Would copper in the bubble-water do any damage to plants/cuttings?

GrassCity Sucks · Dec 30, 2011

I'm having issues with the airstones moving about, and, though I'll have a look at the hydro shop next time I'm there for sucker-plugs and/or different air-stones, for the short term, I figure on using some copper wire to keep them apart.. they're on the bottom just fine - they're heavy enough to stay down, but they tend to creep across the floor and bunch together.

So I figure, since Copper's the most natural wire I have, if I tie it round each end or the two air-stones, Makeing a kind of Square: with the two copper strands opposive/parallel and the two 12" airstones parallel one another making up the other side.. I'll try draw it with ascii:

H H
H-------H
H H
H H
H-------H
H H

H = airstone,
- = copper wire.

Question, anyway, is would the copper leech too much into the water? I know there's copper sulphate in nutrient solutions, so I figure it can't be TOO bad for em, but thought I'd check quickly, just in case anyone wanted to say, "NOOO! Never add COPPER to water!!! NEVER" or.. something like that

Cheers

okay the spaces didn't act as spacers.. Gimme a sec, I'll draw it.. why's photoshop take so long to load when you want it fast.. *sigh*

KushDog · Dec 30, 2011

should not cause a problem, as long as there isn't corroshin on it

GrassCity Sucks · Dec 30, 2011

Nup: Brand spankin shiny new Bonsai wire

Thankya

PetFlora · Dec 30, 2011

There's a soil tip somewhere on how to increase yield using copper wire across the bed. It might even be a constant source for small amount of Nitrogen

James87 · Dec 30, 2011

I read somewhere that some plants need a copper rod/tube stuck in the soil to help them flower. PetFlora may be on to something.

GrassCity Sucks · Dec 30, 2011

Yeah I figured it'd be safe, but since I'll probably just forget it's even in there, I figured I'd just check before using it

I'll post pics of the bubbler after I got a coffee etc, ..

Wetdog · Dec 30, 2011

Do as you like, but I used to use copper wire to kill 'volunteer' trees in landscaping I couldn't get to to cut or dig out. Bare copper wire, tightened enough to cut through the cambium layer would kill them every time.

You might want to find something else, like stainless to hold those stones down.

Wet

James87 · Dec 30, 2011

Wetdog said:
Do as you like, but I used to use copper wire to kill 'volunteer' trees in landscaping I couldn't get to to cut or dig out. Bare copper wire, tightened enough to cut through the cambium layer would kill them every time.

Thats calling "ringing" the tree. You can cut a ring around it with a knife, half inch apart, and tear that bark out.. And it'll kill the tree.

GrassCity Sucks · Dec 30, 2011

Well, I plan to grab some sucker-pads when I'm at the hydro shop next, but for now, they don't seem at all unhappy (https://www.rollitup.org/general-marijuana-growing/499265-some-pics-bubble-cloner.html#post6851357), and it's gunna take a while to leech anything into the water either way

Are you sure the copper itself was responsible for killing the trees? Or was it the tightness of the application of it?

James87 · Dec 30, 2011

GrassCity Sucks said:
Are you sure the copper itself was responsible for killing the trees? Or was it the tightness of the application of it?

Ever seen those wire-saws with a keychain ring on either end, usually found in survival kits? Basically this is what he's talking about, I think, except the wire-saw would cut that layer instead of squeezing it. His application is more of a tourniquet.

GrassCity Sucks · Dec 30, 2011

So he's dissin the Copper, for no good reason? Or based on mis-information?

While you're all here, anyone know how many Watts the Air-pumps use? Approx is fine

It's a Twin, and has NO specs anywhere on the model itself, OR the box/packaging it came in

The cranky woman wants to know. I am pretty sure it's only like 10-15W, since pet shops have entire WALLS of aquariums, each with air-pumps running round the clock. They wouldn't do that if the pumps were big consumers of electricity

potpimp · Dec 30, 2011

I have a shitload of pots with copper on the inside (painted) and they keep the plant from getting rootbound by sort of killing the end of the root so it can't circle. I'm thinking Wet might have a valid point; maybe copper is toxic to plants. Could be.

Rotweiller · Dec 30, 2011

How's it going GCS :cool:

I was about to ask the Very Same Question myself as i'm having the same problem lol...
And Thank you for the Very Quick Solution :clap:

I Love your Dog :hug:

It's nearly as Cute as mine lol... How old is he?

