bubbler root trimming?

budjamesbud · 09-18-2001, 07:18 PM

i've heard of some people trimming the roots on bubbler plants
the roots trimmed are the ones in water, while the roots in the air are
kept long and encouraged to grow thereby increasing the aeroponic affect

am i getting this right?
does anyone have suggestions?

*St0ney* · 09-19-2001, 06:58 AM

Just make sure not to trim the thick tap root.

You can't miss it.. It's way thicker then the others.

Quote:

...while the roots in the air are kept long and encouraged to grow thereby increasing the areoponic affect

I usually trim them all the same length.. Like a haircut. .LOL

By keeping the roots out of the water you increase the areoponic effect because. There are fewer roots on the water to break up the bubbles. The idea of a bubbler is to get as many bubbles to break at the surface as possible.

Later,
St0ney

T0ke-N-V0te

budjamesbud · 09-19-2001, 07:37 AM

thanks for your quick reply
i've just started a bubbler system for the first time
i've got a tub with 12 - 4inch pots, an elite 802 pump with a 12 inch stone
my clones have all begun to show roots. to soon to trim i'm guessing
my plan is to grow as sog. i've just put the clones into flowering
and am hoping to learn alot.
i'm using pureblend too.
do you have any suggestions regarding ph and when and if i should change the water? other than the final flush period

thanks again

*St0ney* · 09-19-2001, 07:53 AM

Personaly I use an AeroSpring and change my water every month. Some do it every 2 weeks it's up to you.

Do you have a TDS or EC meter? I keep my Ph around 6 to 6.5.

Here is what our grow guide says:

Quote:

PH AND FERTILIZERS
PH can make or break your nutrient solution. 6.7-6.2 is best to ensure there is no nutrient lock-up occurring. Hydroponics requires the solution to be PH corrected for the medium before exposing to the plants. Phosphoresic acid can make the PH go down; lime or potash can take it up when it gets too acid. Buy a PH meter for $10 and use it in soil, water, and hydroponic medium to make sure your not going alkaline or acid over time. Most neutral mediums can use a little vinegar to make them just this side of 7 ph to 6.5 or so.

Most fertilizers cause a ph change in the soil. Adding fertilizer to the soil almost always results in a more acidic ph.

As time goes on, the amount of salts produced by the breakdown of fertilizers in the soil causes the soil to become increasingly acidic and eventually the concentration of these salts in the soil will stunt the plant and cause browning out of the foliage. Also, as the plant gets older its roots become less effective in bringing food to the leaves. To avoid the accumulation of these salts in your soil and to ensure that your plant is getting all of the food it needs you can begin leaf feeding your plant at the age of about 1.5 months. Dissolve the fertilizer in worm water and spray the mixture directly onto the foliage. The leaves absorb the fertilizer into their veins. If you want to continue to put fertilizer into the soil as well as leaf feeding, be sure not to overdose your plants.

Later,
St0ney

budjamesbud · 09-19-2001, 08:29 AM

what's an aerospring?
when the roots begin to grow into the soln is it better to have the level lower to increase vol. of air in tub?
and should i have the airstone elevated or is it ok to have along the bottom?

i don't have a ph meter. the dark color of my soln from the organic fert. makes it hard with a color one to read acurately.
i may purchase a ph meter eventually but was wondering if it's totally neccesary. i read a post by someone using a bubbler who says they've never checked there ph and have never had any problems? is that possible?

*St0ney* · 09-19-2001, 08:40 AM

For info on an AeroSpring check out my Grow Journal: -->St0ney's Grow 2.0<--

As for your bubbler... I'm in no way a bubbler expert.

So I’ll leave the specific question to those that know better.

But I do know that the air stones should be as low as you can get them.

Quote:

i may purchase a ph meter eventually but was wondering if it's totally necessary. I read a post by someone using a bubbler who says they've never checked there ph and have never had any problems? is that possible?

Possible, Yes. But here is the thing...

If you have any problems during your grow (and you will

) knowing the PH will help ALOT in determining what the problem is. Same with an EC or TDS meter.

MJ will grow almost in spite of you... But for it to become the best it genetically can you have to provide an ideal environment for them. That requires having a Ph and EC meters.

St0ney

Takshaka · 09-22-2001, 10:29 AM

It is advantageous to have your airstones raised from the bottom...even 1/2 inch can make a significant difference to the amount and force of bubbles breaking the surface thus increasing the aeroponic action. You would also get better results from several smaller stones than 1 big stone.

Your pH should be 5.2-5.8. You will need some way of testing your pH, budget pH pens are fine (just don't expect them to last more than 9-12 months), at the very least get an aquarium pH test kit. I'd say pH testing is far more inportant than nute strength testing.

Once the roots are fully established you can allow your water level to drop...but bear in mind that the less water you have in there the more unstable the pH and nute strength/ratio will be so it's a bit of a trade off.

I don't start serious root trimming until the plants are about 3 weeks old (from seed)...before that I just trim any long roots that are in danger of getting tangled up in each other. After that I keep the rootmass trimmed at about 4-6 inches long...I also have to trim the sides of the rootmass so that the plants can be removed from the bubbler.

Depending on how long you veg your clones you probably won't have to do much trimming as the roots don't grow much after the initial growth spurt during flowering.

Hope this helps

budjamesbud · 09-22-2001, 01:05 PM

thanks
yes it helps
i just bought a ph test kit that included ph up and down
i'm gonna go down and check shortly
the range is like 6.0 to 7.5
so as long as i know it's around 6.0-6.2 i'm happy
still hope to afford a meter one day ..............for the data?

*St0ney* · 09-22-2001, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Your pH should be 5.2-5.8.

Wow I’m a little off huh..LOL

Our own Grow Guides says:

Quote:

PH can make or break your nutrient solution. 6.7-6.2 is best to ensure there is no nutrient lock-up occurring.

So are you saying our Grow Guides are $hit? This is the second time I have found that that information in there is wrong..

Is anybody out there even reading those damn things but me?

I guess I'll have to start using overgrow.com's grow guides, they seem to be more accurate.

Thanks Takshaka for setting me straight.

St0ney

lookin for a better Grow Guide

Takshaka · 09-22-2001, 03:39 PM

Yeah the growguides are far from perfect...there's been talk of updates but nothing's appeared as yet

I'm surprised you haven't had any pH related problems...some of my plants have shown signs of burning when the pH has been 6 which isn't much too high...it probably varies with strain.

budjamesbud - if you can, take that test kit back and get a wide range kit that covers the range 5-9, the one you've got won't be any use to you...I made that mistake at the start as well

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

New To Site?	Need Help?
Register to Participate View Forum Leaders Privacy Statement Contact Us	Frequently Asked Questions Did you forget your password? Mark Forums Read

Hot Products: