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Question and Answer Page 84

 

Subjects

Re: root rot  possible to use sea-water a metal halide light will work with a hps ballast of the same wattage.
where does the air pump come in? phosphoric acid for bringing down pH? will rock wool work in an "eleven plant" type system?
same weight you might get with soil white powder/fuzz dangerous is it to run a 400w HPS light
what kind of pump When they rise (EC,PPM) is because what do you put into the 2 liter containers to support the plants
correct nutrient temperature (and air temperature) phosphoric acid as a milk cleaner what gives hydroponics a greater advantage
Date:
04 Mar 2002
Time:
08:14:06

Comments

Hi Ron,

I have recently purchased a new 400watt m.h. light. My garden is currently in flowering stage using my old 100 watt hps light + 160 watts warm white flourscent. I vegged the plants for 8 weeks under 160 watts cool white flourescent + 100 watt hps. My question is will swapping 100 watt hps + flourescents with 400 watt mh, affect flowering? the bulb I have is near the 4,000 kelvin range.all plants are budding already. any info on changing color spectrum or how it may affect my garden would be appreciated.

I love this site!!! Oh yeah by the way, the 11 plant garden works Beautifully!!

I don't know what your talking about.

Date:
04 Mar 2002
Time:
11:02:37

Comments

I am trying hydronponic tomatos in perlite with drip emitters. The plants are about 5" tall. The leaves are curling under and in. I've ruled out insects or disease so I think it is either amount of nutrients or water. I'm using Flora nutrients in the 1.5,2,1 ratio and have 1/2 gal/hr raindrip emitters left on all the time. Does that sound right? Too much water? Not enought nutrients? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

THANKS!

My guess is to much water.

Date:
04 Mar 2002
Time:
19:04:56

Comments

I have just completed your 11 plant garden, and I would just like to say, thank you for showing me that these gardens do not have to cost a huge amount for a pre-made system. (the next phase is seeing if my chemistry is up-to-snuff when I mix my own nutrients.......)

Date:
04 Mar 2002
Time:
19:22:44

Comments

Re: root rot (5/21/97)

Hey walter -

Actually, you nailed the name of the disease right on (if you mean soggy, brown roots that seem to come apart in your hands)

I have had the same problem in dirt and my aunt has had it in hydro - light isn't the problem. You are either letting your garden flood to often, or are useing a growing medium that is too dense, and holds on to water too long - either cut down the amount of floods that your garden does, OR change the growing medium

- as for the rescue..........

well, most plants can not recover from root rot, but there is still a chance.(after you have reduced the flooding or changed the growing medium) remove the plants from the growing medium, and carefully trim off all of the brown roots - these will cause rot in other, potentially healthy roots. If there are ANY white roots, leave them alone, and replace back in the growing medium.

(if there isn't any white roots, trim them all back until about 2 cm from where the roots meet the base of the plant. Replace the plant in the grow medium and pray - your plants don't have much of a chance then. but you never know. My Hydrangeia grew back when it had this problem.)

Date:
05 Mar 2002
Time:
05:05:20

Comments

I have lush green tomatoe plants but some leaves are developing a few dark green or clear spots in the leaves top and bottom, what might cause this. Zac

Date:
05 Mar 2002
Time:
05:40:09

Comments

Attn: All Tomato growers

Here's a list of URL's that you may find interesting on different things that may harm or kill you plants.

http://www.hydroponics.net/learn/nutrient_deficiencies.asp

http://www.orst.edu/Dept/NWREC/vegindex.html

http://eesc.orst.edu/agcomwebfile/garden/vegetable/veggieflowers.html

 

Date:
05 Mar 2002
Time:
12:23:58

Comments

Will it be possible to grow aubergines(garden eggs)in the 11-plant bottle-based system.I am thinking about both intra and interspecific competition

Date:
05 Mar 2002
Time:
15:58:39

Comments

for the 11 plant setup how and where does the air pump come in?

The air pump is just an extra incentive for your plants to make sure they are getting plenty of oxygen.  

Date:
06 Mar 2002
Time:
20:21:42

Comments

I am really interested in Purchasing a Pipe dreams 160 but I am concerned that it may not produce the same weight you might get with soil. The cup spaces look to be too close together. I would like to get at least an ounce of my favorite vegetable after a seven or eight week flowering cycle. I know it can be done in soil with a 3 week veg. cycle first but can the same thing be done with this system? If so what is the recommended veg. time to do this or maybe recommended plant height. Anyone out there know what I'm talking about? Your help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, James

Weight has more to do with seed verity than with growing in soil or hydroponics. 

Date:
06 Mar 2002
Time:
21:31:16

Comments

on the 11 plant hydro grower, what kind of pump should i use in the bottom of the tub, and what kind of tub should i use??

Submersible pump and 14 gallon Rubbermaid container. 

