[mocs0]

What's good, people?

Preface
I will be flowering hydro with soil mothers. This post details a theory of mine about an efficient/lazy method of wicking my soil mother plants, but it should work for flowering plants too. I posted in "organic" because I will be using organic teas for fertilizer up top and plain water in the bottom and any feedback from organic - minded people would be helpful. Please tear apart my idea, offer your own suggestions, and point some relevant non-organic growers to this thread. I can't find the youtube video(s) from which I got the idea for this method. I watched it years ago. If there is enough activity/interest in this thread, I will try to find and link it.

Ch 1
Imagine a 5-galbucket. Drill approx. 4 equidistant holes (1/2" thick or so) in the bucket 4-5 inches up from the bottom. Put a layer of rocks (approx 1/2 the size of a grown man's fist, I guess, but it's really not too important ... an inch or 2 of big(ish) rocks) in the bottom of the bucket. Add a layer of perlite (any ideas of an organic replacement for perlite?) on top of the rocks (1 inch or so thick). Add a layer (1 inch or so) of vermiculite on top of the perlite (I know there's organic vermiculite, but any suggestions of a better replacement?), making sure that it reaches the top of the side holes, but leaving room for one of the holes to accommodate a funnel.
Inserting a wooden stick, funnel or whatever in the hole before adding the verm should do it, or block the hole, add the verm, then unblock the hole (big rock should do it).

Basically, the funnel hole is your water feeding method. The big rocks allow for a decent amount of water to collect at the bottom. Perlite does the same, but at a different scale (not sure the perlite's role is even necessary but we can debate that). The vermiculite draws water up into the soil which would be on top of it.

The big rocks and the holes/funnel aspects are my own innovation to the mushroom video's perlite/vermiculite layering thing. I figured with a layer of big rocks on the bottom, u wouldn't have to add water as frequently.

Thoughts? Clarifications needed?

[cravin morehead]

What you are describing sort of reminds me of OBBT buckets. If you haven't seen them, you may want to check them out. Might help you with figuring out some things. Do a search for OBBT here or check out this link:
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?

Good growing

Cm

[iffey]

or like yankeytransplnt - Shallow water culture thread: https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?threadid=318155

[HashTree]

You might search out global buckets. They are self watering planters build with 2-5 gallon buckets that nest inside one another.
I've used those may times indoor and outdoor with great success. It's the same idea but fewer materials and holds more water as well.

[iffey]

Originally Posted by HashTree

You might search out global buckets. They are self watering planters build with 2-5 gallon buckets that nest inside one another.
I've used those may times indoor and outdoor with great success. It's the same idea but fewer materials and holds more water as well.

did you use global buckets for growin cannabis?

[mocs0]

Badass! I will research all those things and get back 2 u all if anyone's interested.

Edit: Thanks a million!

[liquidcooled420]

Just checked out this site. I can't believe I've never heard of this before. Seems like a really good idea. Not that mocs0's idea wasn't good, but this seems simpler and easier to fill.

https://www.globalbuckets.org/ These kids are awesome for coming up with this to help people around the world!

[mocs0]

Originally Posted by liquidcooled420

Just checked out this site. I can't believe I've never heard of this before. Seems like a really good idea. Not that mocs0's idea wasn't good, but this seems simpler and easier to fill.

https://www.globalbuckets.org/ These kids are awesome for coming up with this to help people around the world!

Yeah, I didn't read the whole page yet but I skimmed it. I was thinking of adding a 2nd bucket 2 my design. I forgot 2 put that in my post. One of the obbt posts I read inspired me 2 add a bubbler too. I'm not necessarily looking for the simplest design. Efficiency is more important 2 me, and I'm a big fan of Rube Goldberg. I still got a lot of research 2 do tho, so we'll see. I appreciate The link, LC!

[growingcrazy]

You can do what your planning and just use perlite in the bottom of the bucket. 3" of perlite and about 1" of water. Drill the holes at 1" to allow a res. that deep at all times. The added perlite allows oxygen to roots above water level.

SIP style. Just a suggestion.

[HashTree]

Originally Posted by iffey

did you use global buckets for growin cannabis?

I did use them for cannabis. They work great for remote grows. In the beginning they only require water probably once a week. As they get bigger I can remember having to refill them every couple of days. I always thought it would be easy to rig up something to top them off automatically though.

I never had a need for an air stone and always had healthy looking roots. I did set the buckets below grade and that kept the water reservoir cool.

The biggest thing was to have good quality soil with lots of perlite for an airy mix. I went cheap and lazy last summer and they didn't do so hot.

The other tip is don't skip the plastic cover. It makes a big difference in performance as well as keeping the rain from flooding the system.