So it has been quite a while since we last updated the blog. Like many of us here in the Northeast that were affected by hurricane Irene we were no exception. While many of our peppers made it through the storm, many did not and to boot our chocolate Jolokia ended up not being Jolokia at all. Our vendor is working to resolve the issue.
We look forward to getting back into the swing of things This season,
and to do this right we’re going to start by doing a Deepwater culture using a commercially started jalapeno pepper. Please stay tuned as we move through the phases of transplant to harvest.
If You want to follow along with us, we will be using the simple unit found here that you can build yourself.
Just a quick update on our Tangerine Dream Soil>Hydro transplant: It’s fair to say it was successful.
It’s time to start beefing up on flower formula as we have been losing some flowers before they set.
Stay tuned…and yes the Jolokias are doing well and will be brought outside soon!
Learn how to put those Hydro skills to work!!
While our Jolokia’s are rooting nicely and we will be posting some photo updates soon, we had the opportunity to do another soil to hydro transplant. We received a nice Tangerine Dream pepper plant from Burpee and decided we want to blow it up in a DWC bucket like we did for the habanero last year.
We began by light proofing our cleaned and sanitized bucket with some foil and incorporated a stick on thermometer to gauge solution temps.
We then took the young plant and gently removed as much organic planting medium as possible under a gentle drizzle of room temperature tap water.
The young pepper was then placed into a net pot and filled with hydroton to stabilize it.
Within a couple days the roots were already becoming acclimated to there new home.
Now we give it some time then ramp up on the nutrients to start the growth train!
At last it’s time to propagate the goodness! After all the stress and turmoil of our outdoor soil excursion, our Chocolate Jolokia finally recovered nicely.
While we will be moving her back outdoors this summer, we of course want to clone her out into an eventual sweet hydro heaven. To do so, we will be using the cloner we just built in our last entry.
What do we need?
Something to clone (in this case a Jolokia)
Aero Cloner
Rooting hormone or cloning gel (optional but recommended)
2 gallons of filtered water (enough to cover pump)
Hydrogen Peroxide/Hygrozyme (both are optional)
Rubbing alcohol to sterilize cutting implement
Razor blade
tsp measure
Garden snips(optional)
To start out, we need little to no nutrient content for the clone until it has some means to uptake e.g. roots. So here we simply used two gallons of RO filtered water to which we added 2-3 tsp/gal of H2O2(3% peroxide). Alternatively you could use a product like Hygrozyme which we have good results with as well. Fill up your clean unit and we are ready to clone.
The first step is to select a nice growth with at least a couple nodes if possible…
This one should do well for example.
Next, using our sterilized razor of garden snips, carefully take the clone above one of the nodes. It should look something like this:
Next, again using the sterile razor etc., remove the lower growth so it looks something like this:
The idea is to provide some photosynthetic capability without too much demand for external nutrient. After all she has no legs!
Again with the razor, cut the stem base at a sharp angle (improves water uptake) and then use the blade perpendicular to the stem to “scrape” or “shave” the very thin outer most layer of the stem, about an inch up. This helps encourage root growth, but is also not required.
Next we dip the stem in some pure water and then dredge in our rooting hormone. If using gel, follow the manufacturers instructions.
Now we simply place the foam disc “collar” that we made in the previous entry around stem near the top foliage. Then plug the disc and clone into the cloner lid.
We then repeat the process for however many clones we are taking.
Next we fire up the cloner air pump and stone to aerate the water. The pond pump is then plugged into a timer and set in this case to one hour off, half hour on. Basically at this point we are simple misting the root zone.
Over the course of the first several days it is important to keep the foliage moist or humid. This can be most easily be accomplished with a humidity tent made of plastic wrap with some tiny holes poked in it. Alternatively you could mist the clones several times a day, but you need to be very diligent in this, so we opt for the tent out of laziness.
Once we sprout roots we will be back!
Good luck, have fun and be sure to register for our forums to share, get support etc!
As promised, we will finally be cloning out our Chocolate Bhut Jolokia that has survived it’s over-wintering indoors. In doing so, we thought it would be a great time to demonstrate a DIY aero cloner build. It’s basically going to be a mini version of our aeroponic propagation bins. Time’s a wasting so let’s get growing!!
What do we need?
(1) small storage tote
(1) water/pond pump- ~150-250 gph is fine
(1) small section of 1/2″ PVC tubing-(the blue big box store carries 3′ sections!)