Date:
07 Mar 2002
Time:
15:29:44

Comments

What is the correct nutrient temperature (and air temperature) for growing tomatoes. I'm building an ebb and flow system in my basement where the ambient temp is around 60 degrees F. Is this too cold?

Thanks,

Dave in Wisconsin

Not in the dark period but should be up to 80 degrees or so when the light is on.

Date:
07 Mar 2002
Time:
23:42:58

Comments

I was wondering what is the average cost to run a 400w hps 12/12 per month.

Thanks

 

Date:
08 Mar 2002
Time:
07:11:20

Comments

Howdy Y'all

Would it be possible to use sea-water in place of a more "common" nutrient solution?

Thanx.

No

Date:
08 Mar 2002
Time:
08:57:31

Comments

what is the optimal parts per million for nitrates?

Date:
08 Mar 2002
Time:
20:15:31

Comments

hey, ron where do you go to buy grow rock and will fish tank rock work.If I use merical grow for my nuteints will it work. I am doing this for a scince project and think that Hydroponics are really think that it is COOL!!!!! I built your 11 plant system and everone thinks it's COOL. Thank you for your site and hope your buiness does Great this spring and summer.

At the grow store. No. And No.

Date:
09 Mar 2002
Time:
06:53:26

Comments

This week I was going through the web and found so many places to buy pumps and so many pumps to choose from. The best I found so far was http://www.fountainology.com/outdoor/via_aqua_pumps.html

Any insight on this or any one of you tried this company before?

A friend of mine on-line said that the VA2600 worked well for him but I would like a more expert outlook on this.

Thanks!

I have just got into hydroponics and started looking on the web for pumps. The best place I found was: http://www.fountainology.com/outdoor/via_aqua_pumps.html The VA1300 and VA2600 are working best for me and prices are so low for the quality.

Date:
11 Mar 2002
Time:
20:54:28

Comments

Does anyone know where I can find plans for a "cheap" way to build a commercial sized greenhouse? I would like to build a large one or one that is exspandable. Can anyone help? Any and all info is most appreciated. Thanks, Steve

Date:
12 Mar 2002
Time:
15:58:36

Comments

Can anyone tell me if i take saltpeter and mix it in hot water do i get phosphoric acid for bringing down pH?

Date:
14 Mar 2002
Time:
19:58:46

Comments

Saltpeter is the common name for Potassium Nitrate and is used to add Nitrogen to Ferts. Phosphoric acid is used to lower ph of solution. The two are not the same. Good Growing Nurse Duckett

Date:
12 Mar 2002
Time:
19:48:57

Comments

Foe the person who was asking about measuring Nutrient strength with a multimeter, measuring ec requires AC voltage, and multimeters only have DC. Purpose built meters have AC rectifiers which alows the meter to convert the DC voltage from the batteries to AC voltage. Also, you would have to have some way to convert the reading to micro, or milisiemens in order to convert to PPM.

Darren http://hillshydro.cjb.net

Sorry, but AC rectifers take AC and convert it to DC. An inverter converts DC to AC.

Date:
13 Mar 2002
Time:
19:38:52

Comments

You are correct. I just got ahead of myself I guess. But to the normal person who doesn't deal with electricity, I think I got the point across.

Date:
14 Mar 2002
Time:
06:12:25

Comments

Hi Ron, Ive acquired 8 mothers that came with what appears to be a white powder/fuzz that starts like a light dust then a powder then to a thick fuzz mostly on the older leaves. Ive taken 300 clipings and have trimmed any leaves showing signs and it looked like I had beat this but it has started to resurface once again. ive tried to increase fresh air to my rooms and installed another wall fan in both as well. I would be most thankful if you could help identify the problem and any solution to best defeat it thanks ron

Sorry plant diseases is not my forta. 

Date:
14 Mar 2002
Time:
17:23:15

Comments

I purchased a Hanna pH, E.C., PPM. meter. I always see what the p.h. should be, (6.0 - 6.5) but not the EC & PPM. When they rise(EC,PPM)is that because more water is being used than nutrients? And should you just add water to bring the EC & PPM down? i'm using vita-grow 3 part nutrients,and when i use them as directed i get a ph of 6.0 a EC of 1800 and PPM of 1200 is that too high? And should you measure these two when you 1st add the nutrients so you know what they should be and try to keep around those numbers? confused please help Thanks

ppm does rise over time. I just let it rise until I need to refill the tanks which is about ever three days. That's not long enough to worry about.

