scarfguy
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Post by scarfguy on Aug 27, 2023 16:30:05 GMT -5
Here's a little hack I came up with today to connect two AG light panels.
The pepper plant was growing out not up and I wanted to widen the area covered by the light. I thought I'd connect two panels together at an angle. That would double the light and widen the coverage area.
SO... I found these really cool woodworking clamps on Amazon: (browsing amazon is like wandering around Home Depot all day but your feet don't hurt when you're done)
These are for clamping picture frames etc for gluing. These were interesting in that they come with
a 120 degree angle which works better than 90 for my purpose. The springs aren't very strong but they hold well enough if you don't bump it once in place.
SO... I laid the two panels side-by-side lights up and put one strip of blue painter tape to hold them together. (you can see the orange angle clamp at the far end)
Then I turned them over and propped them up with a little box underneath so they approximated the angle of the clamps. (looking like an open paperback turned upside down on the table to hold your place)
I put a clamp on each side.
When I was happy with the angle, I carefully put a strip of painters tape across the top (black side). I secured it with two more strips of tape.
The weight (and the angle) is really born by the tape on the top as they tend to collapse into each other.
This is my first approach at the problem. The growing frame just has a single pole running across the top. It's great for mounting a single AG light panel underneath the pole. I would really like to figure out a way to hang two AG panels side-by-side rather than at an angle. Some kind of simple frame or wooden rails to hold the panels, perhaps. Also something that would allow the light panel to be moved higher than the pole (no, I don't want to put hangers in my plaster ceiling)
Any ideas from all you creative folks would be appreciated.  |
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Post by agnoob on Aug 27, 2023 17:52:03 GMT -5
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scarfguy
AGA Farmer
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Post by scarfguy on Aug 27, 2023 19:29:24 GMT -5
Nice amazon "finds", agnoob. Thanks! |
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slw
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Post by slw on Aug 28, 2023 12:38:02 GMT -5
I was trying to figure out how to use both my AG 45w panels, but then I decided to use a floor lamp that used to live in the den.  I bought one of these 30w grow light bulbs with a standard base and put it in the lamp. The lamp has a certain amount of adjustability so I can get the light moved to different angles/heights. I'm thinking about a goose-neck floor lamp but some people say the grow bulbs are too heavy and make it difficult to adjust that type of lamp.
I also have one of those cheapie "clamp on" lights that I don't recommend.
Oh, and AG sells a couple of similar grow bulbs but they are lower wattage.
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Post by lynnee on Aug 28, 2023 14:14:18 GMT -5
Your grow room is filling up nicely, slw! Attractive setup, and good reuse of the lamp.  |
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slw
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Post by slw on Aug 28, 2023 16:13:47 GMT -5
Well, I'm bummed. I decided to try the 0-10-10 bloom nutes on my Iznik so I gave it about a teaspoon yesterday. This morning ALL the leaves are totally wilted.  I dumped the tank and did a rinse and refresh, then I washed the roots as well as I could, but I think it's a goner. I only got 4 cukes off the vine but it had a lot more babies. If it's not perked up by tomorrow I'll just end it and start something else. I did a pretty severe pruning of the worst looking leaves, too.
I should have known better than to start experimenting with nutes; I don't know enough about it so I need to stick with the AG recommendations.
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Post by swimmom500 on Aug 28, 2023 16:35:49 GMT -5
Well, I'm bummed. I decided to try the 0-10-10 bloom nutes on my Iznik so I gave it about a teaspoon yesterday. This morning ALL the leaves are totally wilted. I dumped the tank and did a rinse and refresh, then I washed the roots as well as I could, but I think it's a goner. I only got 4 cukes off the vine but it had a lot more babies. If it's not perked up by tomorrow I'll just end it and start something else. I did a pretty severe pruning of the worst looking leaves, too.
I should have known better than to start experimenting with nutes; I don't know enough about it so I need to stick with the AG recommendations.
Well that’s a bummer. I was going to get the Aerogarden cukes from the new sale that started today but of course they are out of stock. The green papers are still out of stock too! |
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scarfguy
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Post by scarfguy on Aug 28, 2023 16:47:38 GMT -5
Well, I'm bummed. I decided to try the 0-10-10 bloom nutes on my Iznik so I gave it about a teaspoon yesterday. This morning ALL the leaves are totally wilted. I dumped the tank and did a rinse and refresh, then I washed the roots as well as I could, but I think it's a goner. I only got 4 cukes off the vine but it had a lot more babies. If it's not perked up by tomorrow I'll just end it and start something else. I did a pretty severe pruning of the worst looking leaves, too.
I should have known better than to start experimenting with nutes; I don't know enough about it so I need to stick with the AG recommendations.
Wow, so sorry to hear that. I've never had a problem with kool-bloom. Others swear by it.
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Post by agnoob on Aug 28, 2023 17:46:44 GMT -5
slw Oh noooo that's really sad!! I ordered Kool Bloom to use for my AG cukes which I already feed AG nutes and Cal-Mag to (while monitoring the ppm). Maybe I shouldn't feed Kool Bloom to mine? Is your 0-10-0 very similar to Kool Bloom?
