Is Hydropincs really worth it?

[MisterMicro]

Im planning my next grow. Gana use a couple 400wers, so obviously im aiming for a big yeild. Is hydro really gana make it worth it? Any estimates of what it could do to my yeild?

 

[asher187]

I don't think it matters, I've only grown in water, but I have read so many threads on this site from people that grow in soil in 2lt pop bottles and get 4oz per plant SCROG. W/CO2 and HPS lighting of course.

 

[MisterMicro]

thanks asher, yeah... ik, ive seen that kind of shit. But i guess my question could get deeper. what if that person when hydro? I mean theres som much hype about it, i cant ignore it.

Speed is also a question.

 

[Grow.T]

both are fine... plants in hydro will grow faster... on the downside hydro is alittle less forgiving then soil... if you fuck up in hydro ur plants could die... if you fuck up in soil.. always room to fix it...plus it takes alittle more care... really personal preferance... if your wondering what hydro is like... go for it...

 

[sweetsmell]

both are fine... plants in hydro will grow faster... on the downside hydro is alittle less forgiving then soil... if you fuck up in hydro ur plants could die... if you fuck up in soil.. always room to fix it...plus it takes alittle more care... really personal preferance... if your wondering what hydro is like... go for it...

I would not say that is quite accurate.

 

[bicycle racer]

i prefer soil(organic) its a little slower but in the end the quality is better particularly taste and bud density. hydroponics will produce more quicker but i prefre quality to quantity

 

[StayPost17]

Hydroponics is the way to go. Ive done both soil and hydro and Ive concluded Hydros a little harder to set up, but once its set up with timers it pretty much takes care of it self most of the time, and the plants do grow faster cause there only getting water and nutrients. Try both at least once and decide for yourself, cause it depends on your prefrences to. But for my own opinion hydro buds are better.

 

[richjames]

Let me chime in by asking the hydro'ers here, what system would be the best and easiest for a first time hydro grower? Currently Im set up in soil, but I've Tried a mini dwc setup that worked well in the beginning, but didn't have any real lights at the time and was just kinda experimenting with it so I killed it after a week or two.

 

[la9]

I think everyone should try both ways and see which works for them, I use soil with hydro nutes and get fantastic results, I try hydro and can't grow seaweed. I keep trying, someday I'll figure it out.

I think everything on a level playing field you'll end up finishing one week sooner with hydro than soil and maybe a little bit more yield. I believe that sums it up.

 

[NewGrowth]

Trade offs for both. I like to put it this way hydro is a science, soil (especially organic) is more of an art. Hydro provides vigorous growth and absolute control over every factor. I am a control freak when it comes to indoor gardening so I prefer hydro. Soil on the other hand is cheaper, easy to maintain, and a little more forgiving,.

 

[la9]

Have you done DWC before ? What is your prefered Hydro method ? I'm going to try DWC next and see if I can get a handle on it. Kinda bothers me that I can't get it right. Thinking about getting a TDS meter, do you think it's a good idea ? I can measure the PH what else do I need ? I usually just follow instructions on the package and then push things one step further or one step backward to see what happens and go from there. Hydro has not been nice to me, but I'm learning. Part of it was not letting the rockwool soak for 24 hours before using. I think I kept the rockwool too wet after that and I think that killed the ones that actually sprouted.

 

[NewGrowth]

Have you done DWC before ?

Yes

What is your prefered Hydro method ?

Flood Tables

I'm going to try DWC next and see if I can get a handle on it. Kinda bothers me that I can't get it right. Thinking about getting a TDS meter, do you think it's a good idea ? I can measure the PH what else do I need ?

Yes a TDS meter is very important to measure proper nutrient amounts, monitor nutrient uptake, ect.
You might also need:

1. Food grade 35% H202 (keeps everything clean)
2. Hydroton, net pots, reservoir
3. Air-pump, air stones
4. Seed/clone starting media such as rapid rooter plugs or rockwool cubes

That's the basics right there for DWC

I usually just follow instructions on the package and then push things one step further or one step backward to see what happens and go from there.

One of the benefits of having a TDS pen is taking the "guess" work out of feeding:
1. Water level drops PPM rises= drop your nute strength in relationship to PPM rise
2. Water level drops PPM stays the same= Stick with your current strength
3. Water level drops PPM drops= Up your nutrient strength in relationshipt to PPM drop

Hydro has not been nice to me, but I'm learning. Part of it was not letting the rockwool soak for 24 hours before using. I think I kept the rockwool too wet after that and I think that killed the ones that actually sprouted.

Pre-treating rockwool is an important step. It is also very easy to over saturate rockwool. Flick the excess water out NEVER squeeze rockwool. When watering rockwool it should become damp not wet.

Any more questions feel free to check out the thread in my sig line

 

[la9]

Thanks, I'll +++Rep you, every little piece helps. I took to soil and never had a problem but Hydro just seems to not be my thing. I'll cut and paste your info to my notes also.

 

[bicycle racer]

if your interested in speed look into aeroponics it involves spraying the roots with a fine mist there never in water so 02 levels are very high fastest growth youll get but a little tricky. when im not in soil i do aeroponics for speed and yield

 

[jimdandy]

My very first grow ever was nft hydroponics. Now I use soiless mixes which verge on hydro since there is no dirt present. The growth rate is phenomenal!! Plus you can leach the solution if you over fert. I am learning to start the feeding at 1/4 strength of the directions. Just my 2 cents

 

[asher187]

I'm Quite fond of DWC. When set up correctly it is one of the easier and cheapest methods. You can build them for next to nothing, and have money left over for the all important lighting. While I'm talking crap I'm gonna go get some snaps of my girls and update my page they look pretty good.

 

[SomeGuy]

Hydroponics is the way to go. Ive done both soil and hydro and Ive concluded Hydros a little harder to set up, but once its set up with timers it pretty much takes care of it self most of the time, and the plants do grow faster cause there only getting water and nutrients. Try both at least once and decide for yourself, cause it depends on your prefrences to. But for my own opinion hydro buds are better.

Im on my first hydro grow. Ive done about 4 grows in soil prior. OMG! The growth rate in hydro is amazing. I am doing a micro type dwc and am having great success so far. Sure I lost a few here and there but that is part of the learning curve. IMO, I like hydro over soil. with soil I would have to take every plant to the bathtub to leach the soil (did this at least twice a week). With hydro I am topping of my res's twice a week or so and changing/cleaning once every 9/10 days. So far its great, well see how the buds are but I can already see these plants are doing better than the previous soil grows.

 

[MisterMicro]

wow, aesome. I can print this thread out and sell it as a hydro book. ahaha. yeah, good point on the complexity of it, ill have to do a single 5 gallon bucket experiment my first time around, ive decided, and see if i can do it. i wont stop intell i work it out, but i wont start full on hydro untill i have it worked out. Why not go hydro? Faster is always better.

I would be curious if anyone had any growth comparisons of any sort.

 

[smartsoverambition]

Hydro/aero = Bigger yield and similar potency to soil
Soil = better taste and similar potency to hydro/aero

 

[MisterMicro]

from personal experience ambitionoversmarts? thats interesting go note. like i said, id love to see some side by side experiments if there out there.