air line in soil?

[Marihuanaträumt]

I was kinda thinking of something like that

 

[pcduck]

Yup! Ima soil grower. Ok, so before I get distracted I will put down my feeding schedule and approx. cost. Ok, here goes...........

Week 1 of flower: 3 TBSP molasses per gal

Week 4 or 5 of flower: (or both) 3 TBSP molasses per gal

Tap water

Average cost: Ummm. Yeah, I dunno. Let's say .30 cents? Free if I go next door and raid the kitchen cabinet

That's it! .30 cents for whatever ounces of bud? I could do worse!

IDK but if it cost $40 to ship for small bottle how much is large bag of soil?

 

[nvthis]

IDK but if it cost $40 to ship for small bottle how much is large bag of soil?

Ah. And there's the catch, my friend.

The SS recipe I am using will break down like this.. Say for a 12 plant grow....

Soil: $60
Amendments: Slightly less than $20
Buckets: $2.50 a piece soo.. $30 for 1 large plant per bucket.

Not counting lights and exhaust: $110 to get started, then $80 per grow afterwards (give or take $2.50 for occasional bucket replacement). Basic.

In stark contrast, what's a hydro system going for these days? And what costs for replacement parts when needed?

Sorry, there's no comparison. No, I mean it, no comparison. Either system, technique or hybred has it's different qualities, advantages and disadvantages. Some techniques fit some folks needs and vice versa. Take me for instance. I wanna do hydro so bad I can taste it. However, considering my present living arrangement, it's just not feasible. If I had a way I would be full hydro as we speak, but I can't. Therefore, for me, comparison is illogical.

 

[nvthis]

12 plant ebb & grow $465, it can be built for $100.. only parts that would need replacing are pumps at $20... That investment will last a long time... But that I consider a grow room expense...

I pay $50 for nutrients for one grow... Once the equipment is paid for its cheaper and faster to grow with hydro...

Meters? Medium? Are you using tapwater? And if so, how do you rid yourself of the mineral build-up?

 

[smokingjoe]

The problem with DWC is you need all those fancy nutrients.

Well not quite, you can get a powdered full spectrum grow and flower nutrient for $25 which will make 800ltrs of solution, more than likely sufficient for the average grower for a number of crops.

 

[pcduck]

Ah. And there's the catch, my friend.

The SS recipe I am using will break down like this.. Say for a 12 plant grow....

Soil: $60
Amendments: Slightly less than $20
Buckets: $2.50 a piece soo.. $30 for 1 large plant per bucket.

Not counting lights and exhaust: $110 to get started, then $80 per grow afterwards (give or take $2.50 for occasional bucket replacement). Basic.

In stark contrast, what's a hydro system going for these days? And what costs for replacement parts when needed?

Sorry, there's no comparison. No, I mean it, no comparison. Either system, technique or hybred has it's different qualities, advantages and disadvantages. Some techniques fit some folks needs and vice versa. Take me for instance. I wanna do hydro so bad I can taste it. However, considering my present living arrangement, it's just not feasible. If I had a way I would be full hydro as we speak, but I can't. Therefore, for me, comparison is illogical.

The cost of your medium and additives is more than my water and GH3 part and little bit of hydroton. Not much difference in replacement costs since you are also trying to add air to the medium also. You want to do the same with soil as we do with water how is that cheaper?

 

[fleshstain]

Most of you guys forget that there are those of us who don't have access to grow shops and such like.

try your local head shop.... literally every head shop in and around this city has a complete grow section in it.... my first complete setup was out one of our local head shops.... we only had a hydro store around here for the past few years.... head shops were our only source for stuff like FF or GH before then....

 

[smokingjoe]

Ah. And there's the catch, my friend.

The SS recipe I am using will break down like this.. Say for a 12 plant grow....

Soil: $60
Amendments: Slightly less than $20
Buckets: $2.50 a piece soo.. $30 for 1 large plant per bucket.

Not counting lights and exhaust: $110 to get started, then $80 per grow afterwards (give or take $2.50 for occasional bucket replacement). Basic.

In stark contrast, what's a hydro system going for these days? And what costs for replacement parts when needed?

