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OfflineCakes
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My *Hydroponic* Cactus Experiment *Update 9/6/07*
    #7357971 - 09/01/07 04:16 AM (16 years, 6 months ago)

I just started taking a plant growth and development class at my local community college, and found out we will be growing a variety of vegetables hydroponically in a greenhouse. This really sparked my interest in the possibility of growing cacti hydroponically.

Here is the setup I am planning to build over the next few weeks:


It's called an ebb/flow system. Water/nutes are kept in the bottom container at all times. A couple times a day, the pump is run, which fills the upper container to the level of the overflow tube. After several minutes of watering, the pump is shut off, and the water in the upper container drains to the lower container. I will be experimenting with different numbers of fills per day, as well as length of fill, to see what works best.

I chose this system for a couple reasons:
-Very good oxygen replenishment
-Roots are not always soaking, so root rot may be avoided
-It's fucking cool!

I have some Pedros, Torches, and Periskiopsis that I will be experimenting with in this setup. As far as I have learned, hydro roots are different than soil roots, so I will be experimenting with using fresh cuttings as well as pre-rooted soil grown cacti.

Why am I doing this? To see if I can! Don't give me crap about how my alkaloid level may be low, or that it won't look good, or it is more trouble than it is worth, etc etc. I'm doing it for fun, mang!

I will be posting pictures and updates when significant progress is made.

The only thing I am not sure of is what exactly my cacti will be requiring in terms of nutrients. I have been searching Google for a while and can't seem to find much info on the subject. Found this, but that page does not give me nearly enough info.

So...does anyone know what sort of nutes I will be needing?



~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~**UPDATE 9/5/07**~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~

Today I went out and bought two plastic storage tubs, a small aquarium pump, some gorilla glue, some polytube, , some fittings, and some pots.

I also picked up some Schultz Cactus Plus Liquid Plant Food. I am not sure how well this will work in the hydro system, but it sounds good.

Step 1: Prepare holes and glue fittings to plastic containers.


I used gorilla glue to glue four 1/2 inch polytube couplings. Two went on the lid of the lower chamber, and two went on the bottom of the upper chamber.


This looks just like the couplings I bought.





Step 2: Cut root holes in pots.


The round holes around the rim of the pot were already there, and I used an exacto knife to cut the slits on the side, and the center holes. I would have gotten specially made hydro containers, but I don't know where to get them in my area, and I don't want to wait for shipping from an Internet site.




Step 3: Cut holes in upper chamber for pots.



I used a large kitchen knife to do this. The holes are cut to where the rim of the pots will rest on the top of the container.




Step 4: Connect tubes and pump

The Pump

I am using a Beckett 250gph fountain pump. It draws water through a plastic screen, and outputs it through a 5/8' ID outlet. The 1/2" polytube fits perfectly around this outlet.


This is polytube, in case anyone didn't know. It is used commonly in drip irrigation systems and can be bought at most hardware stores.

Okay, so I just went to connect the tubes and the gorilla glue was not sealing at all. Looks like the rest of the writeup will have to be done tomorrow when I get something better. Any ideas? Liquid Nails? Caulk?




~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~**UPDATE 9/6/07**~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~
Ok, I hate to say this, but I am going to have to sort of redo this project. The two tubs and the connectors just weren't working. The polytube wasn't flexible enough and leaks kept showing up at the connector sites. I'll be shopping around for some better containers and methods of connection over the next few days, and will update when I can find the time between college and work and bullshit apartment management.

Peace

Edited by Cakes (09/06/07 04:27 PM)

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OfflineDr. uarewotueat
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Re: My Soon-to-Be *Hydroponic* Cactus Experiment [Re: Cakes]
    #7358598 - 09/01/07 11:15 AM (16 years, 6 months ago)

i guess it could work, although u probably wouldnt want it to be wetting the roots as much as twice a day,
and i bet the lower chamber would hold too much humidity, leading to root rot...
its worth a shot though...

i thought about setting up a flood and drain system for my cacti (for when im out of town) totally soaking the medium approx once a week, then allowing the medium to dry completely...


