Marbles instead of hydroton?

[PetFlora]

I got rid of hydroton years ago. Polished ornamental stones (Dollar store) work awesome. Clean, easy to remove and reuse. I use smaller ones in my 3" starter net pots

 

[Xepshunall]

I'm so glad this thread gets attention, The cost of DWC is high enough without paying for new medium each grow,

 

[PetFlora]

Lots of issues with DWC, especially when growing more than one plant in it

During flower;

* pH should be checked DAILY (if not more often)
* rez needs to be topped off daily
* rez should be changed weekly

How do you lift the lid to do this when plants are 2ft+ tall?

ALSO, how do you cut out the males, or sick plants when the roots are hammocked (interconnected)?

F & D for the win (set up has been improve since the first 2 pics

 

[WeedFreak78]

I'm so glad this thread gets attention, The cost of DWC is high enough without paying for new medium each grow,

Wash it... I've been on the same bag for over a year. Just had to buy more because of expansion.

 

[WeedFreak78]

Lots of issues with DWC, especially when growing more than one plant in it

Don't do that, one plant, one container

During flower;

* pH should be checked DAILY (if not more often)

Not needed of you run appropriate EC and volumes. try growing a tree in a3 gal res, you're gonna have issues.

* rez needs to be topped off daily

Not really, only if Ec is changing. Again volume and proper EC. I run 5gal dwc's at .8-1.0ec. They stay stable down to the last litre, then I just refill it.

* rez should be changed weekly

Dependent on res volume. I've gone 2+ weeks on large plants in 40+L of solution with just top ups. Again, correct EC and volume.

How do you lift the lid to do this when plants are 2ft+ tall?

pick it up? A 3' budded plant weighs, maybe 10-12lbs with lid and hydroton. I've never understood the issue here, make sure the plants are supported.

ALSO, how do you cut out the males, or sick plants when the roots are hammocked (interconnected)?

Don't put multiple plants in the same container.

 

[Altered State]

I was talking with a experienced hydro grower / neighbor last week about hydroton , he suspects the abrasiveness is not appealing to the roots and may slow the rooting / seedling stage

He might be right might not it needs to be tested , so next go I'll use river pebbles in half the baskets and see if it speeds up the rooting

It would be nice to speed up the seedling stage ... the first two weeks are painfully slow for me

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[PetFlora]

I've never second guessed the hydroton, seeing as pretty much EVERY HYDRO GROWER USES IT.

There's always a good reason why things are done the same way over and over again, but I've never been the one to question those type of things..

There's a lot of people doing things just because 'that's the way it's always been done'. Thinking outside the box has its benefits. since taking the seedlings pic I topped off each with small pebbles. I start in a bubbler. Once roots are developed I move them to my DIY Mini-Me F & D

Last grow I replaced my kitty liter rez with an Igloo; also replaced air stones with 160 gph lp pump on a deep cycle timer 5/15