Date:
14 Mar 2002
Time:
17:38:45

Comments

WHERE CAN I BUY EPSOM SALT IN BULK? I HAVE SEARCHED EVERY WHERE AND CAN ONLY FIND SMALL AMOUNTS. I AM LOOKING FOR AT LEAST 10 LB BAGS OR LARGER

THANKS HEATHER YAGERHEATHER@HOTMAIL.COM

Date:
15 Mar 2002
Time:
09:48:20

Comments

Hi people and what a wonderful forum this is! My question is.... I can by phosphoric acid as a milk cleaner at my local co-op but... it has a foaming agent in it well. (I bought some and boy does it foam!) Will this foaming agent hurt my grow?

Date:
15 Mar 2002
Time:
15:44:40

Comments

In response to question on dairy equipment cleaner for Phosphoric Acid. I have used Monarch CIP Acid a cleaner for Milking equipment for Ph up for 3 years and it does the job plus no problems. It has a detergent added to the Phosphoric base and does foam to a certain degree but not much with the small amount that I use to keep Ph under control. I find that the small amount of detergent aids in uptake of ferts. I start with tap water Ph of 7.8 and Calcium of 55ppm. I add 3cc per 4gal of tap and end up with Ph of 6.0 with the added ferts which help lower overall Ph. I hope I have been of some help to you. Good Growing Nurse Duckett.

Date:
15 Mar 2002
Time:
17:43:29

Comments

Thank You Nurse Duckett for the help with the Phospheric acid Question!

-Electrician

Date:
15 Mar 2002
Time:
18:39:18

Comments

if I bought a prohalide 400 would I be able to swap between the metal halide bulb to a HPS 400W bulb using the same fixture that came with the prohalide 400. Would this work during the different growth stages of the plant? Does anybody have any pros or cons? Or should I just stick with One type of lighting during the plants growth.

Date:
15 Mar 2002
Time:
19:24:16

Comments

A little know fact (but true) is that a metal halide light with work with a hps ballast of the same wattage. (the opposite is not true)

- Electrician

Date:
15 Mar 2002
Time:
20:23:54

Comments

so it would work if I used an HPS ballast. would I benefit switching bulbs, has anybody tried this? It seems like everything I read says how one type of light is better then the other for specific plants, please excuse my lack of knowledge on this, but the two lights have two different purposes. from what I understand metal halide is more of a grow light and HPS is more of a flowering inducing type of bulb. Making the plant think it better get its butt in gear and produce. So my thought on it is use halide till right before flowering, or in my case tomatoes till they start growing out then switch to HPS wouldn't the plant think it needs to produce and be more into producing the tomatoes then continue growing like it would under a halide. sorry about the length I got the late shift tonight.

Date:
16 Mar 2002
Time:
04:47:07

Comments

You've got the right idea!

- Electrician

Date:
16 Mar 2002
Time:
04:55:43

Comments

I have lots of rock wool, if I don't water too often will rock wool work in an "eleven plant" type system?

Yes

Date:
16 Mar 2002
Time:
04:59:47

Comments

The end of all my leaves are getting white tips. It seems to be just the tips that are turning. Any ideas as to why?

Date:
17 Mar 2002
Time:
14:53:10

Comments

i am interested in starting to grow strawberries hydroponically, is it difficult ? how long approx till they are ready to eat using a 430w hps light indoors?? Jr

Date:
17 Mar 2002
Time:
15:50:01

Comments

how dangerous is it to run a 400w HPS light and pump

If the light was made for indoor growing then they are pretty safe. It's when you start using street lights and wiring your own then you might burn down your house.

Date:
17 Mar 2002
Time:
20:19:59

Comments

OK I HAVE BUILT MY HYDROPONICS THING BUT I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT TO DO WITH WARE I PUT THE SEED OR WAT TO PUT IN THE TWO LEADER BOTTLE TWO HOLD ANY THING WAT THE HELL DO I DO.

Plant the seed between your ears and hope it grows you a brain.

Date:
18 Mar 2002
Time:
10:47:15

Comments

I am building the 11 or 16 plant system and was wondering what do you put into the 2 liter containers to support the plants. Also will this type of garden work for cloning of plants as well?

Love the site and look forward to visitng on a regular basis thanks for your help. totin Tom

Grow rocks and yes if the area you are cloning is humid enough.

Date:
18 Mar 2002
Time:
13:02:07

Comments

Dear Ron, I am setting up a system where plants in rockwool are set in a large drain tray and my plan is to flood (w/drip emiters) and drain them and reusing the drained nutrient. my question is 1.) will this work? 2.) and how often do I flood per day? also do you know where I can get Dr.Chateliers formula? Thanks Jerry Gtk2@hotmail

1- yes
2- water several times a day
3- no

Date:
18 Mar 2002
Time:
13:07:59

Comments

I have a multipart question. What is most important in a hydroponic environment or what gives hydroponics a greater advantage, the oxygen rich environment or the amount nutrients it can absorb in a given amount of time. Because I was wondering if it is possible to use a growth chamber that incorporates hydroponics with soil. Neo

No they are totally two different ways of growing. 

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