Peter Stanley's pepper knowledgebase
This video shows how to change nutrients on large Kratky systems. The same principles apply though, to small Kratky systems. My Bih Jolokia in the 45-gallon trash gan was starting to show some nutrient deficiencies. The solution had dropped down by 2/3 the original volume and pH and dropped to 4.1. I replaced with fresh nutrients keeping the same level as before.
Mars Hydro sent the SP 250 LED grow light to me for review. In this video, I show the unboxing and setup, as well as some basic power and light tests.
Some of the links below will direct you to Amazon, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Mars Hydro SP-250 grow light – https://amzn.to/2MWj9Uz
Killawatt tester – https://amzn.to/2MTX0pN
Video equipment used:
Canon m50 – https://amzn.to/2ZQhdyI
Osmo Pocket – https://amzn.to/2ZL3gSF
Rode SmartLav+ – https://amzn.to/2Lwinu6
Growing setup:
4 x 4 grow tent – https://amzn.to/2NTGu8X
Air pump – https://amzn.to/2ZNakyc
Tubing – https://amzn.to/2ZQs3Vw
Air stones – https://amzn.to/2Lj97dW
3-inch net cups – https://amzn.to/2LuUMdd
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Also, check out Migro’s review of this light:
Migro – https://youtu.be/lcitvJHtnBU
As an Amazon affiliate, I earn commissions from qualifying purchases made through any Amazon links in this article. This is at no extra cost to you.
Greenjoy recently sent me their hydroponic indoor grow box for review. I’ve published two videos, one of the initial unboxing and setup, and the other after 30 days of use. The videos are below. You can find more information about the product here, but as of this writing, it is currently unavailable.
The closest competing product for Greenjoy would be the AeroGarden Bounty. I have used both, and prefer the AeroGarden systems.
Video 1:
Video 2 after 30 days update:
As an Amazon affiliate, I earn commissions from qualifying purchases made through Amazon links in this article. This is at no extra cost to you.
I’ve been testing the Sansi 100-watt, 10,000 lumens LED floodlight for growing peppers. This light isn’t designed for use as a grow light but does work really well as one. It is designed to be a utility light. Sansi sent me the one I am testing, for free to review.
For my test, I am using it to overwinter a 3-year-old Khang Starr Lemon StarrBurst pepper plant. As you can see from the videos below, it has exceeded my expectations and is actually producing fruit.
Video 1:
Video 2 – 6-week update:
As an Amazon Associate, I earn commissions from qualifying purchases made through links in this post. This helps support my website and YouTube channel.
I’m growing a Malagueta x Khang Starr White Thai under the Sansi LED floodlight. Both the parent plants were grown under this light also. I’ve been using this light for almost a year now. Although it isn’t marketed as a grow light, it actually does a great job for both vegetative growth and fruiting. I’m also using it over two Kratky grown peppers, a ‘pepper in a can’ and some succulent plants. I noticed they have a newer one that is twice the size and power. I might try it out in the near future.
Note: Sansi sent me this light for free to evaluate.
I’ve been giving my office plants a mix of Masterblend 4-18-38, Epsom Salt and Calcium Nitrate. Check out the article I wrote that shows you everything you need for mixing Masterblend nutrients.
The following products were shown or mentioned in the following video.
Sansi LED Floodlight – https://amzn.to/2NlnbXm
Masterblend nutrients – https://amzn.to/2LpLJMp
Air pump – https://amzn.to/2XAAszf
Air stones – https://amzn.to/2Xcb17U
Other videos I’ve made on this Sansi LED floodlight:
Sansi LED floodlight test
Sansi LED floodlight 10-week follow-up
Sansi LED floodlight update 3
As an Amazon Associate, I earn commissions from qualifying purchases made through links in this post. This is at no extra cost to you and helps support my efforts to provide content.
I want to see if restricting the root size to a reasonable area will encourage early fruiting, or if the plant will stay in extended veg mode. Last year I grew two plants in a 27-gallon tote, and they took forever to fruit, and the yield, although good, was not great. There were a lot of green pods on them at the very end of the season when it was turning cold. So eventually they would have produced more.
