Epicurus

Well, here's the URL to my aero setup, I've changed the container since then, but nothing else really...
http://216.147.7.17/aero/Do%20It%20Y...eroponics.html

[This message has been edited by Epicurus (edited April 03, 2000).]

vulpina

can u send me some detailed pic if possible coz iam doing a bit same setup

Epicurus

Sorry, I don't have a pic to show it, and I don't have a good way to get one online w/o taking a picture, getting the film developed, scanning it, etc...but I can probably whip up a little graphic that shows what I'm talking about...

HydroGrower

Hey Epicurus!!!

Welcome back.. I haven't seen ya around in a while. Are ya back for good??

HG

420bill

Hey Epicurus could you maybe post a pic of that?I myself grow in soil,but the last few months I've been reading up on aeroponics.Thinkin about getting setup together.A pic would be cool bro thanks.
peace

Epicurus

yeah, I hope I can get back into the swing of things around here...it gets hard when you take off for a week, and come back w/ like 50 posts in each forum...heh

420bill

yeah Epicurus that would be cool bro thanks

Epicurus

Here's the location of a diagram of my system:
http://www.wilter.com/epicurus/.ppic...aerosystem.gif

anyhow, here's what I've done w/ it, and how well it's worked for me:

Total for the system:
Total Cuttings: 150
Total Rootings: 147
Fastest to root: 3 days
Slowest to root: 12 days

Totals using rooting hormone:
Total Cuttings: 90
Total Rootings: 87
Fastest to root: 3 days
Slowest to root: 7 days
Success Rate: 97.3% (maybe, I hate math, especially when I'm stoned)

Totals w/o hormone:
Total Cuttings: 60
Total Rootings: 60
Fastest to root: 6 days
Slowest to root: 12 days
Success Rate: 100%

What's this tell you? Well, it tells you that using hormone speeds it up, but the bad part about those figures is:

1 - 12 day plant had plenty of roots when taken out, I'd been gone for 5 days w/o checking on it, and wasn't able to change water (I like to change once the first rooted cutting comes out)

2 - Two of the three cuttings that died never had a real chance, I made a couple of bad cuts and threw them in there anyway, to see if they'd do anything. They were totally dead within one day of being placed in the system.

3 - The other 'cutting' that died was actually a seedling that'd had its stem broken off just below soil level durring a transplant. I had some free spots in the aero system, so I put it in there to see if it could do anything.

Tips and notes:

I use 1/20 to 1/10 strength 10-15-10 fertilizer, every time I change the water.

Don't fertilize the plants that you're taking cuttings from w/ a high N fertilizer, it will take them longer to root that way.

Change the water often, 4 days is maximum. After that, cuttings start taking longer to root. No idea why.

Also note that I concider a 'rooted cutting' to be a plant w/ at least two distinct roots at least 1/3" long, or at least 20 distinct roots beyond the 'bump' stage.

Guyute

Wow! That does sound easy! A couple of questions though:

<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
<LI>What is the water level of the tub? Do you bring it all the way up and grow into the water? I know you say "very humid air" so I'm assuming that the roots would just hang down.
<LI>In this system, how big could you grow the plants and still have them be sturdy? Could you use this system for the entire process?
<LI>What kind of lighting do you use?
<LI>Kind of on the same thread, would it help if the container is lightproof?
</UL>
Wow! I'm ready to do this! Am I just being blind to some work or does this sound so easy and much more healthy for the plants(water/food when they need it!)

-Guyute

Epicurus

if you wanted to do the entire growth process in the system, I'd use much sturdier tubing to suspend the plants, at least when they get larger. I did grow one plant in the original aero system for 2 months, w/ no problems (roots were 3' long when I took it out...wrapped all the way around the tub)...the water level is something to play w/. I started w/ it about an inch below the cuttings, then brought it down to 3 inches w/ great results, I'm too chicken to try further away...lighting is simple, you can use anything from floros on up...and you don't have to worry about at sprays or a 'dome' to keep the moisture in...
E