GrassCity Sucks · Dec 30, 2011

Rotweiller said:
How's it going GCS
I was about to ask the Very Same Question myself as i'm having the same problem lol...
And Thank you for the Very Quick Solution
I Love your Dog It's nearly as Cute as mine lol... How old is he?

He's not my dog, he's one of the dogs me and my dog (<--Freudian Slip: I mean Ex GF)

bought while we were living together, then she took him to the country with her when she left town.

His name's Yogibear, and he'd be arouuund.. maybe 2 years by now.. That pic was taken a good year ago, but I still love it

He'd be a bit different now, but he's a cross Rotty/King charses, so he has the Rotwieller colours and slick, slim cavalier figure

..

What problem you having? Deciding on WHETHER to add copper? Or a bubble-cloner issue?

Yeah he's a nice lookin dog - I'm a HUGE fan of dogs. Attractive ones, I mean

GrassCity Sucks · Dec 30, 2011

potpimp said:
I have a shitload of pots with copper on the inside (painted) and they keep the plant from getting rootbound by sort of killing the end of the root so it can't circle. I'm thinking Wet might have a valid point; maybe copper is toxic to plants. Could be.

Mm.. Well I'll make sure and grab a few suckers in the next few days, anyway, I'm pretty sure they'll be just fine till then

Rotweiller · Dec 30, 2011

I need a way to keep my 2 Air stones apart ? I thought the Copper idea was good till i also thought about Copper Corrosion after i hit the Reply button. Now i'm not too sure what to use ?
Yogibear is a Fine looking dog :wink:

and as for the Attractive Dogs... There the Only one's i go for :-P

I Never Bloody get em but i keep trying lol.... :wall:

James87 · Dec 30, 2011

Some plants need copper, and a copper deficiency can prevent proper flowering. I know some plants really need it, like chrysanthemums. Some plants find copper toxic. I just found an interesting pdf about what metals plants need and how to tell when, and mentions copper:

http://www.ars.usda.gov/sp2UserFiles/Place/36071000/Posters/Frantz180082_2006_HealthyPlant.pdf

Extract:
=========================================
Why do plants need copper?

Copper plays an important role in quenching the radicals produced during biochemical processes. It is also
a component of proteins and enzymes that are critical in producing ATP the Biological Currency. Copper
is required for lignification, especially xylem formation, and its mobility is moderate to immobile within the
plant.
=========================================

Wetdog · Dec 30, 2011

James87 said:
Ever seen those wire-saws with a keychain ring on either end, usually found in survival kits? Basically this is what he's talking about, I think, except the wire-saw would cut that layer instead of squeezing it. His application is more of a tourniquet.

A bit of both. Pure copper like that is toxic to plants. If I could have ringed them I would have. I was one of 3 landscape supervisors at Miami International Airport at the time.

Same deal with the copper paint that PotPimp uses.

If you feel like doing a little research, it will bear me out. It wasn't fast BTW, but it did work.

A few days shouldn't hurt anything, but if you forget and the nutes start reacting with it ...........

My air pump is well under 10w. If it cost less than $30 or so it's likely under 10w. The ones over 10w are usually $80 and up.

Wet

unorthodox · Dec 30, 2011

why not use a hot glue gun and stick em where you want?... its what i do, no issues yet... you dont even need the gun, get the sticks cheap at ANY store that sells craft things, burn with fire to melt and apply.

GrassCity Sucks · Dec 30, 2011

Rotweiller said:
I need a way to keep my 2 Air stones apart ? I thought the Copper idea was good till i also thought about Copper Corrosion after i hit the Reply button. Now i'm not too sure what to use ?
Yogibear is a Fine looking dog and as for the Attractive Dogs... There the Only one's i go for I Never Bloody get em but i keep trying lol....

rofl.. yeah he's genetic waste, that dog

pft.. I had a rotty, they're excellent

.. I like the laziness best

They're happy do do anything, but they're great at just slobbin round too: Lotta oter breeds are so energetic, they are flat-out annoying. Not rotty's though

Well, I just made a square-shape outta the copper and 12" stones, and the cuttings haven't shown ANY unhappiness whatsoever. Flick em lightly, and they 'vibrate' like little tuning forks

Would copper in the bubble-water do any damage to plants/cuttings?

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

Sector 5 Moderator

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Active Member

Similar threads