This year I’m using the same 27-gallon tote, but with one plant, and that is in a 5-gallon bucket insert. The bucket has small holes at the bottom and larger ones at the top (for air flow). The idea is, the roots will mostly be confined to the smaller container, while still having access to all the nutrients in the large tote. Andrew Higgenbottom did a similar experiment but used a much smaller inner container. I’m hoping the 5-gallon size will mitigate the issues he ran into. This isn’t a perfect experiment, as I’m not growing the same kind of plant side by side as a control, but I’m just comparing against what I saw last season. Last year I grew a StarrRacha Bonnet and a KhangSta Red in the same tote , both were in the extended veg mode most of the season. This year, in the root restricted setup, I’m growing what is supposed to be a KhangSta Red but is producing yellow pods. It’s from the same seed stock that Khang sent me, but I think it’s either crossed or just a yellow mutation of KhangSta Red since it’s still a little unstable.
I’m using Dyna-Gro 7-9-5 at just over 1 tsp/gallon, with ppm around 500. The tote has a float valve already installed, and I can hook up a reservoir later when needed to maintain a static nutrient level.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn commissions from qualifying purchases made through links in this post. This is at no extra cost to you. Also, for full disclosure, Sansi sent me this grow light for free for the purpose of doing a review, but my review is unbiased.
Sansi has sent me the second version of their 15-watt full spectrum grow light. In the video below, I show the unboxing and setup, as well as power and light tests. I have it set up over some succulents and will post a follow-up video showing the progress, after 30 days.
The following items are shown in the video:
Sansi 15 watt grow light version 2 – https://amzn.to/2VXnPxn
Sansi 15 watt grow light version 1 – https://amzn.to/30af1Ul
2 x 2 grow tent – https://amzn.to/2Ykf3ac
Killawatt power tester – https://amzn.to/30ehQUs
Hydrofarm PAR meter – https://amzn.to/2VgZQEZ
As an Amazon Associate, I earn commissions from qualifying purchases made through links in this post. This is at no extra cost you.
I’ve been using the Sansi LED floodlight as a test grow light since August of 2018. This light isn’t marketed as a grow light, it is for general utility, illumination. Sansi sent me this light for free to review. The color temperature is 5600K, which I think is great for growing. I suspected it would be only ideal for vegetative growth, but my plant test subjects have both fruited under it, not once, but twice.
Here is a video of the update:
As an Amazon Associate, I earn commissions from qualifying purchases made through links in this post. This is at no extra cost to you and helps support my website and YouTube efforts.
This year I’ve transplanted most of my sprouts from the AeroGarden Bounty and my DIY system, into Styrofoam wicking cups. These are super easy and quick to make. They are nice intermediate vessels for the plants until being moved to their final location. These setups also provide more flexibility than standard double cups do. For instance, you could remove them from the bottom cup and set in something larger for the plant/s to drink from.
Watch my video below to see how I make them.
Items that are shown or mentioned in the video:
– 20-ounce styrofoam cups ( You can also pick these up in the grocery store or places like WalMart) – https://amzn.to/2Cz2O1m
– Microfiber clothes – https://amzn.to/2WkSLUO
– HLG-100 grow light – https://amzn.to/2HVsCbv
– 48″ x 48″ x 80″ grow tent – https://amzn.to/2U5MxuJ
– Coco coir – https://amzn.to/2TuOi05
– Perlite – https://amzn.to/2uocFm7
– Dyna-Grp 7-9-5 – https://amzn.to/2uqDeH4
I make commissions off purchases made through product links in this post. This is at no extra cost to you and helps support this website.
I built this hydroponic deep water culture system for starting pepper plants. It was very inexpensive and easy to build and works well. It uses a small air pump, air stones, one-inch net cups, AeroGarden sponges (although just about any kind of growing sponge would work, ie BioDome, Rapid Rooter, Root Riot, etc… It has a built-in light stand with a Sansi 30 watt grow light.
Parts showed (or equivalent) in the video:
Commander XL 5 gallon tote – Get at Lowes
Air pump – https://amzn.to/2XNpXpB
Air stones – https://amzn.to/2TtfFfG
Sansi 30 watt grow light – https://amzn.to/2XPc8H7
Dyna-Gro 7-9-5 – https://amzn.to/2XOKz0T
Air tubing – https://amzn.to/2NV3LFI
1-inch net cups – https://amzn.to/2NV06r7
AeroGarden sponges – https://amzn.to/2TqEn0m
or
Rapid Rooter (cut these in quarters the long way) – https://amzn.to/2XOKzxV
1-inch bit – https://amzn.to/2NT804t
1-inch PVC pipe – get at Lowes
1-inch PVC tee – get at Lowes
Here are pics of some of the plants I transplanted out of this system.
