Extra air to roots idea.. please critique

[jojajico]

Just so there's no confusion guinepig I dont know shit about aerating the roots but you said there is no toxicity issue the same as co2 at the canopy.Co2 can be toxic to plants at the right amounts,I dont know if oxygen can be toxic to the roots if overdone but wanted to make a correction for future co2 users.Wouldnt it just be a lot easier to aerate the water and forget about the soil?Sorry if I'm repeating didnt read entire thread

water is not going to hold anywhere near the amount of O2 or hold it for a long period. the question we are asking with this topic is why do you get better yeilds in hydro than in soil (generally) the big thing is O2 to the roots. root growth, water and nutrient aobsorption are all dependent on the O2 level around the root structure. without O2 metabloism slows. this ofcourse is completley growing theory on my part since i havent had the chance to experiment.

 

[jojajico]

great thread, read about this on og a while back. i then decided to try it and it helped, maybe not as much as i was expecting. later i got a more powerful pump (275l/h) but the resoults didn't match the increase. i am now wondering if my method of introduceing air to roots maybe to "rough". i basicaly put an airstone in the middle of the pot when i was transplanting and then just puting the plant on that.maybe i was horribly wrong and should put a perforated aquarium pipe in my soil so the air distribution is more wide spread an "smooth".can anybody confirm/denie this from experience?

i think its gunna dpend greatly on your soil. the right texture of the growing medium is paramount to allow air passage. thats why im thinking coco coir mixed with an organic soil (wormcasting, guano ect). coco can hold alot of water but at the same time allow for alot of O2.

 

[marx2k]

The other thing that I made clear in the first post is that there SHOULD be a microbubbling action every time you water throughout the whole pot. We WANT the microbubbles from the diffusers to work their way up and stick to the roots while the roots feed. So a more airy, permeable soil is wanted. Pref lots of perlite (which has tons of air pockets already) and a good amount of peat moss/coir. Not compact at all (which it really shouldnt be anyway)

 

[marx2k]

Another thought. Im wondering if this would also be really beneficial for those using microrhizzae on their roots. As far as I can remember, fungi breathes oxygen and it should make it stronger/healthier which helps the roots

 

[Guest]

i use a compo sana soil wich is 97% peat with a little bit of perlite and it's preatty airy. Are root hair taking a bashing 'coz of my method with an aistone or will they cope? thanks for your help guys

 

[Guest]

I dont know... to me, once you saturate the soil, it's pretty evenly distributed.

But hey, speaking of caps... here's a little idea- not sure if it's stupid or not since I just woke up. (Yes, just woke up and am in the threads already)

Bottlecaps. Turned upside down to collect water. 8 to 10 of them place in circle formation (or halo formation) on the bottom (inside) of your pot. When you water the plants, the caps will retain some of the water instead of letting it drain through. As the plants uptake water, the caps will hold a little extra in reserve, and feed the plants.

Wait, that's a totally stupid idea. That's why we HAVE the option to run-off water.

Note sure what you just said, but could we see your grows? I've probably been growing longer than you've been alive. You have shamelessly misunderstood the concept of a plant soaking up water through the bottom. If your soil is 40% perlite, there is no such thing as totally saturating the soil. It was wactually a thread here that got me to do it, once dialed I don't have to water for at least 5 days.

Also I think you missed the point I also stated in my original post that these "caps" can be taken off for runoff. Being a fairly obvious new grower you probably need access to the runoff everyday, but I check it about twice throughout the whole grow.

 

[Dan42nepa]

I'm doing an experiment. I have 3 clones which were transplanted twice and are doing very well. I filled a small plastic bag with perlite and an airstone and fastened a rubber band on top. I poked several holes in it and inserted the bag into the side of the pot of my second best clone. It is getting the same coverage as my slightly better clone and they are growing side by side. I have the air pump on now. I think I will just have to watch about the soil drying too quickly.

