Sorry, I was stuck in another thread schooling another grower on why Perlite sucks. He is far more experienced than me, far less scientifically curious, and far more stuck in his growing ways from the 1970s. Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) was the first virus ever discovered. It is incredibly stable and persistent. It doesn't over-winter.... it can survive freezing and temperatures over 40 degrees celsius. It can be spread easily, through any sort of contact between plants, including insects, soil, etc. It affects over 125 species of plants. It doesn't kill plants, but it stunts them badly. I'm attaching two pictures. It is called the "mosaic" virus because of the spottled appearance it gives leaves. It is incurable.
Why does perlite suck? What would be better gandalf? http://forum.grasscity.com/index.php?/topic/1275211-Dutch-passion-Think-Different-and-an-auto-purple vote for my td please http://www.dutch-passion.nl/en/photovote/2014-03-20-thinkdifferent%C2%AE-loki_1597/
But can those screw in any light fixture or do those take special fixtures? I have to get these lights tomoro!!!
Hmmmmm.... things that are better aeration amendments than perlite: Buckwheat hulls, rice hulls, pumice, lava rock, Growstones, pea gravel, sand..... I'm sure there are others. And I would rank them about in the order I typed them in. As for why Perlite sucks.... I'll copy and paste the short answer: They aren't as mobile in the soil substrate, so they don't make their way to the top of your pot.... they don't contain asbestos or asbestos-mimicking materials..... they don't have fine powder that makes its way into your lungs..... they aren't 12-15% aluminum.... Perlite does and is all of those things. Furthermore, pumice and lava rock contain minerals that they slowly release. Buckwheat and rice hulls release silica, without releasing aluminum. Perlite, as it breaks down, releases silica and aluminum, because it's an aluminum-silicate. And I forgot to mention that Perlite has 0 (zero) Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC). CEC is a very important concept in organic gardening, which relates to the availability of the nutrients that are in the soil. Not relevant to synthetic nutes. If you are curious about it, I'd read this website: http://www.soilminerals.com/Cation_Exchange_Simplified.htm Pumice, buckwheat and rice hulls, lava rock, etc, all have some CEC (varying degrees). For the long answer, check out this thread, starting at the top of Page 3 (where I'm linking to): http://forum.grasscity.com/organic- growing/1292919-vegan-help.html/page-3 I made some very detailed posts at the bottom of the page, and continuing onto Page 4. Bear in mind that Wetdog and I have a fairly antagonistic relationship.... we've exchanged contentious posts occasionally (once a month or less) for about half a year now lol. I've "liked" a few of his posts, attempting to move past whatever tension and disagreements we may have, but it has not been reciprocated so far..... Our main disagreements seem to center on dolomite lime and the health dangers of aluminum-silicates (perlite, Azomite, diatomaceous earth, etc)..... I am against both, and he sees no harm in either D-Lime or Al-Silicates. To each their own I suppose......
Oh don't get me wrong you can grow with them but is you have 12 -14 23watts spread over the complete area you could grow much better plants than 1 300w cfl, light only is decent for a few inches Peace 👽 RQS Northern lights auto, 126w cfl grow - http://forum.grasscity.com/index.php?/topic/1289059-
Needs a E27 socket mate just a threaded one. Peace 👽 RQS Northern lights auto, 126w cfl grow - http://forum.grasscity.com/index.php?/topic/1289059-
roughly 100watts for 1 plant and extra 50 watts per additional plant is what people tend to say. My grow was done with 126watts of cfls and produced 65grams so I suggest you go to begining of my thread have a read thru and you will learn a lot buddy! Think I started this at begining of flower tho, so my LST training isn't here Peace 👽 RQS Northern lights auto, 126w cfl grow - http://forum.grasscity.com/index.php?/topic/1289059-
Ill see if i can get buckwhet do i get stright up buckwheat and mix it like perlite http://forum.grasscity.com/index.php?/topic/1275211-Dutch-passion-Think-Different-and-an-auto-purple vote for my td please http://www.dutch-passion.nl/en/photovote/2014-03-20-thinkdifferent%C2%AE-loki_1597/
This is the best deal I've ever seen on buckwheat hulls, even with shipping: http://thebirkettmills.com/shop/mul-tex-buckwheat-hulls Rice hulls are commonly found at beer home-brew stores.... that's where I got mine..... but it was more expensive than the buckwheat hull link I posted above. You just want the hulls..... I don't really know what you mean by "straight up buckwheat".... but yeah, use it just like perlite. If you were going to use 2 gallons of perlite, just use 2 gallons of buckwheat hulls instead. It doesn't need to be mixed with anything, but you could mix it with rice hulls, pumice, lava rock, etc..... I guess it would improve the CEC of the soil to use a mixture..... FWIW, my soil that's cycling now contains a mixture of my leftover Perlite (not gonna throw it away lol) and buckwheat hulls. The soil I'm growing in now contains a mix of rice hulls and the leftover Perlite. Of course, this is my first organic grow and my plants are not stellar by any means, so I guess that's not a ringing endorsement lol Maybe it's better if I just tell you that buckwheat hulls are the only aeration amendment that Jerry111165 uses..... attached is an example from his grow room.... but it won't blow up properly.... check out these posts for better/more pics: http://forum.grasscity.com/organic-grow-journals/946124-jerrys-organic-obsession.html/page-330#entry17162414 and: http://forum.grasscity.com/organic-grow-journals/946124-jerrys-organic-obsession.html/page-330#entry17162426 He grew those plants in his own organic compost and buckwheat hulls.... dat's it.
Love Jerry's grows! Peace 👽 RQS Northern lights auto, 126w cfl grow - http://forum.grasscity.com/index.php?/topic/1289059-
Help with what bro Peace 👽 RQS Northern lights auto, 126w cfl grow - http://forum.grasscity.com/index.php?/topic/1289059-
I agree. There is something wrong, yes... What's wrong? I dunno. Give us more info, son. Provide us with details of your grow so we may guide you onto your journey of cultivating medical grade cannabis. Even Gandalf himself cannot assist your with a puny source of information. TOO GOOD. HAHAHA
1000w hps what you looking at are g bomb and aurora indica had nitrogen overdose now leaves are yellowing Sent from my SM-G900P using Grasscity Forum mobile app
I imagine that the Hydro section of GC would be more helpful (http://forum.grasscity.com/hydroponic-growing/) or the Sick Plants and Problems section <a>(http://forum.grasscity.com/sick-plants-problems/252889-sick-plants-have-question-ask-here.html/page-511).</a> As Gandalf the Green, hydro is beyond the limits of my knowledge (and desire to learn)..... hydro is Saruman's domain now..... http://youtu.be/7gqvFgo-sS0
Hey guys! Mainly @[member="Gandalf_the_Green"] tho, was just wondering I have 3 autos and 4 photos going out in my back garden this year. I know you can re veg plants after flower if put onto a 18light cycle, but if I just left them outside after harvest could I keep them going till next season? Peace 👽 RQS Northern lights auto, 126w cfl grow - http://forum.grasscity.com/index.php?/topic/1289059-
No..... re-vegging a plant, like you said, involves putting it back under long light hours. If you leave it outside, the days will just keep getting shorter and shorter. The plant will never re-enter veg, it will just keep continuing deeper into flower, and eventually, death. Also, in most places, it gets cold enough outside during winter to kill the plant.