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Ashland, KY

Friends,

This is my first post after lurking a bit, and I have learned a great deal. This is a wonderful site and GP's are truly amazing (and a fun, yet serious hobby!).

I've been trying hydroponics for two years. It's a hobby for me, and I am determined to keep this purely hydroponic. This is my goal. Water, nutrients, plastic containers and reservoirs; no soil etc. What a challenge! Hence the two years' efforts!

This year, after making dozens of mid-stream corrections and changes, I have finally passed a milestone that I set for myself- A female flower! May not sound like much, but I'm happy!

Other females have appeared, but they dried up. But, a healthy one finally appeared and will open tomorrow. It is on the end of a nearly 10 foot stalk, with nice green leaves and a few side stalks. Shame it only appeared this late in the season!

Ths is leading to a question: is this a good result for a purely hydroponic system?

Cheers, and more later after "she's" fertilized!

EP

8/15/2011 8:06:07 PM

Ohio

Don't have a clue if this is a good result or not as far as hydroponics, just wanted to say best of luck to you and keep us posted.

8/15/2011 9:07:44 PM

New Hampshire, USA

Good luck keep us posted! Jim

8/15/2011 9:33:21 PM

Hinckley MN

I've been thinking about a ground level NFT or perlite substrate system to mimic either a flag pattern or a tree pattern. Farmtek carries 9"x3" channels x 10 or 20 ft lengths for the main and 6.5" x 2.75" channels for the secondaries. arranging an S curve could be difficult, but you could adjust the height and location of the channels instead.

just a thought.

8/16/2011 8:32:30 AM

Ashland, KY

Thanks, Farmer Ben-I already have channels for the main and secondary. The nodal roots love 'em!

8/16/2011 9:20:37 PM

sevierville, Tn

What are you feeding it ? How much does it drink a day ? What happened last year if this is year 2 ?
I have seen some posts of BP where growers did hybrid systems, so if this is a pure system, your doing well.
How big are the secondaries ?
Thanks

8/16/2011 9:58:35 PM

Ashland, KY

Hey smoky and others-the secondaries are very very short-about two feet, but once I increase the nitrogen after I am convinced the fruit is set, I expect more robust secondary growth (?). I am feeding them Jim Taylor's hydroponic vegetable nutrient formula (for no reason other than as a newbie, I Googled (can ya believe this is a verb!?) "hydroponic nutrients", and found the Taylor web site. I also have H202 (0.1%) in everything, plus magic dust (OK, indole-3-butryic acid) sprinkled on the roots each week for about 3-4 weeks. See one of my pictures in the gallery that shows the roots from this set up. I'm amazed, but then again I'm a newbie and easily amazed. How much do they drink? Each vine seems to consume about a gallon a day, and I've have tried hard to minimize evaporationfrom the vessel, but even so this is certainly an over-estimation.

EP

8/17/2011 7:26:05 PM