Colonel's Bonsai (Hempy) Garden

Welcome everyone

This thread will be used to document my adventures growing various vegetables and herbs in a micro cab.

Interior dimensions: 7.5"w x 10"d x 15"h

It's tiny, but should be adequate for some experimentation.

Here's what the inside looks like:


Currently the lighting is supplied by a single 26w 6500k cfl, though a second will probably be added once things get a little farther along.

What's on tap:
-A sweet basil which was documented here.
-Remy Rouge Cherry Tomatoes which have just germed.
-Early Jalapeño Peppers which will be germed once the tomatoes are done.
-Alpine strawberries, once the cab gets freed up
-Other varieties as space becomes available

-If I can find a way to breed a mozzarella plant, I'll be in business!

Everything will be grown in hempy containers with 100% perlite. Germination is currently done in 100% perlite. Some seeds are in sponges, others are dropped right in the perlite. After germination, seedlings will be moved into individual soda can hempys. All will be extensively pruned, and root trimmed to maintain a small profile. I don't care about yield. This is more about enjoying the grow, experimenting, and learning.

Nutes will be simple. GH flora, loosely according to the lucas formula. Just micro and bloom around a .75ml/1.25ml per 16oz of h2o. Sometimes the formula is reversed, sometimes it's diluted, and sometimes it's not used. It all depends on what the plants are asking for.

Ventilation is provided by a single 80mm pc fan which has no problems keeping the temps in the mid 70's.

So welcome. Thanks for reading. I hope you stick around and watch. I'll do my best to keep things updated as things change. I'm open for suggestions, and if you have any pic,or other requests, let me know.

I'll have some new pictures in a few days, once the tomato seedlings are fully out.

I'm shocked that things are progressing this well. 3 cherry tomatoes have sprouted!

Once they get a little bigger they'll get transplanted into their very own soda can hempy. Once I see which one or two looks the best, the rest will be discarded. I'm not sure about this approach though. (see below)

Anyways on to the pics:

Basil is looking a little rough, but hanging in there:


Here's the tupperware germination container:


You can see the 3 sponges which each have seeds, and the one sponge-less corner which has a few seeds germing in the perlite alone. It's ALLLIIIVVVEE!


Here are the three under closer inspection:




So excited!

Just a side note, but I was doing some research on how not to kill tomatoes and luckily caught this snippet:

Photoperiod (length of day). Although the tomato plant can flower and fruit at any daylength (day neutral plant), fruit set has been shown to be retarded under continuous light. Thus, tomato fruit set may be reduced under the continuous illumination characteristic of some environments.

We don't want any retarded fruit, so I may need to source a timer soon.

Also:

Plant Nutrition. Reduced fruiting may result from either stunted or excessively vigorous vegetative growth... Inadequate moisture and/or available nitrogen can hinder growth and flower production. Conversely, abundant water and nitrogen can stimulate rapid vegetative growth with low levels of carbohydrates remaining for the normal processes involved in fruit set.

So does that mean that I should be looking for the most mediocre of the bunch?

Had to shuffle things around a bit.

Basil was moved into a soda can to make room for the tomatoes. She had her roots trimmed again and now has about 30% of her original root ball. I'm really doing my best to kill her off.


Once the 3 tomato seedlings were all fully out I put 2 in soda can hempys, and one in a tiny tupperware hempy.


And I used this tutorial and made a reflector to focus the light a little better. I'm a little worried that it is going to trap some heat, so I may take off the end closest to the door to help. Depends on how temps look.


That's all for today.

I hate to now know something, so why do you call the containers "hempy's" ??

The cups look like solo cups to me ??

The neat thing about beverage cans thinking about it that they have a coating that allows using an acid solution in them with no reaction, and Monster and other energy drinks come in HUGE cans :-).

Bill

I hate to now know something, so why do you call the containers "hempy's" ??

The cups look like solo cups to me ??

