The Official Hempy Bucket Thread

[ilovegrowing]

Would a mix of coco and perlite also work? And at what ratio would you guess? Maybe there are benefits with a combination of those, although your plants look most certainly super healthy and astonishing! Dont think it needs any improvment.

How many days can you guys wait till the next watering?

 

[FletchF.Fletch]

Has anyone tried replacing vermiculite with rockwool croutons and having a perlite/rockwool mix? If so was there any advantages/disadvantages? I want to try the hempy method as I'm not keen on lumping coco coir bags and also disposing of root ball/coco masses have always been the bane of my life

Yes, I have grown with Rockwool and Perlite together in Hempy buckets. Have done it with both sizes of the bagged mini cubes. They work great.

 

[Capt.Ahab]

I don't see why it wouldn't work.
Personally I would make the mix coco-heavy but Ive never tried that combo.
Once the plants are established and cranking and I'm putting the lights to them hard I water every day.

 

[FletchF.Fletch]

I use 70/30 Coco/Perlite

 

[Shmavis]

I am very happy with my Hempy Bucket experience. As mentioned these plants were grown using old school lighting: T5=>MH=>HPS. But the reason I wanted to try Hempys is to see if I have better results under my QB panel. It's been really hit or miss with it, to the point I'd somewhat given up on it (much better consistent outcomes with my COB panel). I have read others who aren't growing in soil didn't experience such a big learning curve when switching to LED. So ditching the soil seemed worth a try.

Here's a cut from a seed plant that was grown in soil under my COB panel that performed beautifully. She was happy and healthy the entire grow. The cut under the QB, not so much.

To the Lucas Formula I added 3ml of Botanicare's Cal-Mag+. Two days later at next watering I lowered it to 2ml. Three days later:

Another plant was also looking less than ideal under the QB:

Same treatment, six days later:

So response time to changes in Hempys is excellent. I have three other girls under the QB that seem fine but I have taken to supplementing the 2ml of Cal-Mag for them too. In previous grows I added extra lime and or gypsum to my soil mix to try to account for the differences under the QB but never was able to get consistent results from multi-strain grows from seed. Hempys might provide the flexibility needed, for me.

To get caught up on the first ones started, day 42:

Day 49:

Day 55:

Probably whack 'em this Wednesday, day 60.

Appreciate the discussion about different mediums because if there's one thing that sucks about this it's mixing - and transplanting into - perlite/vermiculite. No matter how carefully I do so perlite dust lands everywhere... I am considering trying Pro Mix...

 

[need4weed]

Thanks @Stinkle!

Happy with how they're doing so far. Noticed a leaflet or two expressing what appears to possibly be cal/mag deficiency... but also had to consider how close I had the light, less than 18" for non air cooled HPS might be too close. Raised the light some and they seem to have responded favorably. Hopefully that's all it was.

Day 14 from flip:

View attachment 18968370
View attachment 18968371
View attachment 18968372
View attachment 18968373

Knotting up nicely for two weeks into flower.

Happy Sunday!

@Shmavis what sort of veg time are you giving to get a nice 2 footer

 

[need4weed]

After a few years hiatus, I'm planning to get back on the horse. Tell me if I'm mad but I intend to do a hybrid hempy in 5 litres, I want to grow more plants but try and keep them to a maximum of 2 to 2.5ft so I was thinking 5 litres buckets but drop a fabric pot inside, this is so if I want to take a plant out for flushing I can do so. But then I looked at cost and it's more cost effective to have square fabric pots sit in a square saucer, the saucer acts as the well. I'm also going to use TOP spin dripper system to to too feed, this will all be drain to waste. I guess it's a drain to waste system but by having a saucer under the pot, it also acts as a hempy reservoir. I'm aiming for 2 to 2.5 oz per plant

 

[Shmavis]

@Shmavis what sort of veg time are you giving to get a nice 2 footer

I think veg time in relation to height is very dependent on genetics. I rarely keep track of veg time. For regular seeds I veg until pre-flowers indicate male or female—usually six to seven weeks. This isn’t necessary with fem seeds so depending on the genetics - expectation of stretch - I might not veg as long. The plants shared here were roughly 8wks from seed till flip.

