Dutch Passion Billy Wu's second grow - Think Different (w/CO2 enrichment)

[BillyWu]

Strain: Think Different by Dutch Passion
Pot: 20 litre plastic (may increase, last time 20 litres was too small and she got rootbound)
Medium: Soil (Biobizz light mix)
Environment: Secret Jardin Dark Room pro DR60 II, 24"x24"x64"
Lighting system: 250W HPS, dual spectrum bulb with cool tube reflector (& possibly 2x small LED panels)
Carbon filter: Rhino pro carbon filter
Extraction fan: 100mm RVK fan
Intake: Passive
Nutrients: Biobizz grow, Biobizz flower, Biobizz Topmax, Formulex, Biobizz Root juice, CalMag supplement
Temperature: Aiming to keep a consistent 75°F - 80°F during lights on, 65°F - 70°F lights off
pH: Aiming to keep a consistent 6.6 - 7.0 pH in the soil, water/nutrients


Hello again folks :] After my awesome success with my first TD plant (157g!), I've decided to grow another one. However, this one has a little twist to it.

It's got CO2 enrichment

Hopefully I should be able to get a huge harvest this time. I've learned from a few mistakes I made on my first grow and got the CO2 to get approximately 35-45% extra yield. It should be a good one!

 

[BillyWu]

The seed has gone in for a good soak now. Should be about 2-3 days before the seed casing cracks and it's ready to plant :] I'll post here again once it's done.

 

[TaNg]

I've got a 37L Airpot in my shed wanna borrow it

 

[BillyWu]

Crikey! 37 L is a little too big, it's probably too wide for the tent xD
I'll probably try a 25L or 30L if needs be :]

Also, here's a few details about the CO2 enrichment I'll be doing:

I'll be using a Unis complete CO2 controller kit with about a 20-30lbs tank. The CO2 enrichment will start about a week into the grow, once the plant has a few leaves to photosynthesize with.
Aiming to have timed extraction, so it only comes on when the CO2 enrichment stops (e.g.: at night).

 

[TaNg]

Yeah it is on the large side lol really interested in your Co2 approach dude not really thought about doing it myself so maybe you can inspire me lol

 

[Groff]

Ran out to get some popcorn... pulling up a chair... wait for it .... subbed!!

Impressed with your first grow, congrats! Doesn't get much simpler than that.

What made you decide to do CO2? Usually the next logical step up is refinement of essential nutrient uptake. Tell us more about it :thumbs:

 

[BillyWu]

Well I've been looking at doing CO2 enrichment for a while. The science of it makes sense to me, so I thought it'd be nothing but beneficial for the rather low price of £120. If it gets me a bigger plant, then I'm all for it!

I wanted to do it so I can understand which ways it affects my plants. I've got a great starting place this time because I got 157g last time under the same conditions. If I can get 200g+ this time, then I can say for sure that CO2 enrichment was worth the money :]

For those who don't know, CO2 (carbon dioxide) is used by plants in photosynthesis. There is approximately 300PPM (parts per million) of CO2 in the air. Plants grow best under 1200 PPM, so by increasing my CO2 levels I can get a few enhancements:

*Faster growth. More CO2 means faster and more photosynthesis, which means faster and bigger growth.
*Increase in yield.
*Increased temperature threshold. I can allow the temperature of my tent to go up to 95 degrees Fahrenheit comfortably using CO2, so it'll be better for those hot summer days and the confined space I'm growing in.

 

[TaNg]

What LEDs you rockin star?

 

[BillyWu]

None yet, once I get a little bit more cash I'll be probably buying two of these. They're mainly for the underside of the tent where the light doesn't get to.

 

[Groff]

Hey Billy,

Have a read at this. I just ordered my LED direct from China at a fraction of the cost - https://www.autoflower.org/f43/word-warning-hydrogrowled-lights-cammie-mckenzie-11158.html

It is my understanding that to take advantage of the extra CO2, the plant has to be "fine tuned" to be able to absorb it. As in, if it isn't developing at optimum conditions, it will not take up any more CO2 no matter how much you pump into the tent.

Since your first grow proved they were quite well fine tuned, I suspect this will be an interesting experiment. I would suggest adding liquid silicon, both as an additive to your soil, as with foliar feeding. Among numerous other benefits, this will induce a significant uptake of CO2 by the plant. It is quite cheap, and you just add something like 1ml/2-4L throughout the cycle. Generally used in hydroponics as it can't be mixed with other acidic nutes. In soil it is not necessary in theory... It is definitely not needed in good healthy soil, but the debate is still open.

Since you use soil, I would do a heavier foliar feeding and a much lower soil feed. You just need to know that silicon does deposit in the soil, so don't overdo it. Also that liquid silicon acts as a pH UP, so you should be weary to regulate that, or it will lock out the nutrient uptake. But silicon will make your CO2 investment much more worth while.