All things considered those plants are 4 weeks old and certainly looking a whole lot better than those some others ask for help on. I do not understand all of the negativity about your project, even now that the photos were posted. I will admit that months ago I was one of the ones who brought up why it would not work the way you had presented the project back then. People are a bit stubborn and we tend to believe that how we are doing it is the best way and everyone else should follow our example.
Personally, I really do feel that growing in a coco coir based soil mix with organic fertilizers will work. I have been considering how to make it work for about a year now. Water soluble nutrients are a must, the more the better because of the very limited availability of microorganisms. Compost style teas would be great, and needed if auto watering systems are used. I have been considering teas using Roots Organics/Aurora Innovations for starters.
I am surprised that people are not willing to take on the challenge that your grow presents. You seem willing and able to try suggestions.
One suggestion that I can make is to supplement your current cal/mag routine with an iron supplement. My plants responded well to a dose of an Iron Supplement for the Planted Aquarium. For a planted aquarium the dosage is supposed to be 1 ml per 10 gallons but my containers are 1 or 2 gallon soil mix. After mixing 2-3 ml to one gallon of water I then poured approx 1 cup water to a 1 gallon of soil container and 2 cups to a container with 2 gallons of soil. A few 5 gallon containers with soil got about 3 cups though I notice less problem with the larger pots. I figure that I am not pushing the soil and the microorganisms as much in those larger amounts of soil. I do not know what the life span or availability in the soil is. Will I have to add it again once a year or 2-3 times a year? No idea.
It seems to have worked for me. Don't know if it will work for you. The Iron Supplement was left over from a planted aquarium project. It can be purchased at most tropical fish shops but I have not seen it in the pet sections at any department store.
Enjoy the day.
I'm with you on this one. Excellent project
All things considered those plants are 4 weeks old and certainly looking a whole lot better than those some others ask for help on. I do not understand all of the negativity about your project, even now that the photos were posted. I will admit that months ago I was one of the ones who brought up why it would not work the way you had presented the project back then. People are a bit stubborn and we tend to believe that how we are doing it is the best way and everyone else should follow our example.
Personally, I really do feel that growing in a coco coir based soil mix with organic fertilizers will work. I have been considering how to make it work for about a year now. Water soluble nutrients are a must, the more the better because of the very limited availability of microorganisms. Compost style teas would be great, and needed if auto watering systems are used. I have been considering teas using Roots Organics/Aurora Innovations for starters.
I am surprised that people are not willing to take on the challenge that your grow presents. You seem willing and able to try suggestions.
One suggestion that I can make is to supplement your current cal/mag routine with an iron supplement. My plants responded well to a dose of an Iron Supplement for the Planted Aquarium. For a planted aquarium the dosage is supposed to be 1 ml per 10 gallons but my containers are 1 or 2 gallon soil mix. After mixing 2-3 ml to one gallon of water I then poured approx 1 cup water to a 1 gallon of soil container and 2 cups to a container with 2 gallons of soil. A few 5 gallon containers with soil got about 3 cups though I notice less problem with the larger pots. I figure that I am not pushing the soil and the microorganisms as much in those larger amounts of soil. I do not know what the life span or availability in the soil is. Will I have to add it again once a year or 2-3 times a year? No idea.
It seems to have worked for me. Don't know if it will work for you. The Iron Supplement was left over from a planted aquarium project. It can be purchased at most tropical fish shops but I have not seen it in the pet sections at any department store.
Enjoy the day.
There are examples you can read up online that shows how a 5% amendment of biochar in coco peat was able to significantly increase the diameter of tomato fruits produced.