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Easy DIY wicking systems you can easily make at home

In this video, I show an easy way to test and make wicking systems from household materials. I show two easy DIY methods for installing wicks, and a way to test wicking material to make sure that it works properly. For the demonstration, I use a Basil plant and a propagated pepper clone.

As an Amazon affiliate, I earn commissions from qualifying purchases made through the following links.

Nylon rope for wicking: 1/8″ – https://amzn.to/2T6EprV
3/8″ (for larger setups) – https://amzn.to/3cCSBkr
Coco Coir – https://amzn.to/3fTSD9y Nursery pots – https://amzn.to/2Tbr5Tj Masterblend – https://amzn.to/2Z4sAqd
Calcium Nitrate – https://amzn.to/36aGR6k
Epsom Salt – https://amzn.to/36aGVmA
How to mix Masterblend – https://www.pepperinfo.com/hydroponics/everything-you-need-for-mixing-masterblend/

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2020 Season pepper grow updates

Here are updates 5 and 6. So far so good. We were getting tons or rain right after transplant, but the plants are doing well.

As an Amazon affiliate, I earn commissions from qualifying purchases made through the following links. 

AeroGarden Bounty – https://amzn.to/2RquEo3
MasterBlend nutrients – https://amzn.to/2uz9Phe
Mixing guide for MasterBlend – https://www.pepperinfo.com/hydroponics/everything-you-need-for-mixing-masterblend/
All of my drip system parts came from Drip Depot.

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Chenzo

Chenzo

Capsicum annuum

Background

The Chenzo is a Capsicum annuum. I don’t have much info on the background. It appears to be good for both ornamental and culinary uses. It is colder temperature tolerant, produces many small pods that turn from black to red.

Notes

The review pod is one I grew, but the seeds were from a grower in Poland.

The amount ate: 2 pods
Heat: 1
Flavor: 7
Burn Profile: Mouth, tongue but not much to speak of
Effects: none
Cap Cramps: none

Review

This is a very prolific plant. The pods I initially sampled didn’t have much heat at all, but some that I used later in powder had more heat, maybe cayenne level. The flavor is fresh and citrusy. My favorite use for the season I grew them was in dehydrated, powdered form.

Video

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2020 Season grow updates

I’ve been behind posting these to the site, but here are all the current grow updates for 2020. I’m currently hardening them off and hope to put them in permanent containers the first week of May. My grow list for this season is here http://bit.ly/2YODK2D

As an Amazon affiliate, I earn commissions from qualifying purchases made through the following links. 

AeroGarden Bounty – https://amzn.to/2RquEo3
AeroGarden Sprout – https://amzn.to/2uwNlh7
AeroGarden Seed Starting System for 9 pod AeroGardens – https://amzn.to/2Gzv4Tb
AeroGarden Seed Starting System for Sprout models – https://amzn.to/2TVlJwB
AeroGarden Sponges refill – https://amzn.to/2RQ9sXz
AeroGarden nutrients – https://amzn.to/2Gng8Y3
MasterBlend nutrients – https://amzn.to/2uz9Phe
Mixing guide for MasterBlend – https://www.pepperinfo.com/hydroponics/everything-you-need-for-mixing-masterblend/

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How to change nutrients on large Kratky systems

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.

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Mars Hydro SP 250 LED grow light review

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
——————————————————————-
Also, check out Migro’s review of this light:
Migro – https://youtu.be/lcitvJHtnBU

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Greenjoy hydroponic indoor grow box review

Greenjoy Indoor Grow Box
Greenjoy Indoor Grow Box

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:

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Sansi 100-watt floodlight for growing peppers

Sansi 100-watt LED floodlight
Sansi 100-watt LED floodlight

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:

 

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How to properly mix ‘MasterBlend’ 4-18-38 tomato fertilizer

Mixing 4-18-38 tomato fertilizer
Mixing 4-18-38 tomato fertilizer

In the title, I put ‘MasterBlend’ in quotes, because in my video I’m using a different brand of 4-18-38 tomato fertilizer, partly because that is what I have on hand at the moment, but to also demonstrate that you don’t have to have the name brand of the product. Also, it mixes exactly the same way and yields the same results, so if you have the name brand version of the product, these steps will work fine.

Also, for a written guide, see the article I wrote called Everything you need for mixing MasterBlend.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn commissions from qualifying purchases made through the following links. This is at no extra cost to you.

Tools and materials needed for mixing MasterBlend, or other brands of 4-18-38 tomato fertilizer:

Masterblend/Calcium Nitrate/Epsom Salt – https://amzn.to/2Q7FU6D
Gram scales – https://amzn.to/2YvRVpy
Calibration weight – https://amzn.to/2HkCTgr
Plastic funnel – https://amzn.to/2Q4srMR
pH meter – https://amzn.to/2Q7giqz
Probe storage solution – https://amzn.to/35iYIHd
ppm/EC meter – https://amzn.to/2Q4EERP

Also, check my other related videos:

How to Pre-mix Concentrated MasterBlend Hydroponic Nutrients

Apera Instruments pH Meter

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2019 Pepper grow update #18 – 09/15/19

This is a super hot pepper grow update for September 15, 2019. My drip system peppers are in full production, while the in grounds are starting to produce, but still primarily in vegetative mode.

Here’s my 2019 pepper grow list.  http://bit.ly/2SxEwtT

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. This also applies to the Drip Depot link.

All video filmed with Osmo Pocket – https://amzn.to/2Z1wDAj

Nutrients for self-watering containers and Kratky system plants:
Dyna-Gro – https://amzn.to/2Ob8FSJ

All of my drip system components came from Drip Depot – https://goo.gl/tn