Perm's Journal
- Thread starter Big Perm
- Start date
Big Perm
Budtender
A look at the kratky tent, it's been about a week since I unzipped it last. Talk about low maintenance. Sorry for the blurple color, I tried my best to fix it. Next time I'll use a white light to take pics. They look really good, but a little high on the N side, so I'll dilute it down.
Big Perm
Budtender
Haha, thanks. Not bad for my first attempt. The roots look amazing. I have something bigger planned in the tent beside it, now. Muahahahhaa
socaljoe
Cocaine Cowboy
Yellow lids will allow light through and grow algae like a mofo. I made that mistake.
Big Perm
Budtender
The one lid that is black I spray painted. I used black engine enamel. Works pretty good. I cleaned up the lid, and gave it a good alcohol spray, let it dry, then painted it.
If you don't want to paint it, I was also thinking of slipping the lid into a black trash bag, and cutting a hole for the plant.
As far as ill effects from using regular yellow lids. I haven't seen any myself. I know Joe used some outdoors. I can see the sunlight intensity getting in there no problem. As far an indoors. My lettuce lids are yellow, and the water and roots are fine. I think it is because the light intensity isn't very strong for lettuce. Same for my res tote lids, no ill effects. I didn't want to chance it with the MJ kratky because I knew I would be pumping some light at them and right through that lid.
I plan on painting all of my lids at some point.
spyralout
🌱🌿🌲🔥💨
I've used "plastic paint" and it flakes off. I painted the lid then drilled holes with a hole saw. Thinking of heating the lid with a propane torch or something. Sanding didn't work well. I plan on using new buckets with yellow lids for RDWC. I have a yellow lid tote that I haven't seen ill effects from but the light intensity that I plan for the RDWC buckets will be pretty high. Black trash bag is a good idea. I have also seen foam board and shiny tape as well. Just trying to find the easiest and most cost effective option.
socaljoe
Cocaine Cowboy
Why not use black bucket lids? Or net pot bucket lids, which are also black? Just a couple ideas...
Unless you're using square buckets, then disregard...
spyralout
🌱🌿🌲🔥💨
Yea square buckets. I currently have square 4 gal black buckets from ULINE but I like the 5 gal Blowes Commander buckets they have now, it's just that it has a yellow lid like their whole Commander line. The rigidity seems to allow for a better mating surface for the gasket (less chance of bowing). I've had bulkheads leak in the ULINE buckets mid grow after some settling, but the bulkheads in a commander tote, even with oversized holes, have been leak free.
spyralout
🌱🌿🌲🔥💨
I figure whatever I end up using (may not be anything at all), I would need to apply it before drilling the hole.
Big Perm
Budtender
I'm officially off of liquid nutes,
and on to powders, finally. Three parts that I can handle, and they're cheap. Fertilizer, Epsom, and Calcium Nitrate. I've been pretty excited about the switch for a while now. I'm liking g much more than ml.
I don't want to be accused of being a shill again, so I'll keep the name to myself, but thanks for the recommendation, @socaljoe Now I have another thing to blame for when my plants look like crap.
and on to powders, finally. Three parts that I can handle, and they're cheap. Fertilizer, Epsom, and Calcium Nitrate. I've been pretty excited about the switch for a while now. I'm liking g much more than ml.
I don't want to be accused of being a shill again, so I'll keep the name to myself, but thanks for the recommendation, @socaljoe Now I have another thing to blame for when my plants look like crap.
spyralout
🌱🌿🌲🔥💨
Lol @ scale brand name
Big Perm
Budtender
Getting the other vegetable 4x4 ready and popping some seeds to put in it. I'm going to run them kratky.
I'm doing this, this way, lol. Solo shot cup, and a 2" net pot filled with coco. The net pot sits about 1/4" off the bottom of the cup, so it's like a little SIP. I always like trying new things, and the main reason why I encourage other people to always try new things. I've grown in a SIP before, know how it works, so I'm applying that now to these. The roots won't air prune in the cup, so we should be seeing a root nest in a few weeks, and I can put that coco and all right into a kratky tub.
Oh, I was out of hydroton....
I'm doing this, this way, lol. Solo shot cup, and a 2" net pot filled with coco. The net pot sits about 1/4" off the bottom of the cup, so it's like a little SIP. I always like trying new things, and the main reason why I encourage other people to always try new things. I've grown in a SIP before, know how it works, so I'm applying that now to these. The roots won't air prune in the cup, so we should be seeing a root nest in a few weeks, and I can put that coco and all right into a kratky tub.
Oh, I was out of hydroton....
spyralout
🌱🌿🌲🔥💨
CZ Garden brand net pots are nice and sturdy, much more than hydro store pots (typically supplied by hawthorne gc in my area). I have pulled and twisted thick root roots out and haven't broken one yet.
The thing I'm wondering is If the star pattern on the bottom vs. mesh like most others have makes a difference. There seems to be less spaces for the roots to go through, have you experienced this?
Big Perm
Budtender
A few years ago I ordered a pack of 100. These are all I have ever used, so I can't compare.
I do know that roots always find a way.
NoWaistedSpace
PICK YOUR OWN
I would say to help direct root flow out instead of straight down like reg net pots.
spyralout
🌱🌿🌲🔥💨
Like spread outwards as they drop through the stars. Interesting. I'm almost tempted to poke more holes and see what happens. Probably negligible.
