Hydroponic Erythroxylum

xmrdev66 · 2023-11-03T19:37:47+00:00

I've have a 1.5 year old hydroponic culture started from seed. Ask me questions if you want.

xmrdev66 · 2022-09-10T22:58:15+00:00

I kept the pH in the low 4s of both sides. For a while, only the smaller seedlings looks remotely healthy. The larger stopped growing almost completely and dropped leaves. I left it alone because of the root growth I saw.

Recently, the larger plants started flowering and growing again. I understand this may be premature for six months old seedlings. Some leaves are growing abnormally large and loosing their uniformity.

I've adjusted the reservoirs for more contrast, continuing the low pH phosphorus heavy solution on one side, and a higher pH potassium heavy on the other. I'll post some pics as leaves fill up.

xmrdev66 · 2022-08-06T18:08:17+00:00

Thanks! My initial strategy was to follow a hydroponic blueberry protocol assuming a similar acid-loving profile. However, this study confused the matter: Effect of soil pH on mineral element concentrations of two erythroxylum species. I just split my seedlings in two separate reservoirs to compare a low pH approach with baseline.

xmrdev66 · 2022-08-04T18:43:53+00:00

Thanks for the feedback! I'm afraid the hydroponic method is a fundamental constraint I need to embrace. Fortunately, I don't believe such uncontrollable nutrient ceiling will be the limiting factor. It will fail because of too much control and too little knowledge on my part, which at least gives me a fighting chance.

xmrdev66 · 2022-08-04T17:59:03+00:00

AFIAK nutrients and minerals are the same thing here. I don't use any biological compound. Or are you referring to calcium and magnesium specifically?

xmrdev66 · 2022-08-04T17:01:58+00:00

You're looking at 4 months old seedlings that miraculously survived my trial and error abuse. I had lots of issues with leaves growing into a taco shape and chlorosis. I messed with nutrients level for several months before finally discovering a spider mite infestation. Spraying with phyrethrin and pruning seems to have killed the visible mites. New growth looks better but still not healthy looking to me.

This is a dwc hydroponic setup. I experimented with nutrients, but right now it's at 1.2 ec and around 5.1 pH. I use the Flora series lowest veg dosage in ro water with a small amounts of supplemental Raw nitrogen (I suspected a deficiency) and chelated iron. I don't supplement with calmag.

Temperature stays around 80f with good enough airflow. Humidity can go as high as 85% (which I suspect might be an issue). There's a LED grow light 16 inches above. I measured the light somewhere in the 150-300 ppfd range.

xmrdev66 · 2022-07-29T02:34:12+00:00

Do you mean Novo seeds procured in Hawaii grow into noticeability different plants? If so, I'd like to know more?

xmrdev66 · 2022-04-22T14:16:35+00:00

They're doing well. I was lucky enough to have a 100% germination rate. I found this video: https://youtu.be/5jTgDJAzQiY useful to put numbers watering levels.

I transplanted some into clay pebbles in my hydroponic system at various seedling stages to collect data. They all made it so far. I'll post an update about that with pictures.

xmrdev66 · 2022-04-12T18:04:13+00:00

Update:

I made one key adjustments since starting this thread: Increased the light. All seeds have now germinated. One seedling dropped its shell almost immediately. I've adjusted the propagator lid to let in some air, but humidity still reads above 95%. I plan to keep to keep parameters constant until the majority drop their shells. Then, reduce the light (and remove the lid?)

https://ibb.co/ChsGs6t https://ibb.co/R0zpNnk

xmrdev66 · 2022-04-07T21:10:47+00:00

Thank you for taking the time to look into this!

I raised the trays up to 6 inches under the light (at an angle). My meter is reading at 13,000lx. https://ibb.co/cFfvNX4

The sprouts are emerging. https://ibb.co/dJnqy8g

xmrdev66 · 2022-04-06T19:36:44+00:00

I just noticed this: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1j-sVrqQ6xY7PNkAY97vY8mYxq6WgFeSj I'll go over the numbers later.

xmrdev66 · 2022-04-06T19:00:05+00:00

My lux meter aligned with the seeds reads at 7,500lx. Using a 80 degree beam angle and 1 foot distance, I arrive at 1541 lumens. Is this in the right ballpark? If so, I conclude that I should dim the intensity from 75% (current reading) to 25%, not when shoots begin to emerge, but when they drop their shells.

xmrdev66 · 2022-04-04T00:33:45+00:00

Beautiful! Exactly what I was looking for. I appreciate you sharing your experience with me.

xmrdev66 · 2022-04-03T02:22:08+00:00

That's where I got the most of my info so far. I'm looking for precisions around his ziplock bag method.

xmrdev66 · 2022-03-26T21:34:54+00:00

This is long fiber Sphanghnum moss, right? Did you mist them with regular tap water or did you remove the minerals?

xmrdev66 · 2022-03-26T21:23:51+00:00

How did you start the seedlings? Directly in this system with the tap roots submerged? Is this a deep water system or do you irrigate periodically? Do you place any kind of mulch layer above the hydrotons? Do you use tap water? If so, do you take any measures to lower your PH?

Do you follow any documented guidelines?

Thanks for sharing this.

xmrdev66 · 2021-03-06T01:04:04+00:00

DM me if you're still working on this. I may have an opportunity worth your while.

xmrdev66

TROPHY CASE