Sorry, there's no comparison. No, I mean it, no comparison. Either system, technique or hybred has it's different qualities, advantages and disadvantages. Some techniques fit some folks needs and vice versa. Take me for instance. I wanna do hydro so bad I can taste it. However, considering my present living arrangement, it's just not feasible. If I had a way I would be full hydro as we speak, but I can't. Therefore, for me, comparison is illogical.

This is commercially known as a crop box but is available from many different suppliers. They go for about $20-$30. Put that in an equal sized crate $30, with a small fish pump for less than $10, $5 worth of tap fittings, $30 worth of hydroton and one of mums/missus old stockings, $20 for a couple of timers.

Everything else for this system will be required for a soil system. Once the roots hit the reservoir below you will see phenomenal growth.

two plants per tub will also represent excellent yield and will occupy no more space than the same plants in adequate sized pots.

About $10 difference.

This could be achieved in many more ways with similar results. I don't believe there is any significant if any difference in cost for hydro v soil.

The one significant advantage of hydro over soil is in the event you get a nutrient or ph problem. At worst dump the res and start over. Indoors soil is difficult to thoroughly flush.

I don't like soil personally but have seen many many successful grows in it; in my experience hydro is MUCH easier.

 

[nvthis]

$25 ph meter that you need with soil also

I need only to test once. Bottle of drops: $6. Lasts forever

 

[dirtyolsouth]

The ONLY stat I'm interested in is buzz per toke... period. As long as I've got dank, tasty organic bud to enjoy I'm all good... Growing is all about finding what suits you... In 15 years I've never found an easier method of growing than in supersoil... It's not about how much this nute, additive or amendment is to me at all... It's all about what's going to give me the most pure, high grade meds... and I'm THERE imho... And so are each of you or you should be doing something DIFFERENT!

Happy Growing.... howEVER you choose to do it... DO IT!

THIS one's for Soil Growers! :bong:

And of course... you hydro growers deserve some dank too! :bong2:

 

[nvthis]

The cost of your medium and additives is more than my water and GH3 part and little bit of hydroton. Not much difference in replacement costs since you are also trying to add air to the medium also. You want to do the same with soil as we do with water how is that cheaper?

Sorry bro, never once said it was 'cheaper', but I think the point has been made. It can be made comparable. If we were growing commercial indoor, these differences would be insurmountable, in favor of hydro, of course. But for the hobby grower, the expense can become negligable. As I stated above, hydro just isn't an option for me. So, the original question still stands.. What benefit is there, if any, to adding forced air to a soil grow?

 

[nvthis]

But with every time you buy soil and amendments the price of your grows keeps rising... I buy my medium once, all I need is my $50 nutrients... No matter how you slice it, soil costs more.. The extra $19 for a meter is small beans...

Ok, how long do your nutes last (in a perpetual grow, say, in months?)

 

[dirtyolsouth]

And no you cant compare soil and hydro because hydro out performs soil every time for less money...

NOT in my bong it doesn't... lol...:rofl: What IS this? Like we're rooting for football teams?

Give me an H? H! Give me a Y? Y! Give me a D! D! Give me ANOTHER D! D Give me an R! R! Give me an O! O!

What does it spell?

P I T A

One man's boon is another man's paradise... it's like politics, religion and sports... NObody's changing their mind about anything... lol

 

[nvthis]

No matter how you slice it, soil costs more..

Really? 'Cause technically I can buy my soil at a bulk rate and get it even closer. Not happy with that? Ok. Technically, I can recycle soil. Granted I have never done this, but some folk do, even on this site. That would cut my amendment cost, maybe by 1/2 or even 2/3, as I would only be adding to what was left. With my initial cost of .30 cents per grow for the molasses, that puts me in the between $5 to $10 dollar range, PER GROW! Ok, I guess we can also consider the very occasional $2.50 for bucket replacement. ARE WE DONE YET????? :confused2:

Fine. Your turn again

 

[dirtyolsouth]

4 months and still have some to spare..

You can look at all the aspects here, I spent months doing it... I was a dedicated soil grower for years until I took a plunge into hydro and now I see I should have made the change a long time ago...

And I, like many live in a parallel universe and the opposite is my truth... I grew 100% in hydro for my first 7-8 years - ebb n flow, Aquafarms, DWC, Aeroponics, just about everything... another 3-4 years vegging in hydro and flowering in soil (results) and about the last 5 years in soil. The hydro gear is all piled up in the storage shed. I wish I COULD sell it on CL but not out here in the real world...

