Indoor RocBudInc genetics Perpetual SIP earthbox grow

[MrOldBoy]

Field capacity is a new one on me. Just looked it up and have at least a basic understanding now

Around 90-120 millibars is correct field capacity you are wanting to achieve - under 90 millibars and the plant will suffer and over 120ish too wet We know all kinds of things go wrong when too wet .....

If you buy a moisture meter may I suggest one that measures in millibars not a too wet / too dry $15-$20 cheapo!

 

[slowandeasy]

I actually already started soaking a diesel cookies from rocbudinc and was having tough time deciding! I think I’ve seen enough people mention springtails as non harmful that not gonna super stress it but still gonna do a light top watering on box box to at least kill some of the eggs on top of soil from last oly compost I added on there! Also gonna dig up other lady so I can verify my suspicions about root rot!
ALSO SORRY TO SOUND LIKE A BEOKEN RECORD BUT CAN EITHER @MrOldBoy or @slowandeasy plz tell me how much water the big box holds even approximately??? I wanna know so I can just keep 1/2 full! Think it’s right around 3 gallons from being totally empty but not sure and don’t wanna fillit and drain just to see what she holds!

I dont have any Originals, but it is somewhere between 2 and 3 gal. I

Field capacity is a new one on me. Just looked it up and have at least a basic understanding now

I would like to explain how the 1/2 full Rez keeps a lower moisure level vs Full Rez. So, when the Rez is Full, the soil will eventually take up as much as it can. Keeping the Rez Full daily keeps the soil at basically 100% moisture level. As the plant uses water the Rez goes down. Lets say in 24 hours your plant uses 1/2 Gal. So you top it off and the soil stays near 80-100% Moisture during this time, using 1/2 Gal. Roots seek moisture. When the Rez is Full during the first 3 weeks of life...the soil is overly moist for the small root system. 100% Moisture level is NOT ideal during these first 3 werks. We want the roots to seek moisture. You want a little fluctuation in soil moisture level during this time for optimal root growth. Creating thick white roots vs thin pale roots that grow slowly.

So when we keep the Rez 1/2 full, the soil will not fully reach 100% moisture for as long...or at all. Lets say 80% average. Then as the plant uses the water during the 24 hours the moisture level of the soil will gradually drop as well. So it goes from 80% Moisture to 60% Moisture. After your 24 hours you add water to maintain 1/2 Full. During hatt 24 Hour time your soil didnt stay soaked...it lost a little mousure content. This is EXACTLY what we want during this time frame! We want a lillte flux in 24 hours, Roots respond quickly, thus creating more roots faster and remaining thick and fuzzy. This speeds up the plants uptake and the Rez goes down faster daily. Ideallly we wsnt to add the MINIMAL amount of water needed in a 24 hour period to be badivally fully used. For example, if you add 1/2 gal to your Rez tonight, 24 Hours later the Rez would be almost empty ideally. If you add 1/2 gal tonight and it only takes 1/4 gal tomorrow...then your plant is not using the water fast enough. A THIN layer of water in the Rez after 24 hours is ideal during this time. Never going bone dry...but going from 50% Full to 10% Full daily is ideal for early plant and root growth. As the plant grows, the amount of water needed to maintain 50% will increase. Eventually creating the NEED to water to overflow daily. Think of it as kind of like the Full tank of Gas vs 1/2 Full Tank. The first half of the tank seems to last longer. From 1/2 Full to Empty seems to go faster. This is how the SIPs rez works. Keeping 1/2 Full will use the water faster than keeping it totally full. We need to take advantage of that during early veg, Roots thrive on proper moisture level. 100% Moisture level in any medium is less than optimal. Even in a small cup. But we are talking about 5 to 7 gal.of Soil easy. This amount of soil stays too wet for seedlings if Rez is full. Also, soil depth and pot size plays a huge factor. Autopots 4 gal pots will keep.plants SOAKED due to pot Depth. This is horrible for seedlings. Which is another reason why Low Profile SIPs are more common. Too deep, can really effect growth due to moisture level. Plus Autopots whole bottoms bath in the water 24/7. Vs a couple small wicking pods that rest downward into the rez. The larger the SIP the more wicking areas needed. City Pickers have large wicking areas in each corner due to the increased surface area. Earthboxes have 2 wicking pods in the middle due to its narrow shape.

