So I have always been a hydro guy and I have kept my mothers in Hempy Buckets for the most part and over the past few years in pots with coco and moving to pro-mix. But I was gifted a mother in soil and I can't help but notice that pith from the soil plants are larger and wondering if that means that soil mothers are better. Thoughts?
Are soil mothers superior to hydro mothers?
- Thread starter DaFreak
- Start date
Nabbers
Well-Known Member
Well if I were going to speculate, I'd first take into consideration the differences from one strain to another. I've grown a lot of hydro and seen some big differences from one to the next in the main stalk when I chop them down, some being almost completely hollow and some being quite dense.
We also know from experience that hydro plants tend to grow faster than soil, so the soil has a lot more time to grow internally while the stems remain shorter.
I also wonder at the differences in the availability of micronutrients between organic and synthetic fertilizer - most of the organics have everything always available in the soil and the plant takes up whatever it needs, while with hydro you're pretty much force-feeding a blend that can sometimes skimp on a micro here and there. I've seen some talk on supplementing with silicon in hydro which I don't personally know if it effects the pith growth, but I wouldn't be surprised. A lot may come down to what regiment you're using in the hydro grows, in that regard.
We also know from experience that hydro plants tend to grow faster than soil, so the soil has a lot more time to grow internally while the stems remain shorter.
I also wonder at the differences in the availability of micronutrients between organic and synthetic fertilizer - most of the organics have everything always available in the soil and the plant takes up whatever it needs, while with hydro you're pretty much force-feeding a blend that can sometimes skimp on a micro here and there. I've seen some talk on supplementing with silicon in hydro which I don't personally know if it effects the pith growth, but I wouldn't be surprised. A lot may come down to what regiment you're using in the hydro grows, in that regard.
I find they are stronger out of soil with a p.h of 6.2. I used to keep soil moms then switched to hempys, then I switch back after I found that the overall sturdiness of the plant was weaker in the hempy buckets. Soil moms for the win. HP pro mix, Perlite, vermiculite, coco, worm castings. I find this makes a really good base that you can leave alone for a bit.
JohnDee
Well-Known Member
DaFreak and pals,
I'm gonna assume that hydro includes coco and hempys.
There's an old trick that provides cuttings with a little extra oomph. If you withhold N for about a weak before taking cuttings...then the stored sugars stack up in the leaves (high Brix) due to missing the crucial element N.
So once you take the cuttings...that are loaded with stored energy to last them while they grow roots. This is only necessary if you have a hard to clone strain. It's quite hard to do in soil unless it's depleted soil. Much easier to do with hydro.
JD
I'm gonna assume that hydro includes coco and hempys.
There's an old trick that provides cuttings with a little extra oomph. If you withhold N for about a weak before taking cuttings...then the stored sugars stack up in the leaves (high Brix) due to missing the crucial element N.
So once you take the cuttings...that are loaded with stored energy to last them while they grow roots. This is only necessary if you have a hard to clone strain. It's quite hard to do in soil unless it's depleted soil. Much easier to do with hydro.
JD
Please, by all means explain.
John I know about the nitrogen, I don't have any problems cloning. I clone in coco, pro-mix and aero fine for decades, but no experience in soil. I lived in a country where growing could get you 10 years so disposing of soil was always a risk I was not willing to take. Hoping that somebody has actually done a comparison, and I guess I will in a round or two.
Renfro
Well-Known Member
Shit I got a buddy doing 25 in Colorado. He has already done about 12
Renfro
Well-Known Member
Yep and he had a clean record, not even a misdemeanor on his record. He did have a big ass grow though.
xtsho
Well-Known Member
Why? If you're running a hydro system why would you want to deal with dirt? I kept mothers in hydro for years without any problems. There is nothing wrong with growing mothers in hydro. I've been growing for decades and am hardly a "noob". What basis do you have for making that statement?
Renfro
Well-Known Member
I used deep water for moms back when I did SoG. I needed 200 clones every 20 days. I had 5 mothers that did the job. Thing is with hydro the bigger cuts often had hollow stems and I would just toss those as they wouldn't root most of the time. Still had plenty to do the job.
justoutforarip
Member
No. It matters how you grow them out.
xtsho
Well-Known Member
I grew hydro for years and kept mothers. Never had a problem with getting clones to root. In fact I grew the same strain that came from a clone for around two years. I don't bother with mothers anymore. I just make seeds and grow from those. Saves space and time with cloning. Just pop some seeds and grow. I like the variety from growing from seed. If I find a really good pheno I'll pollinate and make seeds using my collection of pollen stored in the freezer which is regularly updated and replenished since I grow regulars and keep good males just for pollen collection.
But the methodology I use for my growing might not align with others. It works for me. That's all I care about.
But the methodology I use for my growing might not align with others. It works for me. That's all I care about.
That sucks mind you the UK ain't as bad as that still can land you in jail mind you but that is extreme for a bit of weed