When I switched to soil I thought the same exact thing... "I should have made the change a long time ago." I'm really glad that you love hydroponics but it's not for me and a few others from what I can gather and IME it's much more of an ordeal...

all in my rear view mirror now...

Happy Hydro'ing!

 

[Marihuanaträumt]

WOW this thread took a 180 turn from asking about an air line in a soil grow!!!!!

 

[nvthis]

After you recycle your soil you will still have to add new amendments since the only nutrients found in molasses is magnesium and iron, you will have to add food for your plants at some point... Plants dont grow on hopes and dreams.... The .30 per grow is only based on what you add to water during your grow and not on the nutrients you add to your soil prior to a grow... Everyone I know that recycles soil has to add compost and other amendments to it because the soil is spent....

And we are not done yet because you keep switching back and fourth first its .30 a grow then later on you say you buy $60 worth of soil plus amendments... so what is it .30 or $100 a grow? make up your mind...

Im done with this conversation... Its no use, I see your a dedicated soil grower, I was also... Not everyone has to be... This all came about because I told the origional poster that soil isnt even needed and you seem intent on proving me wrong...

Happy growing, and I give you a big wave with no dirt under my fingernails...

Man, you really need to learn to read a little bit. Tossing replys without reading the whole thread first never helps anyone.

First, AS I STATED EARLIER, I don't use 'nutes'. I use Subs SS. That's 'water only' soil with amendments. Second, AS I STATED EARLIER, I am dying to do hydro. Wish I could. Some day I will. A dedicated soil grower? Only because I must!

Seriously bro, there's no ill feelings here. I fully understand what hydro has to offer. That and nothing worth while ever got done without some kind of spirited exchange Your not going to get in trouble or anything. Engaging in a discussion is not against the rules... Come on back!:ciao:

Ok, so with the original question... Any folks got any good ideas???

 

[Marihuanaträumt]

Its all good mindzeye. I just thought the twist was funny

 

[nvthis]

WOW this thread took a 180 turn from asking about an air line in a soil grow!!!!!

Ok bro, looks like everyone went home.. So I have been toying with this idea for a little bit. I know there are some grows on other forums that have done this, I just haven't had the time to look them up really.

Ok, so we have some things to look for. I think we gotta ask if something as simple as Airpots pretty much does what we are trying to do here. If that is the case, then there is really no need to go any further.

interestingly, you've noticed that roots, in soil, grow to and congregate on the sides and bottom of the pot. When you pull the dirt out of a pot (especially a rootbound one) did you ever wonder how we could make the roots utilize the void space directly under the rootball? How can my plant be rootbound with all this unused space??? Wonder if some kind of air incorporation would do anything about this? Hmm..

So, I have considered just putting airhose in the pot and planting on top of this. I think this might be problematic. I would be worried about the soil compacting and pinching off the hose. I also think it would be limited as to where the air actually goes. With this in mind, we gotta know if using a drainless bucket would be the right way to go. Wouldn't the forced air be subject to the weight of the soil and water and just escape through the drain holes at the bottom? And.... Would the forced air be enough to transpire the water quickly in a drainless system? And... Would it be neccessary? Would the air keep the water oxygen rich enough that it wouldn't matter?

All questions that might have to be discovered by just doing it. That and the futher we go, the more in danger we become by complicating things and offering true validity to that "why don't you just do a DWC system?" suggestion. At some point it would be the natural progression, so there is a need to keep this VERY simple.

If you find out anything, I would be very open to hearing it

 

[dirtyolsouth]

Hey NVthis...

I have no idea how to pump air into your roots but have you looked into using Airpots, Fielders, Smart Pots or Tex-R Agroliners? They work on the principle of pruning the root as it comes in contact with the pot and this causes the root to branch off and create a much more dense root system. I've found that if you use these pots and charge up your soil - supersoil or otherwise - with mychorrizae and beneficial beasties and feed them with plenty of carbos to keep them active the results are pretty amazing. Much denser roots and they utilize much more real estate in the soil imho...

Have that fine Aryan freulein bring one of those frosty cold ones over HERE! :ciao:

Rock ON!