Thinking

[Blue brother]

OK I've been using Gold Leaf and not real happy. My Son is using Fox Fire Nutes and doing well .

Can I ask why you aren’t happy with gold leaf?

 

[Jjgrow420]

I'm also debating going to coco/perlite and automating the watering. We are soil now like you, but I'm not sure automating the watering with blumats is worth it. I'm not trying to drain a reaivior out all over the floor.

Never had that happen. They're alot easier than people make it seem.
Problems come from not following directions and just doing your own thing. If anything I had more issues with them clogging up than anything.

 

[Nope_49595933949]

Never had that happen. They're alot easier than people make it seem.

You are the first person I've spoken with who hasn't had this problem at least once. How long have you been using them? How big is your set up?

 

[Blue brother]

Never had that happen. They're alot easier than people make it seem.

I think a lot of people just hear the very rare horror story, buildasoil comes to mind

 

[Jjgrow420]

You are the first person I've spoken with who hasn't had this problem at least once. How long have you been using them? How big is your set up?

I ran them I'm my 5x5 on 12 plants and in my 3x3 on 9 plants. Never had a runaway. Issues with over/under watering that I realized were my own fault from not setting properly. Going to set them up in the 3x3 again with coco. After that I'll use them in the 3x3 with some living soil. Using the digital moisture meter really helps dial in the exact moisture level you're looking for. Then you can check them and make sure they're still turning on/off at the proper times.
I was super worried about that too and bought pond liner, and did the whole bottom 12" up. Never had to use it. Good insurance though.

 

[Drop That Sound]

Get some PH drops, a big plastic storage bin, net pots, hydroton pebbles, some air stones.. sweep up all that dirt, and never look back

Or not, but the only way to get into hydro is to just start growing that way. Try it on a few plants on the side. The reason I learned was because I got a bag of ammended coco mix from a buddy years ago, and thought it was soil. Once I found out why my plants looked like shit, and started feeding them PH'd water everyday, I was hooked. Went straight to DWC after playing with coco for like a year or so.

 

[Blue brother]

I honestly believe stonewool is a far more beginner friendly media than coco, coco is not as inert as people would have you believe

 

[Jjgrow420]

I honestly believe stonewool is a far more beginner friendly media than coco, coco is not as inert as people would have you believe

I found coco to be extremely simple. Honestly I don't know why more people aren't using it, and I don't understand how people run into issues using it. You just need a little understanding of ph, ec and how to read the plant. Rockwool can be a pain in the butt imo especially for someone new. I don't even root in Rockwool anymore.

 

[Oldguyrealy]

Can I ask why you aren’t happy with gold leaf?

Seems they are just setting there.

I know kind of not noticing all the growth until I go to water them.

Plus my Son coming in with huge Colas using Fox Farm.

 

[Creature1969]

Plus my Son coming in with huge Colas using Fox Farm.

The nutes aren't the reason for bigger colas. It's something else.

 

[Oldguyrealy]

The nutes aren't the reason for bigger colas. It's something else.

Been thinking water, so I'm using his.

 

[Oldguyrealy]

Thinking water because mine has so many chemicals his doesn't.

 

[Blue brother]

I found coco to be extremely simple. Honestly I don't know why more people aren't using it, and I don't understand how people run into issues using it. You just need a little understanding of ph, ec and how to read the plant. Rockwool can be a pain in the butt imo especially for someone new. I don't even root in Rockwool anymore.

Stonewool is everything coco is in true hydroponics but you don’t need to worry about high cation exchange rate and your plants not getting enough cal or mag, stonewool also has a better water/air ratio than coco, I think people just overcomplicate stonewool, I’ve even done grodan loose cube hempys

 

[Oldguyrealy]

Stonewool is everything coco is in true hydroponics but you don’t need to worry about high cation exchange rate and your plants not getting enough cal or mag, stonewool also has a better water/air ratio than coco, I think people just overcomplicate stonewool, I’ve even done grodan loose cube hempys

I used Stone Wool for Clones and it wasn't good.

 

[Blue brother]

I used Stone Wool for Clones and it wasn't good.

No offence but I think that’s probably down to some user error, it’s pretty much the industry standard for a lot of reasons, each to their own though, I use those root riot sponge things nowadays cos I wanna try and be kind to my environment.

 

[Oldguyrealy]

We tried getting Clones to root in Rock Wool . Never happened.

I know not supposed to but been using soil to root Clones and doing fine.

 

[J. Rocket]

I've had very good experiences rooting clones in rockwool/stonewool.
Growing in it has been excellent as well.
Super simple medium to work with.
If its in there, you put it there.

 

[Blue brother]

If its in there, you put it there.

Exactly, well said!

 

[Blue brother]

We tried getting Clones to root in Rock Wool . Never happened.

I know not supposed to but been using soil to root Clones and doing fine.

Whatever works for you is the right route mate, rooting in soil is good cos you’re innoculating the root zone with mychorizae as soon as there is one. I try and work with nature wherever possible, nature knows far more than I could ever hope to learn, even now I grow no till but i still spoon feed with non organic magnesium, potassium, phosphorous, sulphur, silica. Nature takes care of the bulk of the work which leaves me plenty stress free time to observe my genetics needs and react with spoon feeds