I did have another plant along with this first attempt. A fem seed. Started within days of the others, same method, same environment. So much vigor that I topped her and did a little LST. I would’ve vegged the others longer so as to get some proper bushes had it not been for her; she forced flip. Had trouble containing her and keeping her fully happy. Whacked her yesterday at a little over 11wks.

Shortly before flip:

Alongside the other two girls 1wk from flip:

After attaching a bamboo stake to the side of the container to try to bend her a bit:

Chopped at 11wks:

Was a real chore trying to keep her a safe distance from the bulb.

So I think what you're growing, and from seed or cut, will determine how much veg time for desired height after stretch. Best of luck climbing back into the saddle!

 

[LostTribe]

I think veg time in relation to height is very dependent on genetics. I rarely keep track of veg time. For regular seeds I veg until pre-flowers indicate male or female—usually six to seven weeks. This isn’t necessary with fem seeds so depending on the genetics - expectation of stretch - I might not veg as long. The plants shared here were roughly 8wks from seed till flip.

I did have another plant along with this first attempt. A fem seed. Started within days of the others, same method, same environment. So much vigor that I topped her and did a little LST. I would’ve vegged the others longer so as to get some proper bushes had it not been for her; she forced flip. Had trouble containing her and keeping her fully happy. Whacked her yesterday at a little over 11wks.

Shortly before flip:
View attachment 18999298

Alongside the other two girls 1wk from flip:
View attachment 18999299

After attaching a bamboo stake to the side of the container to try to bend her a bit:
View attachment 18999302

Chopped at 11wks:
View attachment 18999304

Was a real chore trying to keep her a safe distance from the bulb.

So I think what you're growing, and from seed or cut, will determine how much veg time for desired height after stretch. Best of luck climbing back into the saddle!

Excellent! You said you used perlite/vermiculite? 50/50? I am looking for something to run hydro drain to waste, coming from a long time in recirculating hydroton. How often were you watering with your mix? I was thinking about promix but it requires a dry period or ph lockout becomes an issue.

 

[splinter7]

Excellent! You said you used perlite/vermiculite? 50/50? I am looking for something to run hydro drain to waste, coming from a long time in recirculating hydroton. How often were you watering with your mix? I was thinking about promix but it requires a dry period or ph lockout becomes an issue.

i've been doing just perlite for a long time. you can start in a small cup of coco/perlite or whatever, but you finally plant to perlite. i've used 86oz to 5 gallon. the best is probably 2 gallon imo with a hole with the bottom of it about 2in up from the ground. water every 3 days, 750 to 800ppm, 5.8 ph. clockwork. you don't need coco. never ran a full coco grow. just seedlings in coco with perlite because perlite isn't as stable as a matrix, but i have seen people do just perlite the whole way.

 

[LostTribe]

Can it be watered daily on drip timer? How much runoff do you get and how do you decide when to water again?

 

[splinter7]

Can it be watered daily on drip timer? How much runoff do you get and how do you decide when to water again?

i use a half gallon ever 72hr on a 2 gallon bucket. it's a hempy, so it's top fed, but bottom feeds most of the time. there is run off, even if it's completely dry. you will need to use a gallon per plant every 3 to 5 days or so if you run 5 gallons. i think a constant feed would be best. i get dry backs that give tip burn. i wish i could do continuous

 

[LostTribe]

i use a half gallon ever 72hr on a 2 gallon bucket. it's a hempy, so it's top fed, but bottom feeds most of the time. there is run off, even if it's completely dry. you will need to use a gallon per plant every 3 to 5 days or so if you run 5 gallons. i think a constant feed would be best. i get dry backs that give tip burn. i wish i could do continuous

Do you flush with ph'd RO every 2 weeks? I always use reservoirs and pumps now because it allows time to test nutes and if I am busy I can just refill the rez.

