ebb&flow: 15min watering schedule only during light/daytime?

[HydroNerd]

Hey folks,

I'am switching from NFT to an ebb&flow watering system with hydroton/clay pebbles. The manufacturer of my system (FlowGrow from Nutriculture) recommends a watering schedule of 2-4x per day during veg. and 4-7x during flower for 15 minutes each.
Do you've any experience if I should schedule my watering times only during daytime (when the light's are on) or also during the night? I can imagine that plants don't require any feeding during the night when they're asleep (as long as the roots are not getting dry).

Cheers, HydroNerd

 

[toaster struedel]

I'm using ebb&flow bucket system, with young plants I flood every 2 hours, flowering plants every 3 hours. Once during lights off,although you can get by without the night flooding. Towards the end of flowering I flood every 4 hour with no night feeding.

 

[HydroNerd]

I'm using ebb&flow bucket system, with young plants I flood every 2 hours, flowering plants every 3 hours. Once during lights off,although you can get by without the night flooding. Towards the end of flowering I flood every 4 hour with no night feeding.

Thanks toaster, could you quickly explain why you're feeding less often during the flowering stage?

 

[toaster struedel]

Thanks toaster, could you quickly explain why you're feeding less often during the flowering stage?

the roots are massive by then, and retain more moisture. most people flood every 4 hours. so im really probabley over feeding. i guess it depends on your medium. 3 just seems to work best imo.

 

[HydroNerd]

Makes sense, thanks! I guess the watering schedule has to be also changed in case the plant show signs of overwatering.

 

[Airwalker16]

Don't use hydroton. roots get all entangled and you'll have a mess on your hands come harvest time. it does help to fill the tray though to where it's full and draining back to res to help slowly tease root balls out.

 

[HydroNerd]

Don't use hydroton. roots get all entangled and you'll have a mess on your hands come harvest time. it does help to fill the tray though to where it's full and draining back to res to help slowly tease root balls out.

Not an issue for me. I'll cut the stem above the ground an move the rest (hydroton + roots) directly into the trashcan (I just have a single plant).

 

[TheChemist77]

i use a 2x4 f&d in veg and a 4x6 ft f&d in bloom.. i use 4x4x3 rock wool blocks,, i used to use net pots w/hydroton,, but the hydroton rocks mess w/ my ph staying steady and they dry out FAST... w rock wool i get bigger yields, ph is well controlled,, yes it costs a bit more but the rocks wer so hard to clean and reuse i ended up buying new rocks each run and throwing the used ones away,,so its actually cheaper w rock wool...
anyways my light sced is from 5pm- 5am for bloom, my pump kicks on 3 times for 15 min. at 6pm,12am, and 5am... my veg room lights go on at 5pm and stay on till 11am 18/6,, in veg i water 6pm,12am,6am and 12pm this water sced seems to work well,, in bloom by the time the lights kick on the rock wool is moist but not dry,, after 6 hours they need to be watered again wile lights are on,,durring lights off they dont drink so much...

https://www.rollitup.org/t/chemist77-315-watt-cdl-grow.880895/page-15

 

[HydroNerd]

i use a 2x4 f&d in veg and a 4x6 ft f&d in bloom.. i use 4x4x3 rock wool blocks,, i used to use net pots w/hydroton,, but the hydroton rocks mess w/ my ph staying steady and they dry out FAST... w rock wool i get bigger yields, ph is well controlled,, yes it costs a bit more but the rocks wer so hard to clean and reuse i ended up buying new rocks each run and throwing the used ones away,,so its actually cheaper w rock wool...
anyways my light sced is from 5pm- 5am for bloom, my pump kicks on 3 times for 15 min. at 6pm,12am, and 5am... my veg room lights go on at 5pm and stay on till 11am 18/6,, in veg i water 6pm,12am,6am and 12pm this water sced seems to work well,, in bloom by the time the lights kick on the rock wool is moist but not dry,, after 6 hours they need to be watered again wile lights are on,,durring lights off they dont drink so much...

https://www.rollitup.org/t/chemist77-315-watt-cdl-grow.880895/page-15

Thanks, I guess I'll start with 4x per day schedule during veg and 3x per day during flower.