Different automated watering options?

[squarepush3r]

So, I am trying to weight different watering options for my coco coir system. Here are some of the options, they vary from short interval, to longest interval.

1) Slow drip for about a minute every hour
2) Slow drip for a few minutes every 3 hours
3) Slow drip for a few minutes every 7 hours
4) Slow drip for a few minutes every 17 hours
5) Once a day watering


With the short watering option, obviously the coco will be wet all of the time, constantly being delivered new nutrients. With the longer options, and even the 1 day options, the coco will get a chance to dry out in between somewhat.


So, I see the great growth that RDWC gets, and in that system the roots are in constant contact with water. So, I figure maybe a constant slow drip would replicate RDWC performance? Obviously, I would lower the nutrient strength/ppm to adjust for this, as people with RDWC/Under Current type systems normally report having to use a lot less nutrient concentration.


So, like to hear opinions!! thanks

 

[Wise]

Look into Tropf Blumats

 

[squarepush3r]

Look into Tropf Blumats

looks really cool! I run a really small system now, so probably wont buy anything but maybe if I did an outdoor grow or gorilla grow that would be really cool, assuming they are reliable and do their job well

 

[Harinama]

i could not get blumats to work well with coir, either they would let it dry out or it would water to overflow. I just could not get them to keep a consistent level of watering.

maybe you'll have better luck, but i've heard this from others also.

 

[Lazyman]

I have about 150 Blumats in coco and they work great, just harvested the last soil crop I will run on another 50 Blumats. The growth rate with coco is impressive, to say the least. In veg I handwater coco and the plants are about double the size they usually get with a months veg time. Coco/blumats rule!

 

[squarepush3r]

btw, I setup a drip system today, .5 GPH drippers on each 5 gallon smart pot. now, I am just deciding how much 'on' time I want to give them in the timer.

I am going to start 1 minute per hour continuously, I am aiming for 15-20% runoff (so, if I water for 1 minute, approximately 15 seconds of runoff time)

 

[farmdalefurr]

blumats blumats blumats....... youll thank us later

 

[MtnLivin]

I am in the process of planning a drip system for a 19 plant room in 2 gallon pots. I am going to water twice a day, once with lights on, and once with lights off.. About 20% runoff each time.

 

[ivanic]

how many litres or gallons do you roughly feed a day or every 2nd day whatever your schedule is, not including run off.