there are not very many people who will agree with me on this, so dont take it personal OP, im sure the others will put me in my place shortly lol ..

 

[tobh]

I cannot comprehend crop steering, nor can I understand the on and off drip systems, or even the flood and drain. I cannot see a reason why you wouldnt want the roots fully submerged 24/7. If the medium becomes oversaturated, add drainage and go 24/7. From my understanding the Aero setups only work well because they deliver a perfect ratio of air/water to the roots 24/7, same with rdwc and my fallponics. So is it to slow the growth so you can do something like phenohunt easier? Perhaps im wrong, I just dont see how allowing a root to become over-saturated or under-saturated can be beneficial. Ill also say if the water has enough oxygen in it, its impossible to over or undersaturate the roots.

I have only grown in dwc, then rdwc. I dont plan to use any other systems in the future. Im sure theres is a lot of comformation bias in my logic, but from what ive seen, there should only be one way of growing lol. I also dont mean to come off as rude. Im sure there are not very many people who will agree with me on this, so dont take it personal OP, im sure the others will put me in my place shortly lol ..

Here's a few links:

Crop steering: The ultimate guide | AROYA

Crop steering is a plant growth management practice that manipulates the environment and root zone (light, climate, irrigation) to encourage plants to grow a certain way.

aroya.io

What Is Crop Steering? Part One: Irrigation

In this blog, we take a look at crop steering, which has gained some traction in the cannabis sector. Similar to 'dry down' it's a method of growing crops.

blog.growlink.com

Crop Steering Guide: Learn When & How To Use It

Learn about the concept of cannabis crop steering. For a deeper dive, download our FREE Growers Guide to Crop Steering.

trym.io

TL:DR; it has to do with osmotic pressures and influencing the kind of hormones a plant is producing during a particular stage of growth. If performed correctly, it can actually increase vigor and robustness of plants in vegetative stage and increase yields during generative stage.

I'm envious of those that can run RDWC, that's my personal end goal to get to eventually. In the interim, I'm refining rockwool techniques for when I eventually buy land and can build some greenhouses as I fully intend on growing hydroponically when that goal is finally achieved. Nearly all techniques applied to cannabis can be applied to other consumable crops as well, stoners just put cannabis on a pedestal and forget it's still a commodity herb that doesn't require much different treatment from capsicums or roses.

 

[jb420710]

Here’s how the pheno hunt is looking. Truffle Cake (white truffles x pancakes) and sticky Glue both feminized bred by in-house genetics and I got Big leauge sherb(sherb x rainbowchip) Devils Drip(sherb x redpop) and FizzyDrank(Rainbowchip x redpop). The clone with 10 arms in the fan leaf is apparently GMO x (Zkittlez x OG kush).

 

[Goblinkiller]

Not an rockwool user myself, but should that one Block be green in the corner?

Nice room

 

[tobh]

Not an rockwool user myself, but should that one Block be green in the corner?

Nice room

it's algae growth. normal with rockwool, unfortunately. any of it that is exposed will eventually grow algae unless it's bone dry. that's why a lot of growers cover the cubes with some kind of material, or floraflex caps.

 

[Anthem]

Here's a few links:

Crop steering: The ultimate guide | AROYA

Crop steering is a plant growth management practice that manipulates the environment and root zone (light, climate, irrigation) to encourage plants to grow a certain way.

aroya.io

What Is Crop Steering? Part One: Irrigation

In this blog, we take a look at crop steering, which has gained some traction in the cannabis sector. Similar to 'dry down' it's a method of growing crops.

blog.growlink.com

Crop Steering Guide: Learn When & How To Use It

Learn about the concept of cannabis crop steering. For a deeper dive, download our FREE Growers Guide to Crop Steering.

trym.io

TL:DR; it has to do with osmotic pressures and influencing the kind of hormones a plant is producing during a particular stage of growth. If performed correctly, it can actually increase vigor and robustness of plants in vegetative stage and increase yields during generative stage.

I'm envious of those that can run RDWC, that's my personal end goal to get to eventually. In the interim, I'm refining rockwool techniques for when I eventually buy land and can build some greenhouses as I fully intend on growing hydroponically when that goal is finally achieved. Nearly all techniques applied to cannabis can be applied to other consumable crops as well, stoners just put cannabis on a pedestal and forget it's still a commodity herb that doesn't require much different treatment from capsicums or roses.

