Anyone tried copper hydroxide to prune roots?

[eLiguL]

Was curious if anyone has ever used copper hydroxide to prune their roots??



I read it in Jorge's book and thought it was the perfect solution to my problem. I plan to build something similiar to this except with 12 sites and have each site closer together for a mini sog grow.




Ive been reading and people who have used this system have said that the roots grow into the pvc joints and clog the pipes. If I used a copper hydroxide spray on the insides of those 2 liter bottles the roots would not grow into them.

Each 2 liter bottle will have a 1 quart plastic paint bucket filled with hydrotron and only the insides of the 2 liter bottles will be sprayed. Now my concern is this, since water will be in contact with this spray(from the flood and drain cycle) will this have a negative effect on the plants??

 

[Guest]

eLigul, have you reasonably mastered the art of growing? Growing POT is like dancing, master the moves and own the floor!

TyStik

 

[eLiguL]

eLigul, have you reasonably mastered the art of growing? Growing POT is like dancing, master the moves and own the floor!

TyStik

I dont mean to be rude but what was the point of your post besides derailing my thread??

 

[DIGITALHIPPY]

I dont mean to be rude but what was the point of your post besides derailing my thread??

its an analogy....

personaly i dont think the copper peroxide is necissary.... might work but sounds costly and bothersom.
why would you want to prune the roots anyway????
roots=flowers.

 

[FreezerBoy]

why would you want to prune the roots anyway????
roots=flowers.

"the roots grow into the pvc joints and clog the pipes"

No nutes=no roots=no flowers.

 

[clowntown]

So build a system that isn't so easily susceptible to clogging. Like using larger drains, or protect the drains from clogging, or whatever.

That's if you HAVE to be using that bottle-pot type system, to begin with. IMO, if you're looking for a tight SOG in a tight space, this isn't the system you're looking for as it has far more drawbacks than advantages in your situation. A simple Rubbermaid tub used as an E/F bed would be so simple and efficient, for example...

Why are you going so far out of your way to engineer some cute Myth Busters solution? Even if you achieve the desired effect of having the roots repel away from the surfaces, it will still be forced to go somewhere, and gravity will ultimately decide.

Just keep it simple.

 

[DIGITALHIPPY]

"the roots grow into the pvc joints and clog the pipes"

No nutes=no roots=no flowers.

you do have a point there.... but ive noticed mj dosent like to be constricted much.... if thats the space you got then go for the CuO2 and let us know how it works! personaly id use scisors or have a screen at the bottom of the pots. your system is small but slick!
maybe 1 inch pipes?

 

[SoEx]

Was curious if anyone has ever used copper hydroxide to prune their roots??



I read it in Jorge's book and thought it was the perfect solution to my problem. I plan to build something similiar to this except with 12 sites and have each site closer together for a mini sog grow.




Ive been reading and people who have used this system have said that the roots grow into the pvc joints and clog the pipes. If I used a copper hydroxide spray on the insides of those 2 liter bottles the roots would not grow into them.

Each 2 liter bottle will have a 1 quart plastic paint bucket filled with hydrotron and only the insides of the 2 liter bottles will be sprayed. Now my concern is this, since water will be in contact with this spray(from the flood and drain cycle) will this have a negative effect on the plants??

Hey hey!

I actually built a modified version of this myself after seeing your other thread a while back. I have learned a bit about the design and would give some crucial advice on how to improve it.

First: don't make the drain for it on the other side of the PVC. Make the drain connector as close to the inlet as possible. I found that one side of mine has a bit of a higher level of water than the other one. This was because the drain was in between the two and the pump was strong enough to elevate one side a bit more than the other side after the drain.

Also, I'm going to try adding some kind of a plastic screen to the inside of my soda bottles because hydroton keeps falling in and clogging things up.

I haven't gotten mine totally kink free yet, but it seems like it might be cool once things get going. The compactness is absolutely perfect for my application.

I don't know much about pruning the roots, but the screen may help retard/discourage roots to go down into the drains.

 

[eLiguL]

So build a system that isn't so easily susceptible to clogging. Like using larger drains, or protect the drains from clogging, or whatever.

Then I would have to engineer something.

A simple Rubbermaid tub used as an E/F bed would be so simple and efficient, for example...

With a traditional E&F setup I wouldnt be able to move my plants in and out of my cab to be able to work on them(im currently experiencing this with my single tub DWC setup).

Why are you going so far out of your way to engineer some cute Myth Busters solution?

The engineering is done, all I have to do is build it.


Guess im gonna have to try it out and see if it works for myself.

Hey hey!

I actually built a modified version of this myself after seeing your other thread a while back. I have learned a bit about the design and would give some crucial advice on how to improve it.

First: don't make the drain for it on the other side of the PVC. Make the drain connector as close to the inlet as possible. I found that one side of mine has a bit of a higher level of water than the other one. This was because the drain was in between the two and the pump was strong enough to elevate one side a bit more than the other side after the drain.

Also, I'm going to try adding some kind of a plastic screen to the inside of my soda bottles because hydroton keeps falling in and clogging things up.

I haven't gotten mine totally kink free yet, but it seems like it might be cool once things get going. The compactness is absolutely perfect for my application.

I don't know much about pruning the roots, but the screen may help retard/discourage roots to go down into the drains.

Thanks for the heads up! Ive read people have used a paint strainer as a screen to help with root clogging. Try buying some 1 quart paint buckets at Lowes, they are suppose to fit perfectly inside a 2 liter bottle.

 

[clowntown]

If it's a small system, you don't really gain anything by being able to "work on" plants individually. Just pull up the entire tub and work on the plant(s).

Some people like fancy-schmancy hydro systems. I know I used to...Until I had an extra part clogging, extra piece to clean, extra point to leak, etc. Then I learned -- the hard way, as always -- that simplicity is key to success, especially when lacking experience.

But whatever, that's just me. Your mileage may vary.

 

[eLiguL]

If it's a small system, you don't really gain anything by being able to "work on" plants individually. Just pull up the entire tub and work on the plant(s).

My tub is approximetely 12 gallons, a gallon of water weighes approximetely 8lbs. Its not so fun lugging that thing in and out of such a small space.

 

[clowntown]

So build a tray that detaches from the reservoir.

Have fun cleaning extra parts.

 

[Kirby_Tokin]

Copper Hydroxide coeated pots

Download the OG file on Pontiacs DIY list and go on Uncle Bens article, there you will see how nice this actually works, it increases the flowering in high % numbers..

Kirby

 

[Philosophelon]

I considered using this myself once upon a time, and ultimately decided against it. I have a friend who is a ceramic chemist, and has used Cu(OH)2 in glazes -- it's a pretty nasty chemical, and he wears goggles/gloves/respirator when he handles it. That is something that I might use with ornamentals, but I just didn't feel comfortable using it on plants that I intended to smoke (or eat, for that matter), regardless of any positive effects it may have on growing habit.