Grow Mediums Mom's Autocob, Autoflower, Autopot Grow

[Dudeski]

Can you say more about that? Autopot wicking was an issue for others before? Was there any conclusion as to why?

Hydroton seemed to be the common cause. Look at the beginning of the autopots threads. Pop22 and others tried several different amounts and less was better. I dont know why or how but if he uses none, i would do what he does because he is a much better and more experienced grower than me. I do whatever he says, no questions.

 

[MassMom]

I just chatted with @pop22 :smoking:
One thing i did wrong at the beginning was I started with DRY pots. oops. I didnt know that a moist pot would start the wicking action. Plus, I have those damn clay balls in my pots, but it is to late to do anything about that now, the plants are to big to transplant. so.....I top watered yesterday, pots are moist, and I am going to turn on the system this afternoon and watch it closely. I have a water meter to make sure the system is indeed working and the soil doesnt go dry, dryer, bone dry like it did before.

 

[lunarman]

Dudeski, are people having success with airdomes and just putting coco right on top all the way to fill the pot? I thought autopots recommended grave, perlite etc and then leave an inch of exposed dome and then coco on top of that. Im thinking of just using 100% with the domes.

Hydroton seemed to be the common cause. Look at the beginning of the autopots threads. Pop22 and others tried several different amounts and less was better. I dont know why or how but if he uses none, i would do what he does because he is a much better and more experienced grower than me. I do whatever he says, no questions.

 

[Dudeski]

They are having success without any substrate, some are doing well with it. I just go by what i read from pop22 and try to pass it along. I didn't know to start with a wet pot. Wicking action is the key, however its run.

 

[MassMom]

OK, so I gave the girls a little top feed until the water meter read "moist" half way down each pot, cleaned the res, cleaned the bases, replaced all tubing, checked the valves, and put 2 gallons of tap water with half a tsp per gallon of GH gro/micro/bloom in the res. I turned it on and bases started to fill. Then I saw something I did NOT see last time~ the valves "rose up" as the water rose up. Hopefully all works now. I will keep checking them with the water meter to make sure this time my ladies are drinking.
Thanks everyone, say a prayer, LOL

 

[Dudeski]

I bet you got it this time!

 

[MassMom]

I bet you got it this time!

thanks hon!! I will keep my eye on it. funny thing is...I notice that the plant growing in the airpot with the old soil that has been top fed by hand is growing better than the others.

 

[Dudeski]

thanks hon!! I will keep my eye on it. funny thing is...I notice that the plant growing in the airpot with the old soil that has been top fed by hand is growing better than the others.

That old soil has been good from the beginning. The others slowed down with the watering problem but it will catch up. Can you tell if the pots,are wicking now?

 

[MassMom]

That old soil has been good from the beginning. The others slowed down with the watering problem but it will catch up. Can you tell if the pots,are wicking now?

I am not sure really how to tell? i did mark the inside of the res with some duct tape, so eventualy I will know if it is going down. the moisture meter is reading moist in the pots. How do i really know if wicking is happening>

 

[Dudeski]

If the plants look happy and level in the res continues to drop.