Tobh,
The Aroya program is pretty complicated but as you mentioned. I know some of the stuff about it but I have never used it. In a ebb and flow set up the Aroya System will not really work. It works from what I have read and heard. But you have to have dry backs and it gets complicated because with the dry backs you are also getting buildups so you have to take care of those on like a weekly bases. You kind of need a large system or multiple rez if you were to apply it to a smaller set up. IMO rock wool is the way to go, but you have to keep on top of your game with those little guys. Shit goes bad fast!

 

[tobh]

Tobh,
The Aroya program is pretty complicated but as you mentioned. I know some of the stuff about it but I have never used it. In a ebb and flow set up the Aroya System will not really work. It works from what I have read and heard. But you have to have dry backs and it gets complicated because with the dry backs you are also getting buildups so you have to take care of those on like a weekly bases. You kind of need a large system or multiple rez if you were to apply it to a smaller set up. IMO rock wool is the way to go, but you have to keep on top of your game with those little guys. Shit goes bad fast!

shit you're telling me Anthem... I've been studying the Aroya program for months and am attempting to apply some of the concepts in a rather rudimentary sense with six unislabs. The one thing that I've noticed thus far is the growth rates a crazy. I'm at a point that I don't have a choice but to initiate flower in the next couple days otherwise it'll be a repeat of the last three runs being overgrown and ending up with subpar quality. The frequent waterings definitely seem to be influential though, aside from wool's natural tendency to rival even R/DWC rates.

Surprisingly I've not seen any significant spikes in EC in the runoff, that's not to say the media isn't riding a razor's edge of toxicity. The girls aren't complaining, so I'm not terribly worried.

Really, you're right though. Without having moisture meters, and all the various sensors Aroya offers for their full control system, it's really, really hard to mimic what their program offers. Without the data, it's really going on feel and assumptions, and like you said, that can definitely have dire results.

EDIT: for reference, these girls were about half the size they are in that pic on Friday of last week. Currently seeing seven fertigations a day, 340ml per site every event, ~10% runoff starting midday with a total daily average runoff of ~25%. Input EC 1.2, pH 5.5. Ambient temp 78F, 65% RH, leaf surface temp 77F. ~30k lux per the shitty app on my phone. I estimate the overnight dryback to be ~35% though that's purely speculation. 15% - 20% between lights on events.

 

[jb420710]

it's algae growth. normal with rockwool, unfortunately. any of it that is exposed will eventually grow algae unless it's bone dry. that's why a lot of growers cover the cubes with some kind of material, or floraflex caps.

Yeah the blocks will all be covered with the flora flex caps. And when the blocks do grow algebon them it’s pretty easy to rub off with a napkin when the block are soaked

 

[tobh]

Yeah the blocks will all be covered with the flora flex caps. And when the blocks do grow algebon them it’s pretty easy to rub off with a napkin when the block are soaked

why tf didn't i think of that the last time i was ran rockwool before having the floraflex caps? great tip!

 

[jb420710]

Tobh,
The Aroya program is pretty complicated but as you mentioned. I know some of the stuff about it but I have never used it. In a ebb and flow set up the Aroya System will not really work. It works from what I have read and heard. But you have to have dry backs and it gets complicated because with the dry backs you are also getting buildups so you have to take care of those on like a weekly bases. You kind of need a large system or multiple rez if you were to apply it to a smaller set up. IMO rock wool is the way to go, but you have to keep on top of your game with those little guys. Shit goes bad fast

The whole 8 light room is going to all be top fed and that’s the room I’m going to have the hydro x pro set . I only have one tent doing the ebb and flow. I’m waiting for my trol master, dehumidifier , mini split , irrigation system And a lot more

 

[jb420710]

Here’s how the baby’s are looking so far. I just popped the Strawberry Fields , Gushcanna , and Stuffed cherry gelato right now. So now i got 11 Truffle cake , 6 devils drip , 11 big leauge sherb , 2 fizzy drank, 2 sticky glue , 8 gushcanna , 12 strawberry fields , 5 stuffed cherry gelato . So thats 57 different pheno types. Shout out to In-house genetics, exotic genetix , cannarado genetics, Crockett family farms and Raw genetics. Can’t wait to see what I get out of these packs

 

[tobh]

how's it going? things gotta be moving nicely now

 

[jb420710]

Quick little update

 

[jb420710]

Those were the clones and new seeds

 

[jb420710]

Here’s how the seedlings are looking. I have been heavily defoliating. I haven’t been posting them because I didn’t want to show you guys me abusing them and keep taking off all there leafs hahah. My trol master hydro x pro and the sensors should be here next week. I don’t have any themometers or anything in this room right now so I don’t even know the temperature or humidity in this room right now and I’m completely guessing how far and how strong the light should be .. so environment should be dialed In soon