[marinemansf]

Hey all,

So this post is mainly for the people who have followed my grows in hydro, to let them know I didn't disappear cause I got popped, just got super busy over the last year. That and to say ive officially made the change from hydro to soil. I could never get the beneficial bacteria down pat, so i figured theres no point in running a sterile rez over soil with the bennies already in it. Super glad i made the switch, water 3 times a week and im done. No more chasing water leaks at 3 in the morning. Thats not to say ill never give hydro another shot, just when I understand it better. I think i might have water issues in my city with some nasty bacteria.

Anyway, so what im working with now is basically my old set up, just re-purposed. Im using fox farm happy frog soil in 3 gallon buckets, 5x5 grow tent, 1000w digital ballast, 100 quart cooler as a rez.

I was very fortunate to run into an old friend this summer who is also a vet that also has an interest in growing and hooked me up with some Lemon Thai Stick and Chocolate Rain clones. Were in week 4 of flower now and things are on auto pilot right now. These strains are great to work with, not fussy at all. I had a VERY minor issue with a few thrips in veg, gave everything a light spray of 91% iso alcohol 3 times in one week. Havent seen shit since. I also keep 1 half of a yellow aphid trap on top of the soil in each bucket. Every now and again ill see a flyer, but they dont last long.

Anyway, ill try and put up a few pics of the progress along the way.
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[starke]

Love to watch your transition to soil. I'm doing soil and dreaming about hydro.

[Ghostin]

Originally Posted by starke

Love to watch your transition to soil. I'm doing soil and dreaming about hydro.

Haha me too starke!

[marinemansf]

Hey welcome guys! Ive always had a strong attraction to hydro and its where i started growing (links to previous hydro grows in signature) and ive always been drawn to water in general all my life. I just could never get the benificial bacteria game right, which my system was based off of. So one day i saw my buddy doing things so much easier in soil and he basically gave me everything i needed to convert to soil on the condition that if i continued using soil, i would pay him back for the equipment, so i had literally nothing to lose by trying it out. Sure as shit, it cut my work time in the plant room by more than half. No more worrying if your basement will be flooded in the morning. Hydro is fun if you have everything 100% on point, if you dont, get ready for games. It seemed to me soil is much more forgiving in the sense that if you fuck something up in soil, its may be a one or two day period where the plant gets back to normal. In hydro, any fuck up is a week. At least that has been my experience. Ill give it another shot one day.

[cravin morehead]

hey big dog, mind if I hang out? I'll be the one in the back behind the clouds of smoke...

glad to see you up and growing. good genetics too...

grabbing a chair, a homebrew, and some bud to watch the show

cm

[Ghostin]

Originally Posted by marinemansf

Hey welcome guys! Ive always had a strong attraction to hydro and its where i started growing (links to previous hydro grows in signature) and ive always been drawn to water in general all my life. I just could never get the benificial bacteria game right, which my system was based off of. So one day i saw my buddy doing things so much easier in soil and he basically gave me everything i needed to convert to soil on the condition that if i continued using soil, i would pay him back for the equipment, so i had literally nothing to lose by trying it out. Sure as shit, it cut my work time in the plant room by more than half. No more worrying if your basement will be flooded in the morning. Hydro is fun if you have everything 100% on point, if you dont, get ready for games. It seemed to me soil is much more forgiving in the sense that if you fuck something up in soil, its may be a one or two day period where the plant gets back to normal. In hydro, any fuck up is a week. At least that has been my experience. Ill give it another shot one day.

I feel ya, the forgiveness factor is the best thing about soil but the cost, independent watering + time, waste and yields are the con's. Imo, hydro is way better once you get it dialed in, it's all about experience, but both involve work, no getting around that, right?

[marinemansf]

I don't know, my costs are actually down from hydro. I downsized my water pump to a 400 gph from an 1800 gph that I needed for hydro, cuts power costs a little there and yeah the dirt is 20 bucks a bag but I only needed a bag and a half. Plus I'm using about a third of the water i used before. This becomes more of a factor when youre using RO like mine and mine is a 1:2 usable water to waste water ratio. Oh and when you have all that water you need more nutes to keep the same ppm. I had like 40 gallons in my system before and now 10. Also I have everything I need to make all the watering fully automated, i just prefer hand watering. Being around my girls is super therapeutic so I look for any excuse I can to go spend time with them, it's just now I can just go sit with them instead of having to do constant maintenance.

So less power, water and nutes. Plus 30 bucks in soil. I'm actually saving a decent amount by switching. I would go so far as to say I'm saving over a hundred bucks a run.

[cravin morehead]

I run hydro indoor year round and run soil for seasonal outdoor and to keep my mom plants.
just sayin'

cm

[marinemansf]

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey! What's up buddy?

Believe me, if had things locked down on my bio buckets I'd still be rocking those. I really think they're is a bacteria problem in the water. I would always remeber you sayin you never changed your water and that's how I knew my shit wasn't right. Everything would start out well and then sure as shit my rez would start going murky and It seemed like I could never get the Bennie levels stabalized.

And I'd love to do outdoor but I'm still in a prohibition state, otherwise I'd have my yard would be willy wonka'ed the hell out with plants!

[cravin morehead]

Hey bud-
No worries on my end, to each their own. I love my bio buckets, but also know that everyone has their own preferences. I'm not here to preach bio bucket eering. Just want to see you have some success how ever that may be. I started in soil and keep doing it too. I just like growing and enjoying bud, that's all. I'm cracking a beer and firing up a bowl and watching your show. Grab life by the horns and do your thing buddy
Glad to be here

Cm