Live Stoners Live Stoner Chat - Jul-Sep '21

[Bruce Campbell]

Other than nutes, do you add anything bio to your water? I've been adding activated EM1 to the rez in my Earthboxes...............regular pots too.........along with a dry period, it seems to be keeping that area trouble free.
I haven't done it because of testing Phyter, but plant seem to benefit from foliar spraying with activated EM1. If I start doing this indoors, I'll add some sort of feed at the same time..........aminos, vitamin B, compost tea....ect.

Nah, I don't do hydro - I just know silica dust makes bacteria blooms worse from fish tanks

 

[Dr Fluff]

Hiya! ^_^ I like my autopots ... saves me a LOAD of time!

The only thing i put at the bottom of my autopot is the weird copperish cloth they give you - think it stops the soil falling into the tray!
I'm pretty sure nothing else is necessary in order for the soil to wick it up

I don't think i know anyone else that uses anything (some people like the oxygen dome .. but i don't see that much benefit to using it for it to make it into my pots)

I don't have any particulalry scientific details i can pass on though

The copper on the disk (root control disc) for the Auto Pot System, is to stop root ingress in to the water holding tray!
The roots just don't like copper touching them.
You can also find copper coatings in RDWC systems & IWS flood and drain (Eb & Flow) systems.
Roots getting into areas such as drainage pipes and water inlet valves with Auto Pots, can cause all sorts of problems with blockages, with potential for flooding.

As for the "Pebbles/crocking" in pots, I saw this as be contentious and the last thing i wanted on a relaxing Saturday, was to be embroiled in an argument!
However it seems a majority of commenters, don't follow such a practise or advise it.
This make me feel more at ease, talking about it.
I supply some information that came to my notice some years ago and then I will add a little note at the end!

Are gardeners wrong to put 'crocks' in plant pots?
BBC Gardening

Published - 23 April 2014 (seven years ago to be exact)!

IMAGE SOURCE,ALAMY
For centuries, gardeners have put shards of pottery - "crocks" - at the bottom of plant pots to increase drainage. But a new study has debunked the tradition, writes Tom de Castella.
Crocks in pots are an article of faith for gardeners. A piece of crockery in the bottom of the pot aids drainage. It allows water to run off more quickly than soil would and prevents compost from clogging up the holes at the bottom of the pot. That at least is the age-old wisdom handed down from one generation of green-fingered sages to the next. Gardeners' Question Time, Monty Don and Alan Titchmarsh have all endorsed the tradition.

But a study by consumer magazine Which? suggests it's a myth. Researchers planted 40 pots each with five "Million bells trailing yellow" - a flowering plant prone to root rot in saturated soils. Permutations involved plastic pot, and terracotta pot, and with either saucers or no saucers. Half got crocks, half did not. The plants were recorded for "vigour and flowering impact". The magazine found that the crocks "made no difference to how well our plants did".

You might think that the bigger gaps where soil meets bits of broken crockery would allow more water to filter through. But this turns out not to be the case, some argue. Guy Barter, chief horticultural adviser at the RHS, says a crock is actually likely to worsen drainage by creating a block. It's better to have a layer of sand underneath soil that will allow water to drain into it and later be sucked up by roots if needed. The only minor points in favour of crocks are that they might block drainage in hot weather, and also save money on compost. In most cases, people would be better off omitting them, he says.

Like many gardening "tips" it probably owes more to Victorian fashion than practicality, says Matthew Biggs, a panel member on Gardeners' Question Time. There was something comforting about re-used shards of terracotta performing magic inside the pot. "It's always sad when a tradition gets blown away by modern science." But many will probably ignore the science, and carry on with this "intuitive ritual" that is part of gardening heritage, he says.

I imagine the reason why "AutoPots" advise "Clay pebbles" is because the bottom of the pot is in constant contact with water.
It never dries up a water in a saucer will, just a though! Any Queries, contact AutoPot and ask them the question.

