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...

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

Guyute

Thanks for the reply! I would think that I could stay with 1/2 tubing, but make the tubing a couple of inches longer. Maybe I could use string or a mesh to help provide support? Currently I'm assuming that the bottom set of leaves on the cutting help to keep everything from sliding down. Is that correct? If so, how do you go about the transition from seed to seedling?

When you change the water do you just open the top and add water or do you have a special "feeding" hole? Thanks again!

How big of an air pump do you use? How much does container size change the pump requirements? Have you thought of adding spray jets?

Thanks again,
Guyute

[This message has been edited by Guyute (edited April 07, 2000).]

vulpina

ah oki i see alittle how it work
can u show me a side view of it?
thx

Epicurus

Guyute:

yes, the bottom set of leaves keeps the plant from going into the water, that's what holds 'em up

as far as seeds/seedlings, I've never tried to grow from seed in my aero setup, it's basically a 'cloning machine' for me...my suggestion if you want to go all the way from seed to harvest in it would be to start the plants in perlite, then when they have enough leaf matter to support themselves in the tubing, put 'em in...better yet, grow a crop in soil/hydro and put the cuttings in aero...

the air pump I use is designed for 10 to 30 gallon fish tanks...I think the more air you can do, the better...maybe...

changing water, I just take off the entire top and set it on something (like another container, so the roots just dangle), dump it out, fill it back up, and put it back together.

spray jets aren't needed in this system. when I was originally thinking about this, I wanted to use spray jets, but then the cost goes WAY up, so does the maintainence. With spray jets, you need a submersible water pump (minimum $20), and the spray jets clog up all the damned time (especially if you have hard water).

vulpina, here's a simple side view..

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, helvetica, Arial">code:</font><HR><pre>
_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_
|----------------------|
| |
| |
| |
| |
----------------------
[/code]

heh...pretty simple, eh?

vulpina

in fact u just got an air stone or two in water?
they buble the water and roots hanging in that bubling water?
sorry for asking but iam french and i want to be sure of understanding your setup
thx man