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OfflineTeotzlcoatl
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Re: My Soon-to-Be *Hydroponic* Cactus Experiment [Re: Dr. uarewotueat]
    #7358649 - 09/01/07 11:33 AM (16 years, 6 months ago)

I really don't think it will work with fresh cuttings...


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OfflineCptnGarden
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Re: My Soon-to-Be *Hydroponic* Cactus Experiment [Re: Teotzlcoatl]
    #7358669 - 09/01/07 11:40 AM (16 years, 6 months ago)

Quote:

Teotzlcoatl said:
I really don't think it will work with fresh cuttings...




yeah, no kidding...



and from what ive read, hydroponic cacti dont really grow that much faster than soiled cacti. your better off grafting it to peresk and burrying the peresk in the soil :smile:

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Offlinesublimistri
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Re: My Soon-to-Be *Hydroponic* Cactus Experiment [Re: CptnGarden]
    #7358804 - 09/01/07 12:33 PM (16 years, 6 months ago)

Quote:

CptnGarden said:
and from what ive read, hydroponic cacti dont really grow that much faster than soiled cacti. your better off grafting it to peresk and burrying the peresk in the soil :smile:




Doesnt grafting make cacti's lose potency vs normal rooting systems?


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Cup Greenhouse Tek. Make small sturdy pots (With detachable grenhouse tops) with cups.


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OfflineTeotzlcoatl
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Re: My Soon-to-Be *Hydroponic* Cactus Experiment [Re: sublimistri]
    #7358810 - 09/01/07 12:38 PM (16 years, 6 months ago)

With peyote it does...


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OfflineCptnGarden
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Re: My Soon-to-Be *Hydroponic* Cactus Experiment [Re: Teotzlcoatl]
    #7359023 - 09/01/07 02:23 PM (16 years, 6 months ago)



both of those were grafted november 2nd of 2006 to peresk. left one is a bridgesii and the right is a pachanoi.

pic taken recently, and the left one is still grafted, i just buried the peresk :smile:

its as big around as a sharpy so im not worried about the cactus breaking it yet.

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OfflineCakes
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Re: My Soon-to-Be *Hydroponic* Cactus Experiment [Re: Teotzlcoatl]
    #7359091 - 09/01/07 03:17 PM (16 years, 6 months ago)

Quote:

Teotzlcoatl said:
I really don't think it will work with fresh cuttings...




By fresh I mean calloused and w/out roots.  Sorry 'bout the confusion.


Quote:

CptnGarden said:

yeah, no kidding...

and from what ive read, hydroponic cacti dont really grow that much faster than soiled cacti.





From my original post: "Don't give me crap about how my alkaloid level may be low, or that it won't look good, or it is more trouble than it is worth, etc etc. I'm doing it for fun, mang!"

:smile:


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OfflineTeotzlcoatl
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Re: My Soon-to-Be *Hydroponic* Cactus Experiment [Re: Cakes]
    #7359269 - 09/01/07 04:25 PM (16 years, 6 months ago)

Well have fun rotting cacti mang!


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OfflineDr. uarewotueat
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Re: My Soon-to-Be *Hydroponic* Cactus Experiment [Re: sublimistri]
    #7359376 - 09/01/07 05:09 PM (16 years, 6 months ago)

Quote:

sublimistri said:
Quote:

CptnGarden said:
and from what ive read, hydroponic cacti dont really grow that much faster than soiled cacti. your better off grafting it to peresk and burrying the peresk in the soil :smile:




Doesnt grafting make cacti's lose potency vs normal rooting systems?




thats true, but not everyone grows cacti for potency man...
there are some actual botanists on this forum who grow cacti for their beauty,
as opposed to dumb kids who will grow anything just to get wasted...
but i admit, the ratio of dumb kids is pretty high... :rolleyes:


cakes: u should try grafting seedlings to pereskiopsis and putting those in your setup too :thumbup:


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OfflineCptnGarden
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Re: My Soon-to-Be *Hydroponic* Cactus Experiment [Re: Dr. uarewotueat]
    #7359553 - 09/01/07 06:17 PM (16 years, 6 months ago)

yeah graft them to peresk or opuntia as stock, and then put the stocks in the hydro setup. opuntia can sit in mud puddles. I water peresk like I water any other plant.

its worth a shot, good idea uarewotueat :smile:

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OfflineDr. uarewotueat
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Re: My Soon-to-Be *Hydroponic* Cactus Experiment [Re: CptnGarden]
    #7359599 - 09/01/07 06:37 PM (16 years, 6 months ago)

i bet they would grow like fook!


