Ebb and Flow HydroPonic Grow Log

[SalviaPonics]

Day 5

Probably updating way too many times...but I might have an aerial root growing! Can anyone verify?


The white circle is the probable aerial root. The black is where I unknowingly pinched the plant but there are two new nubs growing in! 


New growth on top of plant 2 (I'll have to name them eventually). This new growth has definitely been since it was transferred into the hydro system.

[Paradoxic]

Yep, thats definitely an aerial root coming out there. Your plants are lookin great

So the way you got your EBB and Flow set up, is it pumps water into the top container and lets it drain down into the larger, lower container, right?

[SalviaPonics]

Yes sir, indeed. It is very easy to set-up and so far, well worth the cost.


Short is the flood and tall one is the drain (or ebb and flow).


The black tube (1/2") is the flood and the white tube (3/4") is the drain.

Why do aerial roots develop?

[Paradoxic]

I know that high humidity and a good growing conditions encourage them to grow. I think they serve to aid Salvia in its cloning process so that when a branch breaks off it already has roots ready to go.

[MstryShovel]

yeah I'd recon the arial roots let you know its super happy, plants look very good they are deffinatley loving it there

[SalviaPonics]

WEEK 2 UPDATE

So its true. Sally's love hydro systems. The plants are exploding with new leaves and there are aerial roots coming out of every node. The roots are now 3"-4" long and are sticking out of the net pots.

At the start of the 3rd week, I've changed the nutrient solution to 1 TSP (Flora Nova)/1 Gallon f H2O. We'll see what kind of explosive growth will happen in the next 2 weeks.


Foliage


Many many new leaves.


11.18.07 Plants

[Paradoxic]

Nice, I like how that first picture looks. Your plant seem to be growing really well for a low humidity environment. How low do you think it is? Below 40%? Also did you have to adapt your plants to this humidity?

[SalviaPonics]

How low do you think it is? Below 40%? Also did you have to adapt your plants to this humidity?

I don't have a hygrometer but I think you are right paradoxic. It is definitely 40% or lower humidity. I do keep a Jumbo 2.5 Gallon Zip-lock bag over each plant but there are about 12 holes punched into each bag (I left for a coupe days and couldn't remove the "tent" to refresh the air). For the past couple of weeks, I've been removing the bags off of the plants for a couple of hours. The older leaves (which I pruned off yesterday) never got used to the low humidity, but the new leaves are adapting beautifully. 

[SalviaPonics]

WEEK 5 UPDATE

It seems like only yesterday that these guys came to my doorstep a mere 8 inches tall. They are now 16 inches tall with the biggest leaves measuring 5" long X 2.75" wide. I changed out their water today and increased the nutrients to 2TSP/Gallon. I might need to start cutting the tops off as they are getting top heavy. By accident, I knocked off two 2" long branches. I'll try to root these. Pictures will come later. 

[Sea Mac]

I'll bet you the 2" long cuttings root in about a week (2 tops).

Schweet setup you've got there but you are going to need to add support stakes to tie them to.

When you cut off a branch end to make a cutting the node below the cut sprouts two branches automatically. Then in a month or two it's going to be twice as top heavy (and you're going to have twice as many plants) and you'll be forced to chop the two ends off of each plant (4 more cuttings) to remedy the top heavy condition.

It's like Hercules fighting the Hydra: for each head you lop off two more will grow from the stump.

There is a limit to this process: it ends up with the trunk snapping in half. You are going to Drown in Salvia Plants in a year or two if you root each cutting you take (Oh, wait: they already HAVE Roots ...  ) ...

"Mark my words with a red grease pencil":  Dude, you're doomed.

I recommend "Sturdy Stakes" brand poles as that's what my 10 foot Salvia trees are leaning on right now!

8' Sturdy Stake, 5/8" Diameter, Rustproof With Water Tight Closures On Both Ends, Will Not Rot Or Split, Weather & Chemical Proof, Spurs Prevent Vine Slip Down, Easy Tying, For Indoor & Outdoor Use.

These things come in various lengths and I buy the 96 inch ones for $5 at Wal-mart but you want the 36 inch $1.50 ones ...

http://www.bestnest.com/bestnest/RTProdbyMfg.asp?MANUFACTURER_ID=158  If you can't find these at Wal-Mart / Home Depot / Lowe's or other Garden shops around the nation buy them at the link above.

Or you COULD use those cheap bamboo poles for tomato plants to climb up: a bag of 25 green dyed 3 foot tall Bamboo poles cost me $3 three years ago ... I no longer buy bamboo poles less than 6 feet tall! (They are the 'baby sticks' for my garden 'cause the bamboo poles bend under the weight of fast growing Salvia plants.)

I recommend you get that plastic "Grafting Tape" (half inch X 300 Yards - stretchy Vinyl with no adhesive) for $2 elsewhere for use in tying up branches and trunks to supports. 

[SalviaPonics]

Thanks for the advice Sea Mac. I really appreciate your expertise on the Sally's. You've got quite the garden.

I'm definitely going to invest in some Sturdy Stakes and I can only hope that I will be drowning in plants. These cuttings haven't rooted yet but they are still green and very much alive. When they do root, I will probably give them away to some friends and share the wealth.