The lowest part of the substrate remain the dampest at the bottom of the pot as it is the area least exposed to evaporation.
All substrates have a, maximum water holding capacity, any more than the maximum and it will naturally drain away, due to a combination of gravity and being unable to hold more water than the maximum.
Deep rooted plants that seek out water, will easily hit the bottom of the pot.
Putting in pebbles raises the moistest part of the substrate, will mean less moisture holding substrate is available to supply the plant at the bottom of the pot.
Furthermore most substrates for cannabis focus on not only water holding capacity but also air holding capacity.
This means they are all relatively free draining, whilst still having a good water holding capacity.
It is better to add perlite to a soil mix to increase aeration pockets around the perlite granules,in order to increase oxygen to the roots.
As you water "Air" is drawn into the compost/substrate, the many tiny holes in the "Expanded" Perlite hold a great amount of air but also hold some water too!

Coco is a very fast drainer but it also holds a huge amount of water.
Yes I will admit in the past adding clay pebbles to my coco, as I was brought up on using "Crocking" in pots for the garden.
Then I read the latest info on it and stopped using as crocking instantly, with no ill effect.
However when I did use pebbles at the bottom of a pot, I still grew great cannabis.
Do or don't add pebbles, as long as you look after your plants needs, give them love and all the rest a plant needs to grow & you will do fine.

 

[Dr Fluff]

Nah, I don't do hydro - I just know silica dust makes bacteria blooms worse from fish tanks

Not a bad thing if you are using "Beneficial Bacteria" I bet the micro herd would be very happy!

 

[blue]

The copper on the disk (root control disc) for the Auto Pot System, is to stop root ingress in to the water holding tray!
The roots just don't like copper touching them.
You can also find copper coatings in RDWC systems & IWS flood and drain (Eb & Flow) systems.
Roots getting into areas such as drainage pipes and water inlet valves with Auto Pots, can cause all sorts of problems with blockages, with potential for flooding.

As for the "Pebbles/crocking" in pots, I saw this as be contentious and the last thing i wanted on a relaxing Saturday, was to be embroiled in an argument!
However it seems a majority of commenters, don't follow such a practise or advise it.
This make me feel more at ease, talking about it.
I supply some information that came to my notice some years ago and then I will add a little note at the end!

Are gardeners wrong to put 'crocks' in plant pots?
BBC Gardening

Published - 23 April 2014 (seven years ago to be exact)!

IMAGE SOURCE,ALAMY
For centuries, gardeners have put shards of pottery - "crocks" - at the bottom of plant pots to increase drainage. But a new study has debunked the tradition, writes Tom de Castella.
Crocks in pots are an article of faith for gardeners. A piece of crockery in the bottom of the pot aids drainage. It allows water to run off more quickly than soil would and prevents compost from clogging up the holes at the bottom of the pot. That at least is the age-old wisdom handed down from one generation of green-fingered sages to the next. Gardeners' Question Time, Monty Don and Alan Titchmarsh have all endorsed the tradition.

But a study by consumer magazine Which? suggests it's a myth. Researchers planted 40 pots each with five "Million bells trailing yellow" - a flowering plant prone to root rot in saturated soils. Permutations involved plastic pot, and terracotta pot, and with either saucers or no saucers. Half got crocks, half did not. The plants were recorded for "vigour and flowering impact". The magazine found that the crocks "made no difference to how well our plants did".

You might think that the bigger gaps where soil meets bits of broken crockery would allow more water to filter through. But this turns out not to be the case, some argue. Guy Barter, chief horticultural adviser at the RHS, says a crock is actually likely to worsen drainage by creating a block. It's better to have a layer of sand underneath soil that will allow water to drain into it and later be sucked up by roots if needed. The only minor points in favour of crocks are that they might block drainage in hot weather, and also save money on compost. In most cases, people would be better off omitting them, he says.

Like many gardening "tips" it probably owes more to Victorian fashion than practicality, says Matthew Biggs, a panel member on Gardeners' Question Time. There was something comforting about re-used shards of terracotta performing magic inside the pot. "It's always sad when a tradition gets blown away by modern science." But many will probably ignore the science, and carry on with this "intuitive ritual" that is part of gardening heritage, he says.

I imagine the reason why "AutoPots" advise "Clay pebbles" is because the bottom of the pot is in constant contact with water.
It never dries up a water in a saucer will, just a though! Any Queries, contact AutoPot and ask them the question.