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OfflineCakes
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Re: My Soon-to-Be *Hydroponic* Cactus Experiment [Re: Dr. uarewotueat]
    #7359752 - 09/01/07 07:38 PM (16 years, 6 months ago)

Quote:

uarewotueat said:

cakes: u should try grafting seedlings to pereskiopsis and putting those in your setup too :thumbup:




Quote:

CptnGarden said:
yeah graft them to peresk or opuntia as stock, and then put the stocks in the hydro setup. opuntia can sit in mud puddles. I water peresk like I water any other plant.

its worth a shot, good idea uarewotueat :smile:




Oo thanks for the ideas guys!  I hadn't thought of using my opuntia as grafting stock, but that stuff does grow damn fast.  I bet my torch seedlings would shoot right up on some established hydro stock.

:thumbup:


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OfflineDr. uarewotueat
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Re: My Soon-to-Be *Hydroponic* Cactus Experiment [Re: Cakes]
    #7359800 - 09/01/07 07:51 PM (16 years, 6 months ago)

the cylindropuntia that u posted a pic of the other day would also be suitable as a "water tolerant" grafting stock,
probably easier to graft to than the normal type of opuntia too :thumbup:


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OfflineTeotzlcoatl
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Re: My Soon-to-Be *Hydroponic* Cactus Experiment [Re: Dr. uarewotueat]
    #7359806 - 09/01/07 07:57 PM (16 years, 6 months ago)

I just think whatever you use needs to have roots...BIG roots...there is no way a cactus without roots is going to work in this system...

The water level should stop a few inchs below the actual base of cactus and only come in contact with the roots...


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OfflineDr. uarewotueat
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Re: My Soon-to-Be *Hydroponic* Cactus Experiment [Re: Teotzlcoatl]
    #7360019 - 09/01/07 09:20 PM (16 years, 6 months ago)

get educated.


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OfflineCptnGarden
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Re: My Soon-to-Be *Hydroponic* Cactus Experiment [Re: Teotzlcoatl]
    #7360486 - 09/02/07 12:26 AM (16 years, 6 months ago)

Quote:

uarewotueat said:
get educated.



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InvisibleBlueDruid
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Re: My Soon-to-Be *Hydroponic* Cactus Experiment [Re: CptnGarden]
    #7361432 - 09/02/07 11:20 AM (16 years, 6 months ago)

I think you'll need some level of roots, but I think it should work if you've got that and get the timing for flooding right so that the roots dry out completely between soaks. I've seen a report, possibly here but I'm not sure, some time back by someone who grew a cactus hydroponically. I thought I had the page saved as I was vaguely planning to try it myself sometime, but I can't find it. I'll look about for it.

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Offlineimachavel
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Re: My Soon-to-Be *Hydroponic* Cactus Experiment [Re: BlueDruid]
    #7361565 - 09/02/07 12:06 PM (16 years, 6 months ago)

man, you know cactus rot if they get too much water, right? also, i believe cactus are very sun important, they love and need a lot of the full sun, i don't know if uv lights would compensate, but why not, you can make uv lights bright as the full sun in the sahara, right? the only problem... cactus can't handle too much water, so i'd see hydroponics being a complete waste of time, more sensitive plants would handle hydroponics better, cactus is a weathering plant, it loves nature, it wants a hot sunlight filled day most of the year, i don't know if could simulate that with hydroponics.
peace


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InvisibleBlueDruid
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Re: My Soon-to-Be *Hydroponic* Cactus Experiment [Re: imachavel]
    #7362036 - 09/02/07 03:20 PM (16 years, 6 months ago)

Don't know if this was the one I'd seen originally but there is a fair bit on the archive in this forum.

this looks the most useful as Search59 actually did it.

There is more more discussion on
nutrients and another .thread.

It looks like you should be able to do it, though I suggest keeping a control: one or 2 cacti of the same age & if possible the same genetics/source grown in cactus soil mix in the same location as the hydro cacti for comparison

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