The neat thing about beverage cans thinking about it that they have a coating that allows using an acid solution in them with no reaction, and Monster and other energy drinks come in HUGE cans :-).

Bill

Hey Bill!

The original name was the "Hempy Bucket" because a guy named "Dalaihempy" on another forum brought the method to the cannabis community. It is not a new method in the hydro world, but for the cannabis boards it has been revolutionary in the way it simplified growing.

It is a passive hydro system that is typically hand watered.

Start with a bucket, hempy used 10l buckets (I'm using the same method in smaller containers, hence the name change)
Drill a single 1/2" hole in the side of the bucket about 1-1.5" from the bottom.
Fill with a perlite/vermiculite mix (original mix is 75% perlite/25% vermiculite)
Hand water with a complete hydro nute (lucas formula, or other methods)

The hole in the bucket allows for a small res of nutes to remain in the bottom of the bucket. Watering is typically done daily for clones and seedlings until their roots hit the res. Growth is usually pretty slow until the roots start taking up nutes and then they explode, sometimes growing an inch or more per day.

It's pretty much an idiot proof method of growing (I should know). Hempy says you don't have to PH your water, but I try and keep it around 6-6.5 which keeps things healthy. I have gotten a good feel for my tap water, and where the ph falls after adding nutes, so its been a few weeks since I've tested, but things seem to be pretty steady.

Good info on the cans! I was concerned about the metal, honestly. I'm glad to hear they should be effective. I'm keeping a close eye on them.

This whole foray into indoor micro gardening has been so much fun. Slightly unorthodox, but a great learning experience. Updates will be coming in a few days.

Well I'm just guessing on the coating, BUT soda is some pretty aggressive stuff PH wise. A friend referred me to a hydro blog (I will try to remember to dig out that link) but he had a passive hydro idea he was thinking of for 3rd world food grows...it used as I recall pea stone in the bottom part, and something like pearlite above it.

Well I'm just guessing on the coating, BUT soda is some pretty aggressive stuff PH wise.

Haha, yeah coca cola is about a 3.5ph. Makes me cringe thinking about it, but damn it's delicious.

A friend referred me to a hydro blog (I will try to remember to dig out that link) but he had a passive hydro idea he was thinking of for 3rd world food grows...it used as I recall pea stone in the bottom part, and something like pearlite above it.

I've actually been reading on various groups that educate people in third world countries to use various sustainable hydro methods, according to the available resources in each particular area, to grow crops. It's really amazing.

I will post up some links when I can find them again.

Edit: Found one www.carbon.org

Their affiliate sites have some good info as well.

http://www.hydroforh..._view.aspx?id=8
http://www.rooftopgardens.org/
http://www.fao.org/n...le_37647en.html
http://www.carbon.or...gal/senegal.htm

Edited by TheColonel, 18 December 2010 - 05:00 AM.

Bulding a World Without Hunger : The Massive and Passive Hydroponic System Project | Science in Hydroponics

There is a link to the passive hydro article

Actually here is the article itself
http://scienceinhydr...s-possible.html

And more in depth for larger plants
http://scienceinhydr...rge-plants.html

Edited by willbird, 20 December 2010 - 03:59 AM.

Hey Bill,

Thanks for the links. Was some good reading. I really love hydro, and eventually want to try out a recirculating dwc, but the passive methods are just so easy. Easy to set up, easy to monitor, and easy to reuse.

The only real change I'd like to make right now is to become less dependent on GH nutes and find some more sustainable sources instead. I have a while to learn that, though. These bottles of GH are going to last at least a year or 2 at this rate.

Time for an update.

Here's the box:


I've been neglecting the basil. Watering with plain water for a while, and extending the dry periods, but she keeps on living. I rewarded her with a nice dose of food today.


Tomatoes are getting bigger. The one that was sprouted in straight perlite is having some issues. I don't know if it's been drowning or not received enough water, but given the condition of the other two, it will be yanked soon to create room for a jalapeño plant.