The lowest part of the substrate remain the dampest at the bottom of the pot as it is the area least exposed to evaporation.
All substrates have a, maximum water holding capacity, any more than the maximum and it will naturally drain away, due to a combination of gravity and being unable to hold more water than the maximum.
Deep rooted plants that seek out water, will easily hit the bottom of the pot.
Putting in pebbles raises the moistest part of the substrate, will mean less moisture holding substrate is available to supply the plant at the bottom of the pot.
Furthermore most substrates for cannabis focus on not only water holding capacity but also air holding capacity.
This means they are all relatively free draining, whilst still having a good water holding capacity.
It is better to add perlite to a soil mix to increase aeration pockets around the perlite granules,in order to increase oxygen to the roots.
As you water "Air" is drawn into the compost/substrate, the many tiny holes in the "Expanded" Perlite hold a great amount of air but also hold some water too!

Coco is a very fast drainer but it also holds a huge amount of water.
Yes I will admit in the past adding clay pebbles to my coco, as I was brought up on using "Crocking" in pots for the garden.
Then I read the latest info on it and stopped using as crocking instantly, with no ill effect.
However when I did use pebbles at the bottom of a pot, I still grew great cannabis.
Do or don't add pebbles, as long as you look after your plants needs, give them love and all the rest a plant needs to grow & you will do fine.

Interesting article! Knew Titmarsh couldn't be trusted ... notice his eyes look shifty and close together??

crocks "made no difference to how well our plants did".

Do you think this is where the expression "what a crock of sh*t" comes from??

 

[hairyman]

Me fan would take up too much floor space in the 4x4 so trying it like this

 

[hairyman]

I might need the instruction after all,,,

 

[blue]

I might need the instruction after all,,, View attachment 1371178

Wowsers!!! ... did you get a hefty discount to assemble it yourself???
I'd be sending them an invoice for labour
^_^

 

[derek420colorado]

I might need the instruction after all,,, View attachment 1371178

This is why I don’t get these. Everyone says “it’s soooo easy” welp not for my electronic challenged arse lol

 

[Dr Fluff]

Titmarsh don't get me started LMAO him and his filthy novels

A crock of shit, is indeed a reference to Alan Titchmarshe's books.

The word crockery arose in the eighteenth century from the now-obsolete crocker, or "potter," which in turn came from the Old English croc, "pot or vessel."

So way back before the WC *Water Closet" we used to have to go to the bottom of the garden to take a dump.
You either crapped on the floor of a small shed and would leave it there for the "night Soil man" to come and magically make it disappear, ready for you to lay a new one for him, the next day.
Either that or you had a "long drop" where you would drop your load, until the pit filled up and you dug a new one.
Those long cold winter nights, where all you had on, was your night shirt, could see you with nothing more than a "thumb and a half a walnut", where your once proud family jewels used to be!
So many people would say "sod that for a game of soldiers" and reach for the "Guzunder" so called because it "Guz (goes) under the bed" AKA a chamber pot.
Such a pot was often made of crockery although some were metal.
So a crock of shit is something that went under the bed just in case you should need to send a brown parcel in the night.
I imagine for the most part, people would try to avoid the night time bowel movement as it would probably leave a bit of a tang in one boudoir!
A midnight pee is more acceptable and more likely.
So if something is a crock of shit, it means it is full of shit, just like a guzunder might be, should you be suffering from a bout of Montezuma Revenge AKA a dose of the trots.
You did ask!

Interesting fact

The Rhubarb Triangle is a 9-square-mile (23 km2) area of West Yorkshire, England between Wakefield, Morley and Rothwell famous for producing early forced rhubarb. It includes Kirkhamgate, East Ardsley, Stanley, Lofthouse and Carlton.
The reason why the rhubarb grows so well is the locally rich soil.
Yup you got it - the rhubarb triangle is the area where they used to spread the night soil!
So it you hear someone saying "This rhubarb crumble is the shit" you'll no they aint far wrong!
You can go and watch the rhubarb in the forcing sheds, which are lit by candle light, if you are quiet and listen carefully, you can actually heard the rhubarb "Creaking" as it grows!

 

[mohawk warrior]

Ahhh okay. So a funny flavored shish kebab eh?

Not a kebab... shawarma closer to a pita wrap thing... the stick holds like 100lbs of rotisserie meat they shave off...
seriously dunno what a shawarma is ehh...

Shawarma - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

I think you may call it a donair ?? East coast does I believe