(2) 1/2″ PVC slip end caps
(1) 1/2″ PVC “T”- the two horizontals are slip and the vertical drop is 1/2″ thread
(1) Adapter as necessary to couple your pump. We are using a 1/2″ male threaded irrigation tube coupling.
(6) Misters ( the blue box has these too!)
(12) closed cell foam discs or equivalent
(1) length of aquarium tubing
(1) aquarium air stomeair stone
PVC primer/cement(optional)
Something to light proof with if using a translucent container as we are, e.g. foil, paint etc.
Basic hand tools such as a drill, 1″ paddle bit, hand saw or pvc cutter
Here we will be using a 20qt storage tote:
The first thing we need to do is prep the lid. Since we are making a 12 site cloner, layout the 12 one inch locations in which ever manner makes you happy inside. Use the 1″ paddle bit to drill them out CAREFULLY.
Next we need a hole for our air line:
You can locate this wherever you like as long as it’s up top side. We have chosen to drill it in the main body of the bin to allow the lid to be completely removed during solution changes etc.
Next, cut your 1/2″ pvc pipe so that when fit with the T’s and caps it will fit inside the bin. Connect to the pump adapter and adjust your height as necessary to achieve a spray height will coat the legs of your new clones. If you wish you can glue it all together, or just rely on friction so you can clean it easier. The unit shown was an older version which we glued. We have found recently that the friction fit models hold together just fine with the smaller pond pumps.
Drill out locations for your misters and screw securely in place.
When your done it should look something like this:
Next, position the unit in the bin and decide where you will run your power cord out. Once this is accomplished you will need to modify or cut the edge of the lid so that it fits snug with the cord running out.
Remove the pump, wash the bin and lid and light proof it. We simply wrapped ours with aluminum foil.
Now, using the closed cell foam or other support media, cut discs that will fit snugly in to the 1″ holes. make a radius slit to the center of the plug so the clone can be inserted. These type of plugs can also be found commercially at most grow shops if your not into making them yourself.
Fill the unit with water and fire up a test run. You don’t need to have the air stone in for the test. The only reason we installed the air stone at all is that we will be running this unit on a timer cycle and we want to ensure we maintain highly aerated solution during the period the pump will be off. The reason for opting to run a timer is to maintain cooler reservoir temps during the warming summer months.
Empty the bin and stage it in your favorite propagation area.
Now we are ready to clone!
What a winter it’s been! Hopefully we are finally edging into the growing season. We have been overwintering our exotics and cleaning out our set ups and eagerly await some lasting sunshine while we remove the ski racks and stow the winter gear. The biggest set back for us administratively was the loss of our forums, due to some bot hacks. We had to take the whole entity down and are starting over from scratch, so please bare with us. We have been having some upgrade issues with the Blog aspect as well, so it’s time to clean out the cob webs and move forward.
We truly hope to provide a more interactive site with more shared content from other users, so feel free to contact us with suggestions, questions etc. You can make posts in the general discussion forum for now.
Let’s Get Growing!!!
From the once bare green stalks standing sadly ashamed of their treatment bursts forth vigorous new life!
Despite the monsoon like rains we’ve had and the drastic temperature swing down into the 50’s, we cant’s describe how happy we are with the continued recovery. The resultant flooding has caused a bit of wilt, but with sun in the forecast, we trust things will perk up!
The Fatalii Red
Chocolate Habs
Slightly Wilted Chocolate Hab
And the Chocolate Bhut
A preparation of a 1/4 mosquito dunk(BTI) ground up and a dose of Flora Nova Grow was added just before the drench. As soon as they dry out it will be a repeat application and then a move to inside for the winter.
Once they are large enough, we will begin taking cuttings for clones to put in our true passion, Hydro, next season.
We hope to track all the progress along the way!
Meanwhile Don’t forget our Halloween Carvin’ Contest in the Forums section!! Winner gets a 10% off coupon to Sunlight Sheds!!
Habby Halloween!!
We are pleased to announce our first annual Halloween Carving Contest! We invite you to visit our forums and submit your carved creations. Submissions not limited to pumpkins and in fact it’s encouraged you carve anything you grew! Themed entries will also be accepted. Visit the forum for details. All entries will be judged by members and staff the week before the eve of Halloween.
Prize:
Our friends at Sunlight Solutions were able to help us out and offer up a 10% off coupon valid on any purchase through 12/31/10
What are you waiting for?!?! Our forums are new so you don’t have hardly any competition yet!
Come and register in our forums and enter your submission for a chance to win 10% off your purchase at Sunlight Solutions
