Only thing I dont like about bottom feeding is how dirty the container gets after a couple weeks
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T
thesloppy
There's not all that many secrets in here. Are you getting nute burn from overfeeding, or deficiencies from nutrient lockout? Personally, because I grow SOG, with almost no veg time, my plants rarely spend much more than 2 months alive, so I can't tell you if that's a common concern with long-term bottomfeeding. I would try cutting down your nutes by 25% for a run and seeing how they react, then if you're still having problems try a one-time from-the-top flush at the one month mark, in case it's due to salt build-up.
I've also experienced that some plants react differently to a constantly full reservoir/swamp vs. letting them dry out between feedings. Personally I let my plants dry out pretty well between feedings, to the point that the pot is about half-weight, both because I've had better results, and because it cuts down on feedings. If you keep your reservoir/drain constantly wet, you might try letting it dry out, and vice versa. Like lots of other growing methods, the strain can be the dominant factor, and there's probably plenty that just plain don't like being fed from the bottom, and/or sitting in standing water.
Just for clarity's sake, since this thread got derailed by some posturing, bottom-feeding's only real benefit is convenience, it's certainly not going to boost your yields, or make sick plants suddenly healthier, as I think everybody in here has been clear about, despite IeatCubes' rattlings. It's just a simple-ass method for those who don't want to hand-water multiple coco pots everyday. It comes with it's own set of challenges, and offers no more benefits other than fewer waterings and less nute usage. If bottom-feeding causes problems for your plants or seems to be turning into more trouble than it is worth, then by all means just stop, and go back to what works best for you, because putting a bunch of thought and effort into bottom-feeding kinda defeats the purpose.
LuciferianSahdu
Member
i luv how people run coco like i do, like soil, after all if coco people would just realize nobody grows in soil that grows in ''soil'' they might grasp how coco run like soil is most certainly one of the easiest, and my point about ''soil'' is just look at peoples mixes, peat, stones, coco, perlite, vermiculite, sharp corase sand etc ,, this aint soil . u got homeboy here letting his pots dry out halfway between waterings and feeding from the bottom without run off, the whole coco comunity is going crazy, nothing wrong with one size fits all feeding n burning through nutes n water but there are other options for people. i have always found coco easy.
habeeb i meant to say e.c
habeeb i meant to say e.c
T
thesloppy
Best of luck, izoc! I certainly can't claim any kind of innovation for just dumping water into the drainage pan, but I've been glad to see so many folks are doing the same thing, and having success.
Do any folks in here do a flush or two in mid-bloom? I've been experimenting with flushing once at 4 weeks, with 2Tsp of molasses per gallon of water, dependent on strain, and how the plants look. It's hard for me to gauge the results, as everybody looks great, but I upgraded lighting recently, so I can't really pin any positive changes on my nute changes.
What are people's nutes/ratios for bottom-feeding? I use 10ml GH Flora bloom, 7.5ml Flora micro, and 5ml floralicious bloom thru week 4 (half that for week 1, with ), when I drop the micro, and add 1/8tsp Kool Bloom powder, until the last two weeks, when I go to plain water.
Do any folks in here do a flush or two in mid-bloom? I've been experimenting with flushing once at 4 weeks, with 2Tsp of molasses per gallon of water, dependent on strain, and how the plants look. It's hard for me to gauge the results, as everybody looks great, but I upgraded lighting recently, so I can't really pin any positive changes on my nute changes.
What are people's nutes/ratios for bottom-feeding? I use 10ml GH Flora bloom, 7.5ml Flora micro, and 5ml floralicious bloom thru week 4 (half that for week 1, with ), when I drop the micro, and add 1/8tsp Kool Bloom powder, until the last two weeks, when I go to plain water.
VladTheInhaler
Member
I decided to flush at weeks 3 and 5 of bloom because I was seriously overfeeding and there was a buildup. Originally, I was using the same mixture I used for top feed, which, combined with my very hard tap water gives EC of 2.2
Now, analyzing most mixes using GH nutes I noticed that those mixes have EC of 1.0 - 1.2, meaning I was basically giving my girls double dose (and I grow Satori from Mandala, definitely not a heavy feeder).
So with Hydrobuddy I recreated the Head formula using the powdered fertilizer I used so far, epsom salts, dilluted calcium nitrate (the only way I can get it here) and phosphoric acid.
