Mini 16 oz Aeroponic Setup

The Solo Cup Challenge inspired me to try something new, even though I should have started a month ago. First off, this is my first grow log. Secondly, I've never done hydro or aeroponic, so this will be interesting. The seeds are a special blend my cousin worked up to help his wife severe MS. Works great for her. I just wish mine were feminized, so my Solo Cup plant might end up a male. Anyhow, check out my mini aeroponic setup. Got the idea from my cloner. Anybody have any suggestions, let em' rip. One issue I'm not sure about is to how to start the seed with this setup. I soaked them til I saw a bit of tail, then wrapped it in wet cotton and placed it in the lid, tail down. Lets see what happens. Just for reference, I did 2 other Dans Autos in cups because I know what I should normally expect from them. In a normal grow they will get 28 to 34 inches tall and make 2 to 4 oz of bud, but they are very picky about their dirt. This grow used Fox Farms Ocean Forest, no amendments. Later on I may add something when they flower. I put a pic up of these autos outside with about 2 wks to harvest, no special care.

Off to a really rocky start. The seed in the lid didn't do anything so I sprouted a few extra and will transfer one to the lid of the mini- aeroponic cup when it gets a bit stronger. The two seeds in the solo cups for reference sprouted, one is lagging a bit behind. Since this is a big experiment, we shall carry on and learn something. 8-29-2020 Took one of my new sprouts and put it in my grow cup. If it don't survive I still have 2 more sprouts growing. I cleaned the bucket and put new water in. Was already a bit slimey. Is this normal? 8-30-20 Still Alive! Looking good. 9-1-20 Saw 82 degrees by sprout. I added reflective cover and a small aquarium bubbler to tank. Room could use better ventilation.

9-3-20 Beginning week 3 Growing faster than the reference plants that are in the cups and I think are 4 days older. Room was in the lower 80's, kept the door open and put a fan in it. Got the room down to mid - upper 70's. Been battling aphids for a year now, tried a couple sprays and applied Sevin once. Anyone know any tricks? 9-7-20 The pH was up to 7.1. Corrected to 6.5. A burned leaf tipped me off. Despite the pH being off so much it is growing much faster than the reference plants or it's siblings. The root growth has exploded. There were a few roots protruding thru the stainless screen in the bottom of the cup. Screen is 100 mesh or maybe finer. I'm going to have to find something to prevent that. 9-8-20 Another burnt leaf. Lowered pH to 6.1. TDS about 411. 9-9-20 More leaf burn. pH was 6.1. assume I have too much nutes. Recalibrated my TDS meter, added a gallon of distilled water to bring TDS down to 250. Adjusted pH to 5.6. Still growing like crazy.

Starting wk 4 Still recovering from my water getting out of whack. Ph and solids were out of control. I was only using 1 gallon in the reservoir, now there is 2. Easier to make adjustments. Still growing much faster than the control plants or it's siblings which were repotted last week. Have a problem containing the roots in the cup. Today I added a disc of some sort of synthetic fiber felt like material, we'll see how that works. Everybody in the room in soil got a healthy dose of liquid Sevin in the dirt and Neem Oil sprayed on the leaves. The plants are NOT happy. Kind of like my dog taking a bath, very sad. They'll get over it. I think it's time I look at a more complete nutrient plan.

Starting wk 5 Last couple weeks have been rough- been sick. Gotta remove entry form solo cup challenge, them roots are so fine they permiate the filter at the bottom of the cup. I changed my nutes, plant is coming back to life, but looks like I am still overfeeding it. 2 of my reference plants were doing very well but showed male parts so had to kill them. One of the 2 in the cups might also be male, find out in a day or two. This plant should show sex very soon.

Still growing like crazy now that the nutes are somewhat under control. Just began budding. Picked up a batch of aphids. Sprayed with neem oil. I think everyone in the room is gonna get another dose of sevin. Will change out water soon. Just noticed the amount of maxgrow is wrong. I am only using 1/8 tsp per gallon. Forgot to mention that I had to kill one of my 2 remaining reference plants. Went male.

Had the wife Change the water as I have been real busy. She did good, except again pH got way out of hand and the plant started burning bad again. Dang work and stupid corona virus! Other than that, in the room I have a bunch of clones going yellow on me, suspected pH was off but it wasn't, maybe mag or phosphorus deficiency. The soil has been recycled many times and amended, but I think it is cheapest and best to just get some new soil and re- pot. Still learning as I go. Added pic of the solo cup soil reference plant. 6 whole inches of Bud!