DIY: Carbon Dioxide

Three major factors for photosynthesis:

01. Carbon Dioxide
02. Water
03. Heat/Light

Here is how to create your own CO2 really easy and for about $12.00 usd.

What you will need:

01. A 2 Liter Bottle
02. A Balloon or Condom (non-lubricated)
03. A "Bendy" straw
04. Molasses
05. Sugar
06. Yeast
07. Water

* All can be purchased from a grocery store.

Assembly

01. Fill the jug approximately 75% of the way.
02. Add about a half cup of sugar.
03. Add about a one and a half to two tablespoons of Molasses.
04. Add about 2 table spoons of yeast.
05. Tighten the cap and shake well.
06. Poke a hole just big enough to fit your straw in the cap.
07. Poke your straw through the hole in the cap, just about an inch from the surface of the mixture.
08. Place balloon over the straw and around the neck of the jug.
09. Apply some tape around the neck to secure the balloon.
10. Store in a warm place.

Usage

In 24 - 48 hours your balloon should start to fill up and rise/expand. Once this happens you will be ready to liberate the CO2 and begin using it. Simply cut the top of the balloon with scissors to reveal the straw.

Some gas will come out. Taste it, it's OK because it is not toxic. It might smell like molasses but it will have a tingly taste like carbonated soda. Well, just point the straw in the direction of your plants and walk away.

You might try this in combination with heat at around 75 degrees Fahrenheit, 50% humidity, a good source of clean water w/nutes containing Nitrogen, Potash, Iron, and Phosphate.

Hope this helps.

Sounds easy nuff...thanks

how long do u use untill u have to refill

the beautiful thing about yeast is it living. it will re produce itself all it needs is fuel....ie: sugar, dextrose......

if you use this method you can easily keep the generator going by just adding a cup of sugar when you see the activity start to slow up will re-fuel the yeast.....

you may even want to consider getting into brewing beer/wine or hard cider you can brew and grow simultaniously using the by byproduct of your brewing to feed co2 to your plants....just a thought

Mine reacted in about an hour actually and lasted ~10 hours, so you may need to mix a new solution or add sugar once every ~10 hours.

Make sure to have a low speed fan blowing near your plants to prevent Carbon Dioxide build up under the leaves. Do not directly breath the air for long periods of time or you will get a headache, feel dizzy from lack of oxygen.

You should see significant growth in foliage as quick as the next day. Keep your lights low (assuming CFL usage) ~2 inches at this phase to prevent stretching. You want to force the plant to focus on foliage rather than stem at this early stage.

As far as the mixtures are concerned. You can not use too much of anything and not produce this affect; however, adding to less is our concern.

The Water mixes the chemicals, water is natures magic solvent. The Molasses just makes everything stick together. As the gas builds up and starts to rise upward the Molasses traps the gas until the gas pops through the Molasses and is then shot out the straw. The sugar is consumed by the Yeast. As this process is going on Carbon Dioxide is being created.

The bottle its self works due to air-pressure which builds up inside the bottle, due to its hemispherical shape the pressure is pressed up and out until it builds up enough pressure to expel the gas from the straw. The shape and design of the vessel, plus the build up of gas creates a self-powered pump. You can see this in action by allowing some of the mixture to enter the bottom of the straw. The liquid will rise up and back down (without exiting the straw in either direction) in about one second intervals. As you see the foam on top settle, you might give the vessel a quick shake to speed up the release of Carbon Dioxide, but it is not necessary.

they also sell machines generated by propane and dispense carbon dioxide evenly

i sometimes use a fire extinguisher pure co2, just a little boost in the room when the lights come on, they loves it. they say thank you and reward with much goodness to my pallet.