This mixture in my tap water gives out EC of 1.4 - 1.5
So far plants seem to like it.
Now, analyzing most mixes using GH nutes I noticed that those mixes have EC of 1.0 - 1.2, meaning I was basically giving my girls double dose (and I grow Satori from Mandala, definitely not a heavy feeder).
So with Hydrobuddy I recreated the Head formula using the powdered fertilizer I used so far, epsom salts, dilluted calcium nitrate (the only way I can get it here) and phosphoric acid.
This mixture in my tap water gives out EC of 1.4 - 1.5
So far plants seem to like it.
growing with coco isn't just black and white with a right and a wrong way. there are many roads leading to rome so to speak. personally i wouldn't judge a method without having tried it. i've seen too many growers adapting the coco to their situation with great success to go around poo-pooing someones way to come up with jars full of buds to smoke. if you have your plants dialed in and know how much nutrients they need at every given stage, then you can avoid salt build up by just not over feeding. so lets keep to objective discussion without the insulting or derogatory implications. keeps things more interesting for all.
T
thesloppy
Thanks for cleaning up the thread.
VladTheInhaler
Member
Well, I lowered ec of my solution, and will give them a good flush @ 5 weeks, I'm also getting a RO as my water quality was an issue from day one.
The good thing about my DrBud setup is that I can see the way the new feeding formula affects the plants at various stages of growth.
The bad thing is that I also have to look at the evidence of my epic failure at later stages.
The good thing about my DrBud setup is that I can see the way the new feeding formula affects the plants at various stages of growth.
The bad thing is that I also have to look at the evidence of my epic failure at later stages.
I didn't read this thread.
But I fell in love.
"miscreant and layabout"...
p1 "...too lazy for even that..."
You, sir, know how to live.
But I fell in love.
"miscreant and layabout"...
p1 "...too lazy for even that..."
You, sir, know how to live.
T
thesloppy
And I've got the bedsores to prove it!
...um...
BUMP!
BUMP!
T
thesloppy
Not much for me personally to bump about...I was getting ready to do some experimenting with automated feedings earlier this month, but that came to a halt when my disposable cash disappeared. Maybe I'll post some pics of the swamp later tonight.
bottom feeding works well. i occasionally pack trays with growbags and feed from the bottom . couldnt be easier
Aquaticfan
New member
Love this thread!
So many great ideas, nothing like other forums in the uk with one minded people!
I'm going to bottom feed in coco, starting next week. 1m2 trays under 600w HPS and 2 litre square pots.sog style around 30 pots.
Bottom feeding will reduce my workload one hell of a lot.
Hoping for good yields, 10g per 2L will do me fine.
Will update as time goes on.
So many great ideas, nothing like other forums in the uk with one minded people!
I'm going to bottom feed in coco, starting next week. 1m2 trays under 600w HPS and 2 litre square pots.sog style around 30 pots.
Bottom feeding will reduce my workload one hell of a lot.
Hoping for good yields, 10g per 2L will do me fine.
Will update as time goes on.
VladTheInhaler
Member
OK, I can happily inform that my grow is back to normal. No burns except from the plants that grow to tall. I guess that the key is keeping coco wet all the time, so i fill the tray as soon as I can no longer see any water on the bottom, which is about 3 days or so.
T
thesloppy
Good to hear, vlad.
NPK
Active member
I'm doing my first vertical run, stadium-style. Bottom-feeding in 2" long planter trays, which perfectly accommodate one-gallon square pots. There are eight trays in this 4" x 4" tent.
These Blue Diesels went in about a month ago:
I lost a couple early on, dagnab it. Ready to flip 'em now:
The only surprise was how long it took to veg them to this size, which I think was about bulb placement. Bottom-feeding convert here. I don't miss dicking around with pumps, timers, and watering manifolds in the slightest, and LOVE the zero-waste aspect.
These Blue Diesels went in about a month ago:
I lost a couple early on, dagnab it. Ready to flip 'em now:
The only surprise was how long it took to veg them to this size, which I think was about bulb placement. Bottom-feeding convert here. I don't miss dicking around with pumps, timers, and watering manifolds in the slightest, and LOVE the zero-waste aspect.