Many factors on wicking amounts. But in general, more Medium below the surface will wick higher. More water in the Rez wicks higher. Hope this helps a little. I have disected enough SIPs to see how the Moisture levels vary with Rez level. A freshly harvested plant in a SIP will have very moist soil if Rez is kept full. Harvest a plant that has most of its Rez supply up. The soil is far from the same feeling. When you see the moisture content of a full rez at harvest, you can see how it is WAY too moist for a SEEDLING. And a seedling has no roots to use the moisture level up rapidly. You can, and should, fill your Rez up when you prep your SIPs ro plant seeds. This is enough water to keep that seedling happy for well.over a week. So DO NOT top off the rez during the first 7-10 days. DO NOT add any water diring this time. Let the rez go down. Then maintain 1/2 full vs full. You will see a difference. In growth and root stystems at harvest are much fuller. Peace, slow

 

[Sour D]

I've been filling rez to overflow but I'm only watering twice a week. Do you see that as an issue? So far my girls seem to love it. I've got the fattest stems I've ever had so far in my short time doing this

 

[slowandeasy]

I've been filling rez to overflow but I'm only watering twice a week. Do you see that as an issue? So far my girls seem to love it. I've got the fattest stems I've ever had so far in my short time doing this

You made your SIPs, so yours may stay more moist by design. Also plants use water at different rates at different stages of life. If you are happy with everything, dont chane your routine. If you think they are staying good, dont worry. Especially being first time running yours. Gey a baseline idea of how they work. Tweak later. You have to realize that when we mak our own, the wicking can be different than the store bought ones. I have ran Juniors enough to feel comfortable doing thing differently. The safest bet is to water to run off as you are. Plus my low rez tech is only for the firstvfew weeks. Then I increase as it needs. The soil depth and brands can also effect wicking. Also, remember that plants stay moist longer when you water to overflow. The more often you water to overflow, the longer it remains moist. You use more water doing 1/2 Rez...because the soil and plant uses it up faster. I prefer the 1/2 full rez due to my extensive knowlege and experience with cloning. Moisture level is the single most important factor in root growth speed. Seedlings dont need as much moisure as a 4 week old plant. Using 5+ gal of soil can keep itself too moist for optimal root growth. Less is more. And we want the roots to seek moisture.So during this time the lower section of soil should be a tad wetter than the top layer for optimal root growth. Roots seeking downward for mousture. Good luck, slow

 

[Fermented_Fruitz]

Oh my poor poor baby!

Uhhhh so ya this happened! Didn’t pay attention and the soil I had piled up around stem when it had stretched shoulda been pulled back cuz keeping earthbox reservoir totally full allowed moisture to wick all the way up to that soil and wound up rotting the stem! Prob woulda lived longer had it not been under the nethaving that extra pressure pushing down onto the soggy spot! ON ANOTHER NOTE THANK GOD IT DIES WHEN IT DID! Had I made it to flower and lost it I’d be stomping something out! Restarted already and have a @RocBudInc diesel cookies soaking now and will be planted tomorrow afternoon!

 

[Sour D]

You made your SIPs, so yours may stay more moist by design. Also plants use water at different rates at different stages of life. If you are happy with everything, dont chane your routine. If you think they are staying good, dont worry. Especially being first time running yours. Gey a baseline idea of how they work. Tweak later. You have to realize that when we mak our own, the wicking can be different than the store bought ones. I have ran Juniors enough to feel comfortable doing thing differently. The safest bet is to water to run off as you are. Plus my low rez tech is only for the firstvfew weeks. Then I increase as it needs. The soil depth and brands can also effect wicking. Also, remember that plants stay moist longer when you water to overflow. The more often you water to overflow, the longer it remains moist. You use more water doing 1/2 Rez...because the soil and plant uses it up faster. I prefer the 1/2 full rez due to my extensive knowlege and experience with cloning. Moisture level is the single most important factor in root growth speed. Seedlings dont need as much moisure as a 4 week old plant. Using 5+ gal of soil can keep itself too moist for optimal root growth. Less is more. And we want the roots to seek moisture.So during this time the lower section of soil should be a tad wetter than the top layer for optimal root growth. Roots seeking downward for mousture. Good luck, slow

This is how they are looking right now- I gotta change my door config so I can shoot a full group pic

 

[slowandeasy]

This is how they are looking right now- I gotta change my door config so I can shoot a full group pic

What strain is that? Looks a little sad tbh. Overwatering or too much light can cause droopy leaves. The others looks fine from what I can see. So might be lamp distance

 

[Sour D]

What strain is that? Looks a little sad tbh. Overwatering or too much light can cause droopy leaves. The others looks fine from what I can see. So might be lamp distance

Thai. Yeah I'v been having to raise the lights daily. Hope they are about done stretching- running out of height

 

[Fermented_Fruitz]

My next drop from the homies at @RocBudInc

 

[slowandeasy]

My next drop from the homies at @RocBudInc
View attachment 1191014

Roc said he was gonna make me a combo deal, but didnt before 9pm. I see these are gone already. Good luck, slow