Hempy buckets size

Guerilla Kush

Active Member
The single most largest impact on my hempy bucket experience (which has been amazing) was the container size. I started with 3.5gal black buckets with the hole 2" from the bottom and my first plants grew too large for my tent. So I cloned them and started over in 2gal buckets with the same hole spacing from the bottom thinking the smaller bucket would limit the root system....man was I wrong...the plants still exploded compared to my previous soil grows… so I got different lights and managed things differently to cope with the larger plants. So, what was that impact??....the watering amount....with the 3.5gal bucket I had to mix a ~1.5gals of water/nutes per feeding. Now with 2 gal bucket it only takes me 1gal per feeding with just enough overflow of the hole to say I got some flush. The higher frequency of watering during heavy flower is the same too despite the smaller res in the bottom (every other day). Mixing nutes is a no-brainer now and water container size for trips to the water store are easier too. I need to tell you this is with a coco hempy setup (perlite bottom 2", coco rest of the way to top). Nevertheless, I have done 2 autos, and 2 photo-period plants in shrimpy little 2 gallon buckets that simply kicked ass....both the auto’s were massive bushes @37-38" tall vs. the little 2 footers you see around here. Every plant has been an awesome yielder with hardly any maintenance. I don’t flush or do anything but feed nutes every feeding…
Yeah, I guess size always does matter.
The 2 and 3 gallon containers that you have used would be way too big for my grow box. I will be using 1/2 gallon containers.

By the way: can I use soil for starting my seeds until they become healthy seedlings, and then place the seedlings under the tap to wash the dirt off of the roots before transplanting them into hempy buckets?
 

jela10

Well-Known Member
You can start with seedlings in soil with some degree of risk during the rinse...remeber the chlorine in tap water....the temperature ect. Shock is the culprit. I personally started seeds once in a paper towel and once roots showed I placed in a pie plate over 1/2" moistened perlite...I spread another 1/4" of moistened perlite on top the the seedlings....in 2 days they were sprouts that were easily removed by sticking a toothpick down in the perlite and moving it around to loosen the roots a little and then they lift right out. I was playing with hydro back then and didn't want dirt getting into my res pump. Now I use coco hempy so starting seeds is as easy as making a solo cup hempy and putting seedling into the coco to sprout....maybe you could do the same with perlite?
 

Gyroscope

Well-Known Member
I germ mine ON a paper towel and after it sprouts I move it right to perlite in solo cups. You have to be careful when you water at first so you don't disturb it much. I use a trigger type mister set on fine spray.
 

Guerilla Kush

Active Member
I germ mine ON a paper towel and after it sprouts I move it right to perlite in solo cups. You have to be careful when you water at first so you don't disturb it much. I use a trigger type mister set on fine spray.
So basically you put the germed seed in a small perlite hempy made out of a solo cup?
What about nutrients during that initial and delicate stage? Do you use water only so not to overnute and kill the seedling?
 

jela10

Well-Known Member
The seedling will feed from the cotyledons for a while (1 to 2 weeks) but on the third set of real leaves I start with 1/8 strength for one feeding then 1/4 strength the next time (this is in solo cup hempy's which take 3-5 days to dry up)....I watch the response from there before moving to half and eventually full strength. No need to up the nutes if it's exploding with growth.
 

Guerilla Kush

Active Member
Thanks people, I will do as you advised me.
I will start my seedling in a small perlite hempy, made out of a solo cup. I will use only water for the first three sets of leaves, then gradually start using a 1/8 nute solution.
When the seedling becomes big enough, I will cut the solo cup open and then will take out the seedling and move it to the final, larger container.
 

PJ Diaz

Well-Known Member
I'm new at this hempy style, but I felt like size must matter to some extent. I thought about the 2 liter bottle style, but found these 1 gallon water bottles that work real well. Since their square I can fit more medium per square foot too. I spray paint then black, and also putting a few extra smaller holes on all sized at 2" and 5" from the bottom. I'm doing it with perlite in the res and straight coco above the res. Plants seem to be loving it.



 

Attachments

jela10

Well-Known Member
Here's the base of an auto I grew in a 2gal....chunky ehh? It was 1" across at the base...notice the tight internodal spacing too.
DSC02201.jpg
 

Gyroscope

Well-Known Member
So basically you put the germed seed in a small perlite hempy made out of a solo cup?
What about nutrients during that initial and delicate stage? Do you use water only so not to overnute and kill the seedling?
Yes. I make the hole about 3/4" from the bottom.

When I mist them at first I use just water. When the second set of leaves are out, I use 1/8 strength for a few waterings. Then I gradually increase as Jela said.
 

jela10

Well-Known Member
PJ, I really like the idea of a 1gal square container like you have there for a project I have in mind. Is that Tupperware or some disposable microwave food containers you use to catch your overflow? ....With my 2gal round buckets I've been using cheap plastic oil drain pans from the auto store ($2.99 ea.) I set the bucket on a an upside down soil pot tray to keep the bucket bottom dry,,,just so I can switch out pans with lots of overflow for dry ones to keep humidity down (bud rot paranoia during last weeks of flower). Also...any problem keeping the container upright when plants are sprawling out during heavy flower?
 

Tejashidrow

Well-Known Member
Ok I know this is an old thread, but im new to hempy style and I was just curious on yield experiences along with setups.
The yields of course depend on the environment elements,
But your first grow will be good
Your second will be phenomenal.
When you factor in the ease and timed saved, Hempy easly rivals Dwc without all the hassle.
Pax
 
Top