 

[marx2k]

Note sure what you just said, but could we see your grows? I've probably been growing longer than you've been alive. You have shamelessly misunderstood the concept of a plant soaking up water through the bottom. If your soil is 40% perlite, there is no such thing as totally saturating the soil. It was wactually a thread here that got me to do it, once dialed I don't have to water for at least 5 days.

Also I think you missed the point I also stated in my original post that these "caps" can be taken off for runoff. Being a fairly obvious new grower you probably need access to the runoff everyday, but I check it about twice throughout the whole grow.

What is thism a linux forum? We're here to help each other here bro, so take it easy on the grower's pride.

If you've been growing longer than I've been alive, you must be smoking weed through your oxygan mask :wink:

I'd rather not post pics of grows here for obvious (to me) reasons.

I also did mention at the end of the post that it was a stupid idea, but it doesnt mean that I'm a new hand at the hobby. The comment was posted when high, so relax. Take another pull off your oxygen mask, gramps

 

[marx2k]

I'm doing an experiment. I have 3 clones which were transplanted twice and are doing very well. I filled a small plastic bag with perlite and an airstone and fastened a rubber band on top. I poked several holes in it and inserted the bag into the side of the pot of my second best clone. It is getting the same coverage as my slightly better clone and they are growing side by side. I have the air pump on now. I think I will just have to watch about the soil drying too quickly.

I cannot wait to see the results. Grow on!
Please post pics if you can.

 

[Dan42nepa]

Here is a picture of both plants.. They are very similar. The higher one is perhaps a little bigger but they are very similar in structure.

 

[marx2k]

Reply back after you have tried repotting and let me know if the one you are giving air to has a bigger/thicker rootmass!

Thanks for the info!

 

[Dan42nepa]

I'll be back in a week with pics to see if there is any difference.

 

[Lofty]

I only put air pipes in the soil wen i repot them for the last time, i use it mainly to stop the roots from any damage wen i flood them.

i flood the pots from the top and then leave them 2-3 days to dry out, wen the soil dries the roots get air then aswell.

oxygen it the root base must b the same therory as Co2, meaning that its prob only a benefit if everything else is perfect and oxy in the roots is the only limiting factor.

Dan i wudnt use clear containers for growing in, the root dont like lite.

 

[Dan42nepa]

I only put air pipes in the soil wen i repot them for the last time, i use it mainly to stop the roots from any damage wen i flood them.

i flood the pots from the top and then leave them 2-3 days to dry out, wen the soil dries the roots get air then aswell.

oxygen it the root base must b the same therory as Co2, meaning that its prob only a benefit if everything else is perfect and oxy in the roots is the only limiting factor.

Dan i wudnt use clear containers for growing in, the root dont like lite.

I only use those containers as an interim container used between the 4 inch pots and the 2 gallons. I have never had a problem with lights and the roots and they are only in there for a couple of weeks.

 

[Lofty]

ok dan u know yr own stuff but i've always read and been told to keep lite off roots.

has anybody else got opinion on this (not hijacking)

 

[Dan42nepa]

I personally think that when problems like that happen they are caused by over watering and poorly draining soil. I understand what you are saying, and its not like me to take chances where growing weed is concerned but i have used them before and in this case it will be interesting because i can see the roots in relation to the air stone.

 

[jojajico]

ok dan u know yr own stuff but i've always read and been told to keep lite off roots.

has anybody else got opinion on this (not hijacking)

yes keep light off roots. if exposed too long they will slowly turn green and start functioning more like foliage than roots. wont kill your plant but will slow its growth and diminish its potential.

 

[Dan42nepa]

Update

Update

Here is a picture of both plants.. They are very similar. The higher one is perhaps a little bigger but they are very similar in structure.

7 days later, plant on the right has airstone encased in plastic bag with perlite on side of pot. No noticeable change.

 

[Dan42nepa]

7 days later, plant on the right has airstone encased in plastic bag with perlite on side of pot. No noticeable change.

oh forgot the pic

 

[Dan42nepa]

oh forgot the pic

The one with the airstone is on the left. I noticed substancial growth compared to the other one which was slightly larger and healthier.