Hello growers, I took a little break from growing in the bloom chamber this summer to give the air conditioner a break. I did keep my veg cabinet active as it supports my mom for cuttings. Mom is kept in bonsai form and has 3 different strains grafted together. I have gathered my favorite strains to develop this mother plant. Chem Brulee CB Pebble Punch PP Topanga Cookies TC This is how she appeared before taking cuttings. I take small cuttings and took 8 Topanga Cookies, 2 Pebble Punch and 2 Chem Brulee. My next crop focus is to have 2 really nice clones of the TC for the 2 plant sites in my bloom chamber. The cuttings are set in polyfoam cubes and placed in plastic shoebox with a weak Clonex solution. They usually root out in 14 days.
I set those cuttings in the box and then left on a 12 day RV trip to New Mexico. When I returned I had roots. I selected the best 5 of the Topanga Cookies TC to pot up to #1 airpots. I then place them in the same nutrient flow as the mom. They will stay here for a while to grow. Later I will select the best 2 to pot up to #3 airpots and move to my bloom chamber. Each weekend I will post updates on this grow until harvest. Have a great day.
You do very interesting work especially the grafting. I was wondering what that is covered up around the plants
Thanks @Flannigan I’ll be sure to snap a photo of the veg tray without the black cover. Check back this weekend, I’ll be glad to show you.
@Flannigan, you asked what was under the black plastic. The blackboard is like a plastic corrugated cardboard. I get is at art supply stores like Michael’s. I use it to reduce evaporation into the room and block light to prevent algae growth in tray. I arrange pieces in 2 layers to prevent light from sneaking into the tray. Underneath is 6 #1 Airpots. The mother is always there. 5 new cuttings that were planted 7 days ago. In another 7 days I’ll select the best 2 and move them to larger pots and the main room for a 3 week veg and then flip to bloom. From this point forward they receive constant nutrient flow 24/7. Any other questions that I can answer for you.
Not right now but thanks for explaining. While I was waiting I had this vision that roots were probably in there floating and the black things were to keep light off them lol. Thanks again and look in real good
It’s been 15 days since I potted up the rooted cuttings, a month since taking the cuts from mom. They are ready for me to pot up to #3 airpots and move from the cabinet to the larger chamber to complete the veg and then bloom. I’ll pick the best 2 plants to move and hold the other 2 as back up for a week, just in case there’s a problem. Mom on the left with her 3 strains grafted on is doing nice after her last mowing for cuttings. Tomorrow I’ll post the transfer.
Yes, good question. The roots can be destroyed if we try to remove the foam cube. I just load some pre moistened pellets into the bottom of the container, depth depends on how high you want the little plant’s branches above the rim of the container. I gently place the rooted cube on the moist pellets making sure the roots are tucked in the container, check the height. No roots should be going up, either down or outward. Both is better, but not upwards. I then carefully place moist pellets over the roots and cube. Ideally the the cube should not be visible after the final pellets are placed.
Glad that you’re interested in that. My journal is focusing on my grow. Please don’t post photos in my journal, it can become distracting. Thanks for understanding. Our other forum conversations that are current are a good place to discuss your project. Blue
Ready to pot up my cuttings today. Before I do I’d like to give you a quick tour of my Grow Room. I grow in an 8’ x 12’ shed. It is divided into 2 main spaces: 1. An 8’ x 8’ space contains the entry area. In this space is the door to outside and a work bench area. I also have my veg/propagation area in a storage cabinet also storing supplies and tools. The work area has the bloom reservoir, and fresh water refill tank under the bench. There is a hose bib on the left end of the bench with a short hose that reaches both reservoirs and all plant sites. Refill tank replaces H2O as it evaporates and transpires from the plants. Next to the bench is a deep sink and cold water supply from the house. Shelves hold commonly used items. Next to the Veg Cabinet is the wall air conditioner and reservoir for Veg cabinet. The space on the shelf right is the veg tray is where the cuttings dome is placed. The floor is seamless vinyl with rubber baseboards. This is my main reservoir under the bench. I run 10 gallons and it’s fill is constantly maintained via a float valve, refill comes from the grey tank under the bench. In here is the pump, a small aquarium turbo for swift current recirculating, the float valve, pH sensors, pH tubes for Up and for Down, a mainline bypass, the nutrient return pipe and a Dunk. More to come. Next the Bloom Area.
