Swamping Method by Alien Agriculture

[AlienAgriculture]

Hello Fellow Growers,



I’m going to be starting a new grow using the “swamping” method by growing a plant in recycled material. This includes the use of corrugated cardboard a.k.a fiberboard, egg carton trays, drink trays and paper items such as mailed envelopes, old bill papers, etc. and using only food compost converted to liquid feed for easiest nutrient uptake and support of the root environment allowing saturation of the recycled material with nutrient water (water is allowed to evaporate chlorine for 110 hours indoors (2-3 hours in direct sunlight). With this I’ve been able to grow plants of all kinds of sizes. I look forward to all of you joining me on this exciting new adventure.

As I go through the next grow, I will be raising the plant specifically for the purposes of creating feminized seeds either with CS or STS each have their pros and cons. We can hopefully decide that together as a community. I look forward to growing with you all. In the meantime, here are some early look at micro-grow plants that are finishing up. Dark Devil Auto's in a 3 foot tent under nine 9w LED bulbs with (5) 2700k Bulbs, (4). The darkness you see in the root zone is from composted materials converted to liquid feed. Layers between the recycled fibers were covered with mycorrhizae. I pre drenched my fibers to prepare them for the roots. I'll be in depth when I start the new plant. Between now and then, I'll let you guys enjoy the rest of the grow and check in as often as I can.

Materials are usually pre-washed prior to use in any kind of swamping. The possibility of ink, chemicals, etc. are always considered. One of the favorite things to use, is drink carrying trays such as you might find from a fast food restaurant or coffee shop (see attached image) with a cup and tray you have everything you need to start a small swamp minus the seed and nutrients or compost. Keep your lid! by pre-drenching your swamp and your cradle, you can germinate in these. After sprouting you cut a hole in the top to allow your plant to grow and there you have it. The whole idea of Swamping other than creating a new environment to grow plants in is environmental conservation. You buy a drink, get your grow supplies for free (minus the seed and nutrients) and you recycle it's a win for everyone. I have done many of small and medium indoor and a large outdoor control group experiments with recycled material. Our next step will be pushing the envelope and attempting to create female seeds in a Swamp environment. Does anyone have any feedback as to whether Colloidal Silver or Silver Thiosulfate would be a better options, particularly given the nature of the root environment and circumstances in which we are growing?

-Peace





As these get finished up, I’ll be setting up a new grow to follow on here and probably some occasional updates between now and then. Thank you to those who are and will be taking an interest in Swamping. I look forward to interacting with you all.

 

[Grownsince95]

Looks cool. Do you have the clear cups covered when not talking pics to keep the root zone as dark as possible?

 

[AlienAgriculture]

Clear cups are covered when not having pictures taken. Usually covered by a fabric pot or covered by a new black sock to continue to allow drainage and aeration without interruption.

 

[Cracken]

looks like a fun experiment. if I grew for fun this might be something I try. on a larger scale you could possibly even add worms to that mixture just to increase the compost process. in my outdoor garden I always blend in drink trays. it helps with water retention in the ground for dry periods.

 

[AlienAgriculture]

Greetings Fellow Farmers,







We are getting started with our new grow! We are starting photoperiod plants (White Widow, O.G Kush) in 20oz clear plastic cups. We have pre-watered our containers with chlorine evaporated tap water (let water sit without cap for 110 hours) and placed them on a heating mat with the cradle (holds the seed) and the seed itself. This process will allow the fibers to sweat, maximizing humidity and water vapor. This will occur for about a day or so to bring the root environment to peak as well as allowing seed germination all at once.

Once the plants are big enough and the root system warrants it, they will be moved to a larger fabric 5 gallon container to resume the growing process. There is no imminent concerns about transplanting as a result of constriction or “outgrowing” the container given that It will wrap around from the bottom and continue to do so until they fill the container. This takes long enough that just one of these containers can take a plant from seed to a substantive harvest. We’ve been asked about growing in a 5 gallon container so we will happily indulge that request.



Happy Growing!