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slw
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Post by slw on Aug 28, 2023 17:47:39 GMT -5
Well that’s a bummer. I was going to get the Aerogarden cukes from the new sale that started today but of course they are out of stock. The green papers are still out of stock too! Keep an eye on the website; lots of times they restock during a sale so hopefully you can get the seed pods you want. |
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scarfguy
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Post by scarfguy on Aug 28, 2023 17:56:32 GMT -5
slw Oh noooo that's really sad!! I ordered Kool Bloom to use for my AG cukes which I already feed AG nutes and Cal-Mag to (while monitoring the ppm). Maybe I shouldn't feed Kool Bloom to mine? Is your 0-10-0 very similar to Kool Bloom?
I use all that stuff. I keep trying a variety of different NPK fertilizers (foxfarm products, Ionic grow, etc). I augment with Kool Bloom. I use cal-mag and hydrogen peroxide (to add oxygen) twice a week.
I monitor my EC (ppm) trying to keep it at about 1.8. I also monitor pH. trying to keep it about 6.0-6.5.
I purify my water with a reverse osmosis filter. My tap water runs about a pH of 9.5 so, after filtering, I adjust the water to 6.0-6.5 before adding it to the AG.
The only time I have experienced a plant wilt like she described above is when I did an R&R on a tomato plant and used very cold water. It came back in a few hours though.
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slw
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Post by slw on Aug 28, 2023 18:08:47 GMT -5
slw Oh noooo that's really sad!! I ordered Kool Bloom to use for my AG cukes which I already feed AG nutes and Cal-Mag to (while monitoring the ppm). Maybe I shouldn't feed Kool Bloom to mine? Is your 0-10-0 very similar to Kool Bloom? I used Kool Bloom, agnoob. I have never known anything about fertilizers beyond what the labels say. I don't check pH or any of that stuff so I need to just stick to what I know...basically adding water and AG nutes!!
You will probably have good results from the Kool Bloom; I know many people here use it successfully. For all I know, it could have been anything causing the wilt. The beauty of AGs is that I can have a brand new seedling in a matter of days!
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Post by agnoob on Aug 28, 2023 18:42:19 GMT -5
Good to know slw scarfguy! I'll try adding half the suggested amount of Kool bloom to start out with before gradually ramping it up to the suggested amount. |
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Post by agnoob on Aug 28, 2023 18:44:59 GMT -5
Today I released my Chinese cabbages (Baker Creek Gold Beauty variety) from the yarns I tied around them. I thought I might need to tie the leaves together to get the cabbages to grow the heads but I saw water droplets on the leaves so I got rid of the yarn for better circulation. Anyone here tried growing cabbages in their AG gardens?   |
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Post by lynnee on Aug 28, 2023 18:45:15 GMT -5
slw, how much Koolbloom did you use? I use it all the time, but a bit sparingly, as it can shock a plant. With everything but lettuce or herbs, I use the labeled amount of AG nutes for 6 weeks. In a Bounty at the third feeding (6 weeks), I use 12mg AG nutes, 5mg CalMag, and 3-5mg Koolbloom, all measured with separate medicine dispensers. I do the first R&R at 6 weeks, and repeat the R&R at every feeding (2 weeks) thereafter. With lettuce and herbs, I use AG nutes only. Same R&R schedule. That said, what do the Iznik roots look like? One time I lost a producing green pepper plant almost overnight to some kind of root rot. The roots were all dark brown and mushy. I think that ants brought a virus in from outdoors. The plant's leaves all wilted overnight, and the plant was beyond saving. At that time I was using only AG nutes, as I hadn't heard of the supplements. 
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Post by lynnee on Aug 28, 2023 18:49:52 GMT -5
swimmom500, you might try the "Mini Munch" cuke from Territorial Seeds (or Google for other sources). It produces a cuke that is very similar to the AG cukes that I'm currently growing, and maybe grows a bit better in an AG than the AG pod cukes.
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Post by lynnee on Aug 28, 2023 18:54:06 GMT -5
agnoob, your cabbages look wonderful! 
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slw
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Post by slw on Aug 28, 2023 19:08:22 GMT -5
lynnee -- I used about a teaspoon of the Kool Bloom. As for other nutes, I just go by the AG label, though I had been adding a couple of extra ml to the Iznik when I added water. Yesterday was "nutes day" for the garden. I also use food grade peroxide once a week.
The Iznik roots look great... very clean and white. I have to say that they didn't have that nice "cucumber" smell when I pulled them out of the Bounty, though. I didn't notice any particular smell to the Kool Bloom, but the cuke roots definitely smelled "different."
I think I'll start an AG cucumber pod in my Farm tomorrow.
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Post by lynnee on Aug 28, 2023 22:15:52 GMT -5
slw, a teaspoon of Koolbloom certainly doesn't seem like enough to totally zap your Iznik! Fingers crossed that it will recover. If the roots looked okay, the odds are good. 
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slw
AGA Bounty
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Post by slw on Aug 29, 2023 11:57:29 GMT -5
RIP, Iznik. Today it's obvious that the plant is not going to survive, so I'm about to pull it out and clean the Bounty. I was wanting to swap things around so I'll move tomatoes out of the Farm and start my new cucumber variety in there.
I was eyeing the AG sale (of course I was) and though I'm tempted I really have to consider the electrical constraints of my "grow room." There are only four outlets in that room and I have no idea whether they are all on the same circuit, but I have the feeling that I'm probably maxed out with the number of AGs I can safely operate in there. I have one Harvest Elite in the kitchen and I suppose I could add one more in there at some point. |
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I bought one of 
