Grow hacks ... Post em if you got em

Psychobilly

🧀Muenster
I'm not "all for" harming any wild life, but there is one time where I was TOTALLY thinking about it.... That wooden structure I use in the garden, is also used by birds in the area to land on.... I saw bird turd on a Blue Cheese top....While cutting that off I was reminded of how much Musky love birds.... I didn't kill it, but I'm pretty sure I was wildly entertaining swearing at birds. Neighbor people probably aren't shocked at this point though. Whole area smells like a mix of Cheese, Skunks, Cat Piss, and spicy gas like aromas and they don't ever bitch so doubt me talking shit to a bird was even on the radar.
 

pwnytailjoe

Come As You Are
How I've kept my bud 99.999% gnat-free this run. Put them on at the first sign of gnat. Dealing with runoff has been an issue I haven't worked past yet so the mosquito bits haven't worked as well as they should as I haven't been able to give the pots a good drenching.

Obviously doesn't work for large grows but I found some mesh at the fabric store that I might use for larger pots.
So far it's kept all gnats 100% contained.
5-gallon paint strainers from home depot.
PXL_20230208_062815412.jpg
 

Trichitect

Canna-bacchus incarnate
How I've kept my bud 99.999% gnat-free this run. Put them on at the first sign of gnat. Dealing with runoff has been an issue I haven't worked past yet so the mosquito bits haven't worked as well as they should as I haven't been able to give the pots a good drenching.

Obviously doesn't work for large grows but I found some mesh at the fabric store that I might use for larger pots.
So far it's kept all gnats 100% contained.
5-gallon paint strainers from home depot.
View attachment 155098

I've done the same thing with garbage bags, contractor bags work great for the larger pots. They also catch the run-off.
Lately I've just let the gnats go wild. With the cold temps I think they're providing some of the only biological activity in my soil. They don't seem to damage my plants at all, but it's probably because I'm always feeding them. I frequently top dress with homemade seeds meals using malted barley, wild bird seed, and lentils. After adding a couple spoonfuls I get a huge bloom of mold at the surface, the gnats will appear shortly after that. I've become lord of the gnats ?.
 

pwnytailjoe

Come As You Are
I've done the same thing with garbage bags, contractor bags work great for the larger pots. They also catch the run-off.
Lately I've just let the gnats go wild. With the cold temps I think they're providing some of the only biological activity in my soil. They don't seem to damage my plants at all, but it's probably because I'm always feeding them. I frequently top dress with homemade seeds meals using malted barley, wild bird seed, and lentils. After adding a couple spoonfuls I get a huge bloom of mold at the surface, the gnats will appear shortly after that. I've become lord of the gnats ?.
I've done bags in the past. With fabric pots it's relatively easy. I think the drain holes in plastic pots is what nips people in the ass.

As for runoff, I guess in a pinch it's an option but it's difficult dealing with 10 plants in limited space. I usually drain into a plastic bin but I would need three and my real issue is how long I can keep the plants out of the tent. Early wasn't a big deal but once the stank started building up it became less of an option, leaving the plants out for extended drain time.
 

Chunky Stool

Plant Destroyer
I've done bags in the past. With fabric pots it's relatively easy. I think the drain holes in plastic pots is what nips people in the ass.

As for runoff, I guess in a pinch it's an option but it's difficult dealing with 10 plants in limited space. I usually drain into a plastic bin but I would need three and my real issue is how long I can keep the plants out of the tent. Early wasn't a big deal but once the stank started building up it became less of an option, leaving the plants out for extended drain time.
If you use mulch with cloth pots, gnats struggle to survive because they don’t have direct access to the soil for breeding.

No doubt someone has already mentioned that wrapping cloth pots with shrink wrap keeps water from leaking out from the sides.
Just leave a 2” gap at the bottom for air pruning.
 

Jewels

Tilts at Tables
This disappeared from market, now it is back !!
20230324_001628.jpg

Available scenty-free, for you scensitive types
Capture+_2023-03-24-00-20-39_(1).png

For my stanky frens , (polyester fans included) I recommend going whole hog.

Capture+_2023-03-24-00-20-51_(1).png

She lingers !

Dishrags, turbans, stinky shoes,,,
Every one is fresh AF, coming out of that pail.
 

OldG

Elite Hobbyist
Oh....stanky musty rags..... the solution is easy.

1 cup of plain white vinegar in 2 to 3 gallons of water....soak em all.....ring them out and wash

vinegar slays mold.

SLAYS IT

It works so good sometimes i just throw a cup in the laundry cycle. I think it works that is as much as i do...i fill it up and push the button...then it magically appears in my dresser folded.
 

Bodean

Fubared
Staff member
Moderator

OldG

Elite Hobbyist
We've been using this at the household as well. Wife loves it.
Im getting some....i figured it was for those fancy washing machines. I had one....it lasted 2 years and would cost 1k to repair.

Got the best old fashioned agitator washer i could at the time.... so much better

And vinigar works in that...

the fancy new washers take a bit less water.....and maybe your clothes end up with less in the dryer lint catcher...but they sTINK
 

RookieBuds

In Bloom
I've been soaking my used fabric pots in a bucket of bleach water, and it gets the pots cleaner than using a pressure washer!! All the coco and root-bits break free, it sanitizes the cloth as well.

I let em sit for 1-2 days then rinse out & wring out as best as I can. Squeaky clean for the next grow ?? and WAY less effort than pressure washing and/or scrubbing them.
 

Frimpong

🔥Freak Genetics🔥
Probably already said this hack but I keep a. I think it's a 30 gallon tote in between my two flower tents on a piece of insulation board underneath. And then I got a smaller round brute, the grey heavy duty trash cans . I think that's a 30 or 40 as well but I fill those up once a week, get em to 6.0 to 6.2 and I'm good for the week. Definitely makes life a little easier for me. Amending anyways. ?
 

Jewels

Tilts at Tables
All the coco and root-bits break free
Bleach attacks organics, although it can brittle fabrics, over time.


the fancy new washers take a bit less water....

And a bit less laundry. It is the increased capacity that is the big seller for me.

I dig an HE, agitatorless , top loader machine. It is an open air unit, so you avoid the funk that can come with a sealed front loading machine.


allens-cleaning-vinegar.jpg
 

Rozgreenburn

"The Philosopher, is Stoned"
If you think that FG's are entering your nursery pots, I put a quart or medium in the bottom and then cover that with a pint of EWC. I build my pot as normal and add another pint of EWC under my mulch on the top of the pot. I have tons of fresh EWC and so I use it liberally.
 
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