Hey folks... Thought I'd document my grow this time as I've totally changed my setup to a flood n drain table using clay balls as opposed to a satellite pot setup drop feeding into grow wool. I've tried many methods over the years but settled on the satellite system for the last 10 years. I've decided to downsize things and try my luck under a single 600 watt HPS with three plants in an 1100x600 f&d table/tray in a 1.2 x 1.2 x 2 meter tent. The aim is to keep using this smaller set up but beat my harvests dry weight each time. The strain I'm going with is Dutch Passions "Shaman", it's a purple strain and out of the three I've got going now I will be picking the best one to keep clones from and keep a mother plant. Not all phenotype we are purple but I'll be keeping a purple one as the mother as the previous purple plants I've had of this strain has had me on my arse greening out after smoking. That's what I want lol. Anyway, here's some pics of my setup and baby's taken a few days ago, I checked on them this morning and they've grown in size heaps from yesterday so things are just starting to take off... Exciting stuff
First pic is my tent, second are the three baby's, third is a pic of one that's a Trifoliar plant - I've not seen one in all my years growing, fourth pic is a small bud of Shaman from a previous outdoor grow.
Aside from the fact that clay pebbles break down (and in this amount may well affect pH & ppms, and wear out pump bearings), filling a tray with them creates other problems, especially when growing multiple plants in one tray. The solution I use is to use individual net pots, and instead of clay (been there done that), I buy polished ornamental rock from Dollar Store. They do everything clay does, do not slough, AND once plant is harvested, are easily removed from the roots , cleaned, and reused Neither do I use rock wool If interested see my DIY Mini-Me F & D
I've grown like this before and not had any issues of the clay balls breaking down. Haven't haf any ill happenings while using it really. I've alsi reused the clay balls from my indoor hydro grows in outdoor potted plants to help with drainage. M I'll check out your post now, cheers
Have felt with a deficiency early on, I'm tipping a Boron deficiency, possibly caused by PH fluctuation or simply too weak a nutrient solution. All good now though and they're fiting along. One thing I can't seem to get right and I deal with this In winter is cold temps. Room is not getting any hotter than 20 degrees C. Think I need a time Space heater.