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kaaa_gw

Best Nutrient Strategy For Soilless Propagation?

5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago

Currently using misting to propagate cuttings in a very light soil mix with lots of perlite, but getting large loss from diseases.

Want to go completely soilless, so question about best way to supply nutrients?

An in-line filter that can hold granules or tabs, and thus supply nutrients in the mist?

Type of granules or tabs to use?

What has worked for you?

Thanks

Comments (8)

  • 5 years ago

    You wont need any nutrients to generate roots, plain water will be fine. If you plan to leave the cuttings in the prop for any length of time after they`ve rooted you can simply add (weak) nutrient to the water.

    kaaa thanked hex2006
  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Thanks, Yes, the idea is to grow them on to a well developed root structure. Any strategy to suggest for how to add nutrient to the misting water?

    If not workable through current misting system, I may switch over to bubblers.

  • 5 years ago

    Well water 45-65 PSI with a pH 6.0 to 6.5 (via paper test strips). The clay soil here tends to acidify the ground water. Fog / mist jets controlled via irrigation solenoid and moisture weighted mercury switch.

  • 5 years ago

    Converting standard overhead mist propagation to root misting would likely not be worthwhile. The electronic leaf /mercury switch is geared to the leaf moisture which wouldnt be the case with root misting. Getting nutrients into the supply line is possible but it wouldnt be as easy as adding them to a reservoir. A bubbler is an option as long as you can supply a good amount of airflow. Most folks run them more like a dwc with the airstone only aerating the water. A true bubbler is pseudo aeroponic where the combination of shallow water and bubbles bursting at the surface throw snmall droplets up at the stems/roots. A high pressure aero cloner is another option, basically a tote, 24v dc RO booster pump, dc cycle timer <$10 and a few nozzles.

    kaaa thanked hex2006
  • 5 years ago

    Thanks. I was thinking possible to add some kind of slow release tabs into the filter chamber. Have one inline filter by itself, and one that is a combo with the solenoid. Would be a matter of finding something that could be placed in the filter and slowly dissolve without clogging the filter. Or maybe a small filter chamber that could be closed up and placed inside the larger filter chamber?

  • 5 years ago

    If i was forced to go that route i would add an accumulator and use the filter bowl to add the nutrient. You`d need to test how much water the accumulator holds from empty to fully charged and then work out how much liquid nutrient is needed to provide the correct strength for that volume of water. A one part nutrient is the easiest option. if you use a 2 part nutrient you`ll need to add each part seperately as you cant mix a concentrated 2 part nutrient in the filter bowl. This would mean isolating the filter on both sides so you can add the 2nd part when the accumulator is half full. A RO booster pump will give you 120psi and a much easier life :)

    kaaa thanked hex2006
  • 5 years ago

    Thanks for the expert advise / insight.

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