Anyone used Earthboxes before? Need advice.

[gr8fulDAD]

Hello everyone! Hope everyone is enjoying the summer. With fall just around the corner(and cooler indoor temps), I am getting ready for my next indoor grow. As some of you know, I had a great yield last time around, but the potency wasnt there. I am not going to have as much time to spend with the little babies next time around, so I was looking for some different methods of soil/soilless growing.
I found these: www.earthbox.com
I purchased 2 of them, and they fit perfectly in my closet! I know Z, kind of hard to follow the cycle of life with such a setup. However if they do work, I think I will have healthier plants, and it will simplify my life a great deal.
I plan on using a mix of:
35% FF ocean forest
35% pearlite
20% coco fiber
10% worm castings.
Do you guys think this will work? I am wondering how safe it will be to add nutes to the water? I am planing on using mostly teas and going organic. I do still have the entire foxfarm line,
Suggestions?

[Stond_Face]

That looks interesting.

I have been using the home made, ghetto version that is called Hempy buckets or Bato buckets. And, I use a perlite/vermiculite mix.

I have been using Fox Farm in my set-up 4 a few runs. Works great. I do use some AN Big Bug in flower weeks 2-4 though. That makes a noticable diff.

I bet you'll do pretty good with these things. Due to this plants affinity for Mg, I would definiatily add dolomite lime to your mix. That way, u won't need to use a Cal-Mag suppliment.

[gr8fulDAD]

Thanks for the reply SF. I will use the dolomite lime for sure. Is that the same as the garden lime I have that comes in small round pellets? Also, does the dolomite lime raise the soil ph? I have found in the past that the Foxfarm nutes tend to be VERY acidic. The dolomite might help with that also. Now, with these Earthboxes you are never sopposed to water from the top, only adding h2o to the rez below the soil medium. Do you think I should feed from above anyway, or should I add nutes to the rez? I would think with such a rich blend( ocean forest, guanos and the castings) if I add a small amount of the Foxfarm Peace of mind granular fertilizer at the beggining of the grow, I should be o.k. untill the flowering stage begins. I only plan on keeping them in veg for about 4 weeks.
Another thought I had was to use a small airpump and drive 2 small airstones into each boxes rez to keep everything oxiginated and keep everything from going stagnant. I would like to try using lots of worm and compost teas this time around, but the thought of having all that rich water just sitting under the medium with no movement concerns me. Another concern was that too many bubbles would build up between the soil and the rez. Do you think that would cause any problems?
Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. I do plan on starting a detailed thread here when things get started. If I can get this thing going, I think my set up will be perfect for the medical gardener or someone who just wants to supply their own personal needs. My room is only 6x3x9. 400w mh/hps. I am in the process of dividing a small portion of the room dedicated to a couple mums and clones.
The next round will be BigBuddahs "Blue Cheese".
DAD

[Oldbay]

No idea on the earth boxes, but if you are going to be a way a couple/few days at a time, then watch how much peralite you use. Maybe even consider vermiculite to hold some moisture.

[sttony]

Here's a DYI on Earthboxes (http://www.seattleoil.com/Flyers/Earthbox.pdf) (pdf) just in case someone wants to build there own.

I like the earthbox concept, but think a few airstones in the reservoir would be helpfull.

Also like the aeration tubes in the pdf on pages 5, 27 and 28. (pic att)

[Zandor]

Don't forget
Bone mean
Blood meal
Dolomite lime
Bat Guano
Seaweed kelp
and the famous Worm Tea!

it's just a soil box with quick drainage and an easy water system.

I think I did a show on a wood grow box indoors that Soma uses. Its the same sort of idea and something anyone can build.

Let me know if you need more help Dad.

Happy growing
Peace

Z