Scotty has been preaching the simplicity of growing Hempy style for a long time. I’m a fan of using coco/perlite but got sick and tired of dealing with runoff. That 15% runoff turns into gallons of waste in no time. Dumping it on my lawn felt wrong so I turned to bottom feeding. This method is a cross between Hempy and Autopot. You pretty much set it and forget it. These plants will drink a gallon in an hour and are fed every other day.
It’s almost too easy to grow this way. Plants are always healthy from top to bottom. Bottom feeding is zero waste. I’m buying less RO water per month and saving nutrients; A win win. But the key to growing this way are my bags. These are Rain Science bags but Radical bags have similar PVC material. They wick as apposed to soak like fabric. Fabric ions attracts calcium and clog much like air stones. The most common question about fabric bags are about mold. How Smart can a pot be when it’s growing barnacles? Bottom feeding for the win.
Good info. Been looking for a different method and might give it a try. What size bags and containers are you using? And are you using coco / perlite?
This is 3 gallon but the 5 gallon bags fit in these tubs. They’re just kitchen tubs found at any Dollar General. I use Coco-Perlite mix. A layer of perlite can be used at the bottom. I’ve done it but but it’s not necessary.
Dude super cool man!! Def worth giving a try next run!!, so here’s my questions. Do you put the same amount of water as if you were too feeding? Or do you put a gallon in and see where it is in an hour? I’m assuming you still use the pick up method or does this method just perfectly wick the plants? I do this a little bit now to insure the bottom of my rootzones are getting water but never thought of only feeding that way. So with dry amendments, depending on answer to previous questions, topdress as normal? Or is there a special way to do that too? Thanks so much in advance man. I’ve always thought about it but never fully committed
I do a slight lift to check. I’m using less water than when I was top feeding. They get fed in moderation. I’ll start with a half gallon and work my way up as they drink more and get bigger. I don’t think this would work for dry amendments. I’m not a fan of amending soil-less media. Six plants in coco tend to have different needs. This doesn’t apply to bottom feeding. It is a commitment, their is not question about that.
To answer some questions asked on the show.. I’ve used a layer of Perlite on the bottom before and I’d recommend using a layer if you have it available. I pot up to these mesh bags mid veg and add the top shields. For the first few days I’ll water from the top and then bottom feed beyond that. The shields have holes for stakes and slots to low stress train. They also guard against critters. Once in a while I’ll run a little water up top but not often. Before using these bags I was an Airpot fanboy. Watching expensive nutrients run out the sides and out the bottom sucked. I threw them all away along with the gnats that loved them more.
These are the tallest plants I’ve grown. Someone bred an OG with Mexican cartel weed and this is what you get. I used to clean my tubs religiously but not anymore. As you can see they are stained with Recharge. 😉 I’ll post some of my work on Dank Nugs. Most of my work is up on IG @ tryacid.
Just remember, you need a plant riser below the bag so your roots auto-prune. I love to bottom water. I top dress too so I like the idea of those flex-lids as runoff can be challenging.
Thanks for the reply. I posted my previous grow on Dank Nugs. I’m on my 3rd grow doing it this way. One of the pictures shows risers. I used them up until mid veg before they’re put in the tub. The roots prune themselves but they also grow long like DWC. In comparison, Autopots sit and drink from the bottom all day long. The bottom is constantly wet and is oxygenated via soil-less. Same basics apply except my roots aren’t confined to a plastic pot. I learned how to grow in hydro before tooling around with soil-less. Growing in soil is something that I suck at. I like my roots oxygenated. Except for my tissue culture. Those are on a different level of weed growing.. If you have IG you can see what I’m up to under tryacid.
@Tryacid, any chance you could make a diagram or describe this step-by-step in a little more detail? I’ve been looking into SIP systems like this a lot lately, specifically trying to devise some sort of amalgam of hempy buckets, auto pots, Alaska grow buckets, earthboxes & an LOS supersoil/water-only setup…but I’m having a hard time understanding the mechanics here, or grasping how exactly this is a hybrid of Hempy & Autopot? I mean is it just the bottom-reservoir part of a hempy bucket with a bag on top set down into the bucket? If so, I’ve been using a 1:1:1 mix of coco:perlite:vermiculite as wicking media for SIP systems forever, you think that would work well? Also, if that is the setup, do you think the Alaska bucket method of drilling air holes up & down the bucket above the bottom-rez would help with the fabric bags performance by facilitating better air-pruning?
Yes. Drilling holes would add air flow to your bags. My way is really just dumping water in the tub. Hempy, Alaska grow buckets, Autopots, DWC..etc.. all allow for upward capillary action. In the end, that’s the ultimate goal.