Advice needed. Changing growing style to fit my lack of attention.

[Herbalist]

Howdy growroom.

So, im a bit of a busy fecker, and the last 2 grows have suffered horrifically. I put this down to under feeding and letting them dry out too much between waterings. Electricity being at a premium, i need to make sure that what im doing is worth while.

This brings me to my query.
I'm looking for something i can give as little input as possible.

I thought about auto pots but not sure it'll be less work with res changes and daily checks. Sometimes, lately, i can go 2/3 days without popping my head in the drobe. This thought made me think about living soil. At least if i need to get the mrs to throw some water at them i need not worry about her mixing nutes.

What do you guys n gals think? Is there a lazy option im missing?

If i go the living soil route, do you have a specific product you use? (Not got the time to mix my own soil) any tips welcome.

Thanks in advance growmies.

[TheCloudyChef]

I thought about auto pots but not sure it'll be less work with res changes and daily checks.

You fill the rezz and set ph and ec and refill it when empty, so every week or so. Theirs no need to check anything once its set unless plants look shit, anyone that does is doing summink wrong, its automated for a reason so we can go naway on our hols lol. Checking ph and ec all time in your rezz in an automated system is a sure fire way to maddness, go with the rule of checking it if plants look dodgy and you wont go far wrong. Only thing that may need checking every now and then is your auto valves just to make sure they`re not sticking, more so in hard water areas. Its a great system and first i used must be 20 years ago now, you can and do smash it good style as well. If you decide to get the set up. Let me know and ill run you through it, so your not faffing about, well unless you feel urge to faff about then you`ll be at it all ferking time. Coco/perlite or straight coco is a great mix for that system.

Another set up that's even easier and cheaper is doing hempy grows in summink like a 15 ltr pot, you should only need to feed every 3 to 4 days with a fully grown plant or plant in full veg, running a 50/50 coco/perlite mix. Grumpy Toad runs hempy grows but not with the magic medium called coco. Never done true hempy grows although some growers would call my set up hempy its not really.

[Hmr81]

im the same, im not going to lie here. Autopot with 50 Ltr res is a life saver for me. yes there was some trial and error with ph going haywire but adding a pump and air stone sorted that. with the pipes and valve etc just give a bloody good clean after the grow and you wont have an issue. P5 has taken over the tent for now so im not really growing but just helping her if she asks(which is wont because she knows much more than i). ive gone go the 60/40 clay balls and coco premixed(even to lazy to mix my own lol), im sure this grow will be the sweet spot! i can feel it in my bones lol.

[Herbalist]

Swaying towards the 2 pot autopot system with 47ltr res.

What do you guys use for measuring PH and EC?
Dont really fancy forking over 80 quid each for the blue lab pens.

[Hmr81]

yea ive got the 47lr res. honestly i dont measure EC but i use a fairly cheap PH pen ive had for about 3 years now, seems to calibrate ok.

[MommaB]

I’ve heard a lot of good things about the auto pot tbh! Keeno has a Wilma and loves it.

[Hmr81]

Swaying towards the 2 pot autopot system with 47ltr res.

What do you guys use for measuring PH and EC?
Dont really fancy forking over 80 quid each for the blue lab pens.

Essentials pH and ec I use they last years I haven't bought one lately so don't know how much they are but they are cheaper than most and as hmr said you could get away without the ec pen but you would need the ph definitely. A mate of mine used auto pots for years and loved them he was a lorry driver and was only home at weekends he didn't have any problems. I did a couple of grows in 30 ltr pots of potting compost I only watered /fed them every 3 or 4 days even when they were in full flower if your not sure about autopots that method works well too, good luck

[Hmr81]

Just to go against the grain... I also like wilma for coco like momma mentioned as well as sub irrigated "living" soil. Both I can leave for 10 days or longer depending how you manage plant/pot size

translated from the bongo of the canna jungle

[2-Scoops]

Swaying towards the 2 pot autopot system with 47ltr res.

What do you guys use for measuring PH and EC?
Dont really fancy forking over 80 quid each for the blue lab pens.

I use one these under £20 on Amazon and measures both ec, ph, temps, ppm, etc.


Only ever owned the cheaper scale with these typo tools and they all lasted years and years before they need replacing.

[Herbalist]

yea ive got the 47lr res. honestly i dont measure EC but i use a fairly cheap PH pen ive had for about 3 years now, seems to calibrate ok.

Could you possibly do me a solid?
Could you measure the width and depth of the res so i can see if it'll fit in the right side of the drobe?
Pretty please.
Cant seem to find the dimensions online.

I’ve heard a lot of good things about the auto pot tbh! Keeno has a Wilma and loves it.

I have looked at autopots a few times over the years but was always too nervous about fiddling with ph and ec. Need must though so may aswell jump in head first.

Essentials pH and ec I use they last years I haven't bought one lately so don't know how much they are but they are cheaper than most and as hmr said you could get away without the ec pen but you would need the ph definitely. A mate of mine used auto pots for years and loved them he was a lorry driver and was only home at weekends he didn't have any problems. I did a couple of grows in 30 ltr pots of potting compost I only watered /fed them every 3 or 4 days even when they were in full flower if your not sure about autopots that method works well too, good luck

I did think of a bigger pot, wich then made me think about a 60/70ltr bed of living soil.

Just to go against the grain... I also like wilma for coco like momma mentioned as well as sub irrigated "living" soil. Both I can leave for 10 days or longer depending how you manage plant/pot size

translated from the bongo of the canna jungle

This got my brian ticking. Never even heard of sub irrigated pots.

I use one these under £20 on Amazon and measures both ec, ph, temps, ppm, etc.


Only ever owned the cheaper scale with these typo tools and they all lasted years and years before they need replacing.

Wonderful. Will just grab a cheapo one.

Thanks for the input peeps. Much appreciated.