The mutant (purely my fault of course):


The best looking of the bunch:


And the one in the mini tupperware:


Happy Holidays everyone!

Check this out



I have no idea how that snuck in there :-).....I was checking out blossoms hoping to find one that pollinated and took, and I found that massive thing :-). These plants already grew pods outside last summer so I know that will be a wicked hot thing :-).

But about the nutes, I was reading another thread and found this link buried there...or found my way to it anyway.

Pepper & Herb Formula 11-11-40

$40.90 plus shipping would buy enough to make 1000 gallons of hydro solution..they have other formulas besides the pepper one. I bought a gallon each of Micro, Grow, and Bloom so ya mine should last a long too time running a 10 gallon res 21 days so far between changes.

If you want to try growing a hyper hot chile PM me and I will send a few seeds. The Jaleps grow a lot faster than C. Chinese (what most hyper hot chiles are) for sure. The only issue with starting C. Chinese seeds is they like around 80f temperature to germinate.

The bags of Pearlite at the hydro store keep calling out to me every visit, once I get some I will have to give some mini hempies a shot, there is room in the grow room right now :-).

Edited by willbird, 23 December 2010 - 06:55 PM.

Beauty. I was wanting to try something similar, but with more than just your garden variety

Question, how big of an experiment do you think it would be to grow "mini' plants.

I mean like grow a year round tomato plant in a coke can ^ like you are. but keep them trim and such.

Check this out

I have no idea how that snuck in there :-).....I was checking out blossoms hoping to find one that pollinated and took, and I found that massive thing :-). These plants already grew pods outside last summer so I know that will be a wicked hot thing :-).

But about the nutes, I was reading another thread and found this link buried there...or found my way to it anyway.

Pepper & Herb Formula 11-11-40

$40.90 plus shipping would buy enough to make 1000 gallons of hydro solution..they have other formulas besides the pepper one. I bought a gallon each of Micro, Grow, and Bloom so ya mine should last a long too time running a 10 gallon res 21 days so far between changes.

If you want to try growing a hyper hot chile PM me and I will send a few seeds. The Jaleps grow a lot faster than C. Chinese (what most hyper hot chiles are) for sure. The only issue with starting C. Chinese seeds is they like around 80f temperature to germinate.

The bags of Pearlite at the hydro store keep calling out to me every visit, once I get some I will have to give some mini hempies a shot, there is room in the grow room right now :-).

Lookin good, Bill! That pic makes me hungry for some stir fry.

I hope you get a chance to try the hempy way soon.

Beauty. I was wanting to try something similar, but with more than just your garden variety

Question, how big of an experiment do you think it would be to grow "mini' plants.

I mean like grow a year round tomato plant in a coke can ^ like you are. but keep them trim and such.

If you employ traditional bonsai techniques, the only variable to be tested in your "experiment" is you. Root pruning every couple months will keep them happy, and pruning of the foliage will help keep them in whatever desired footprint you need for your garden. They will get rootbound if you don't keep a close eye on them, and the tops have to be somewhat proportional to the root ball to keep the plant balanced and healthy.

I pretty much learned how to garden from sites that grow "more than just your garden variety". The techniques of maintaining size and health during veg are almost identical.

Flowering might require a slightly larger container (16-20oz), but it could still be done in a soda can.

I would highly recommend hempy for this type of setup. The really nice thing is that it works like a dream for clones, and you don't have to change anything about the setup. Just fill a can with perlite, poke a hole, wet the perlite, poke a hole in it with a pen. Take your clone, snip the final 45 degree cut just below a node, lightly scuff the stem with an exacto knife, dip in rooting hormone, stick in the perlite, and water with h2o2 diluted in water every other day until you see new growth. Just a little water right down the stem until you see runoff from the drain hole. It usually takes about 14-20 days.

Once the clones are rooted you can flower them. Just have to make sure you know how much they will stretch in flower, but there are methods to stop vertical growth if you're in a pinch.