Fantastic! We are back with photos. I have removed the 2 sliding panel doors that separate the work area from the grow area just for the photo. The panels help control light and climate. The main growing area is a 4’ x 8’ space at the opposite end of the shed. 2 plants sites on continuous feed with gravity drain return to the reservoir. 24/7 recirculating. The SCROG is 2 elevations measuring 4’ x 4.5’. Climate control using seasonal air conditioning, space heater, dehumidifier, thermostat controlled exhaust w/ day/night settings, wall fans and a tower fan set on the floor. The lighting is 4 Spider Farmer 1000s linked. The lights can be adjusted to hang a different heights to accommodate an uneven canopy. If it hangs from above it’s attached to a steel grid.
The plants will go into #3 Airpots filled with hydroton pellets. The Airpots are set in buckets with drain outlets back to the reservoir for recirculating back to the plants. Nutrient is pumped from the reservoir via the upper 1/2” pvc pipe. The valve allows for flow control and system calibration. The drain outlet union allows for clearing a root plug if one ever occurs. The clear tube is overflow bypass if a root plug develops and stops the lower drain, I’ll be able to see nutrient in the tube. This prevents a flood on the floor and indicates the need to clear the root plug. The lower drain 1 1/4” pvc pipe is gravity flow to the reservoir.
Planting Day I have 4 nice ‘Topanga Cookies’ plants to choose from. Only need 2, tough decision. mom on the left looks nice! The cuttings have been on 24/7 nutrient feed since they were potted up 16 days ago. I selected the best 2 plants based on the length of roots and amount of nodes, this will maximize plant potential. Using pre soaked pellets I place pellets in the #3 Airpot to a level that allows the new plant to be set at the correct elevation. I set the cutting on the pellets to be sure the lowest branch node is 2” above the rim of the larger container. I then open the smaller #1 airpot and carefully remove the outer portion of the container along with the bottom piece. The pellets that are around the roots cascade onto the new pellets. I carefully arranged the roots out evenly before adding more pellets. I add pellets up about 1” from the rim. At this point my reservoir is full of nutrients, I’ll pour about a cup to a pint of nutrient over all the pellets and set into the system. Next I set the flow of nutrient solution and place the black covers over the pellets. All done and ready for the Grow Show! See you at the next posting.
The heater is the only source most of the time. In the photo it’s in its storage spot. Right now climate control is passive with thermostat controlled exhaust. The dehumidifier kicks on every so often, that gives off a bit of waste heat. Soon I’ll move the black heater into the center of the work space. Late October starts the Heat season for me. It operates through April, then back to passive exhausting. I’m at 6,800ft elevation at the foot of Pikes Peak. We can get quick severe cold snaps for long periods, I’ll use little aquarium heaters to boost my two reservoirs to the low 70s. AC late June - mid September. I calibrate the settings on each component in order to maintain the desired range.
Monitoring the climate in the shed is pretty simple. I have 3 climate sensors placed in strategic areas. This one is on the wall in the bloom chamber. There is 1 in the veg cabinet and 1 above the workbench. The sensors send a signal to a receiver in my home office. The climate monitor in front is info from the shed. The monitor in the rear provides info for the house and outside. It’s nice to be able to monitor temperature and humidity in each of the 3 areas without running out to the shed to see for myself. The info on the shed monitor is from the veg cabinet, right where I want it. I can scroll to each of the 3 sensors, review highs and lows, and reset at will. Just a comment on the humidity readings, humidity at this level is not a problem in my grow. I’ve done this for decades and have never had a symptom caused by low humidity.