 

[Porky82]

Do you flush with ph'd RO every 2 weeks? I always use reservoirs and pumps now because it allows time to test nutes and if I am busy I can just refill the rez.

I grow in straight perlite. It's a great medium and it doesn't need to be watered as often as most people think. I use 22lt pots and water every 3rd to 4th day when they are smaller and every 2nd to 3rd day when they are full size and mid flowering.
Technically its not DTW as the run off is caught in a saucer and the plants drink it over the days after the watering.

 

[@hempy]

Hempy buckets are not drain to waste and a good size plant in summer can use 7L of nutrient rich water per day, I have seen the plants suck the Medium Coco being visible or perlite completely dry in a day.

 

[splinter7]

Do you flush with ph'd RO every 2 weeks? I always use reservoirs and pumps now because it allows time to test nutes and if I am busy I can just refill the rez.

never. ever.

 

[splinter7]

Hempy buckets are not drain to waste and a good size plant in summer can use 7L of nutrient rich water per day, I have seen the plants suck the Medium Coco being visible or perlite completely dry in a day.

that run off looks like a lot of waste draining off, lol, but ya hempy is not really what he's doing. my water usage was for 2 gallon indoor. it's a litte less than a gallon every 3 to 5 days for a 5 gallon. 2 inch up for the hole. temps range from 70 to 85 usually. rh controlled/optimal or close for vpd.

 

[@hempy]

that run off looks like a lot of waste draining off, lol, but ya hempy is not really what he's doing. my water usage was for 2 gallon indoor. it's a litte less than a gallon every 3 to 5 days for a 5 gallon. 2 inch up for the hole. temps range from 70 to 85 usually. rh controlled/optimal or close for vpd.

I get very little run off, but I have been using them now a very long time and know ruffly what to feed / water.

I have seen plants suck the rez and coco medium dry in a day, it really comes down to the size of the plant and line.

Our summers are extremely hot here, winters mild compared to most places summer or winter I feed them daily if in flower but if the plants are in veg and small I feed every 2 days but in summer again daily.

 

[splinter7]

I get very little run off, but I have been using them now a very long time and know ruffly what to feed / water.

I have seen plants suck the rez and coco medium dry in a day, it really comes down to the size of the plant and line.

Our summers are extremely hot here, winters mild compared to most places summer or winter I feed them daily if in flower but if the plants are in veg and small I feed every 2 days but in summer again daily.

i seriously run a lot of hempy, mr hempy, but I think the run off is good for it. i do get some tip burn on dry backs and i think the run off helps keep that down to a negligible level. i suppose there is the chance of nutes building in the medium or concentrating in the reservoir. if you know why i get tip burn for some other reason, maybe tell me what's up. i have done minimal run off and a lot of run off, but I have had mixed results. what do you think?

 

[Shmavis]

Excellent! You said you used perlite/vermiculite? 50/50? I am looking for something to run hydro drain to waste, coming from a long time in recirculating hydroton. How often were you watering with your mix? I was thinking about promix but it requires a dry period or ph lockout becomes an issue.

Hey LT. I haven’t had a chance yet to experiment. I used, and am using, the 3 parts perlite to one part vermiculite. Very happy with my Hempy Bucket experiences so far. Only one grow under LED but especially happy with those results.

Watering frequency, from my limited experience, is genetic related, i.e., root mass. I had three seed plants in 2g containers that only needed watering every three to four days during heavy flowering. I had a cut in a 3.5g container that needed watering every other day, nearly every day. Another cut in a 2g that did require watering every day. They had all been vegged together for the same amount of time. Interesting too because the seed plants in the 2g had much bigger flowers. This was them near chop:

And the plant that was in 3.5g:

I have two cuts from a plant and will soon be potting them up. One into soil and the other into a Hempy to compare performance under LED.

And here’s 14 seed plants in Hempys ready to be potted up to run along with the test cuts:

I used the Lucas Formula with GH Flora series and did bump up to 10ml:20ml under LED in mid-flower. Plan to do the same this round.

Best of luck if you give it a whirl!