Your best yield would probably come from a SOG setup. It wouldn't be the best yield compared to topping and LST, but the speed would make up for it. Instead of waiting weeks/months to veg out a bush to train, all you'd have to wait for is the 2 weeks for rooting. If you staggered your clones and put them in flower every week or two, you could be harvesting at that rate. A bunch of small clones flowering right next to each other in 20oz soda bottles could get you anywhere from a couple grams, to a half ounce per plant.

I assume that's what you meant by more than just your garden variety.

As long as you follow the basic hempy formula, and keep the plants happy, this method is pretty easy.

If you have any specific questions, ask away.

hehe. I got your pm, and yes the "extras" are about the same.

I might do a trick I've wondered about, keeping it in veg, then flower, then prune the buds off, but return it to veg.

I can't remember what it's called, but I've heard it works.

Ah yes the mythical re-veg! It does indeed work, but the plant has to be reasonably healthy or it will just die on the stem after being put back under veg lighting.

Many years ago I saw an incredible phenotype die off because of an acquaintence who half-assed the grow, got half-assed buds (which by virtue of the genetics were still unbelievable), and lost the strain. It was grown from a dirty dirty shwag seed, and since then this acquaintence has popped many seeds from the same batch and hasn't found anything even close to the first one.

If, when you are growing out a plant in veg, you have a weird feeling... like, "this plant is going to be special, trust your gut. Use it as an opportunity to learn how to clone. Try as many methods as you can til you find what works for you. There's always the option of the re-veg if all else fails, but don't leave it to chance. You may not get another.



There are some good re-veg tutorials on the site I linked you to. Hope to see you get that grow up and running soon!

When I get home, and get everything moved around. I'll be sure to show you my set up when I make it. I plan to make like a little "garden" in my living room. As which have herbs, veggies. Maybe a mini fruit tree. Get a few bonsais, and even a chia lol.

If you stir fry a Bhut, or a Trinidad Scorpian, or even worse a 7 pot Brain Strain it can clear a small house :-)...the hot oil vaporizes the capsicum...it will literally take your breathe away, but so will candying jalapenos :-).

I have been half assed looking for some pearlite but stores like Walmart and Meijer carry ZERO during winter time. How far up from the bottom is the "proper" location for a solo cup mini hempy ??

Been reading up on the hempy deal here and there, would love to try it outside this summer.

I had a memory tickling me and I went and looked in my fertilizer stash and found this stuff

Expert Gardener Colorcote Slow-Release All Purpose Plant Food, 19-6-12

Must be Walmart's version of Osmocote ?

If you stir fry a Bhut, or a Trinidad Scorpian, or even worse a 7 pot Brain Strain it can clear a small house :-)...the hot oil vaporizes the capsicum...it will literally take your breathe away, but so will candying jalapenos :-).

Hah yeah I've had some issues when cooking with some cayennes. I can't even imagine cooking some of the hotter varieties.

I have been half assed looking for some pearlite but stores like Walmart and Meijer carry ZERO during winter time. How far up from the bottom is the "proper" location for a solo cup mini hempy ??

This seems to work well. If you raise it, you can potentially lower the amount of watering that needs to be done, but I don't know the point of diminishing returns on that.

Been reading up on the hempy deal here and there, would love to try it outside this summer.

Have you seen the outdoor hempys on 420mag? Seems like they work well as long as you can keep them from drying out too much.

I had a memory tickling me and I went and looked in my fertilizer stash and found this stuff

Expert Gardener Colorcote Slow-Release All Purpose Plant Food, 19-6-12

Must be Walmart's version of Osmocote ?

Looks like it's very similar. Do you remember how expensive it was?

All is well in the box.


The basil has developed a rugged woody stem.


Tomatoes are growing bigger every day.

I did a google on that fertilizer I mentioned and while I saw MENTION of it, nobody had any for sale.

I slipped (5) Burpee Sweet basil seeds into some 1.5" macroplugs....forgot I had the seeds :-). Now to find some pearlite.