Newbs First grow - Bubbleponics

comptown · Jan 30, 2009

Hello all,
Starting my first grow ever. After much research, I have decided to go with a bucket bubbleponics system using 5 gal buckets. I have 3 buckets with 2 used to hold the plants, the other one to act as a reservoir. I started germinating 3 seeds decent bag stuff on 1/22/09. I used two plates and a ceramic coffee cup with just enough distilled water to cover the seeds on top of my cable box, no paper towels. I did not really expect all 3 to pop, but they did, so I tosed one seed and I planted the other two on 1/25. So far, one has sprouted and the other is really trying. I think the one lagging is my fault, put the seed to far down. I'm currently using (4) 26w CFL bulbs 6500K for the sprout/seedling stage. If things go well, I have an 250w HPS ballast and 250W MH conversion bulb ready to go. already had a PH issue, yesterday got as high as 7.4 before I noticed and knocked it back down to 5.5. I'm using distilled water with a little bit of superthrive. I plan on starting them on the GH Flora series hopefully in a week or two. Any feed back on the Lucas method would be greatly appreciated. Here are some pics. Any advice or comments are also appreciated. Also, I had to use the MH as a heater, thats why you see the ceramic bowls and the light on. They are now covered with clear tupperware.

Thanks

SenorSanteria · Jan 30, 2009

Im very impressed. It looks like youve done your research. I mean hell, your setup is nicer than mine! I have no doubt that you'll be having one very successful harvest after another with this setup. Nice grow!

Bsmoke · Jan 30, 2009

berry berry nice

Cr8z13 · Jan 30, 2009

Make sure you keep them uncovered once they sprout. Hold off on nutes until week 3, and start at no more than 300PPM. Nice work so far, good luck. Welcome to RIU. :leaf:

comptown · Feb 1, 2009

Thanks guys. Sorry for the delayed response, but I had to go out of town for the weekend and just got back in. The girls, i hope, seem to be doing quite well. Haven't started to unpack, so I have no idea where the camera is. I should have pics up tomorrow. The first one is starting to develop her second full set of leaves and the second girl looks like she is a few days behind. I'll try to update the pics twice a week.

SenorSanteria said:
Im very impressed. It looks like youve done your research. I mean hell, your setup is nicer than mine! I have no doubt that you'll be having one very successful harvest after another with this setup. Nice grow!

Senor,
Thanks for the comment and all of the help. I'd still be doing this :wall:

if it were not for you. Another rep coming you way, once I have spread enough love around.

Cr8z13 said:
Make sure you keep them uncovered once they sprout. Hold off on nutes until week 3, and start at no more than 300PPM. Nice work so far, good luck. Welcome to RIU.

Cr8z13,
My original plan was to try that, but my closet has a relative humidity of about 20%. I will be purchasing a cool mist humidifier and a separate timer for it first thing tomorrow to try and get the humidity level to around 50 - 60%. I was thinking about pulling the domes off then. What do you think?
Thanks,

Cr8z13 · Feb 1, 2009

They don't need to be covered once they sprout.

comptown · Feb 2, 2009

Here are the new pics I promised. I went and got the cool mist humidifier and noticed the temp started to get below 70, so I pulled the CFL's and went with the 250w MH. It is app. 20 inches above the plants, the temp is now up to around 76 degrees. relative humidity is still low, 25%. I have to keep on the PH, it always wants to go up. Ordered some Flora Blend along with a fan controller for the 6" can fan. Let me know what you guys think of the plants.
:peace:

Cr8z13 · Feb 3, 2009

Everything sounds and looks good. Just try not to overfeed and you should be fine.

comptown · Feb 4, 2009

All,
Seems I've hit my first real issue. My older plant's first main set of leaves are drooping and turning black. I haven't started using any nutes, other than the superthrive, and that was put in when the seedlings were first put in. I did not see this issue until after I hooked up the 250w MH, so I'm thinking it must be burning the leaves. I have turned that off and gone back to the (4) 26w 6500K CFL's, 2 for each plant. I do not believe heat to be an issue. I have the cold mist humidifier and a oscillating fan running when the lights are on and the vent through the light and the closet vent are on 24/7. temp does not seem to get above 78. Now with the CFL's, temp is around 73. Here are some pics of the problem plant. I'm hoping someone can confirm my theory or tell me what the real problem is.
:peace:

Cr8z13 · Feb 4, 2009

Personally, I wouldn't have used anything but plain water for seedlings. I don't think the light caused them to droop. I'm thinking that rockwool has been too moist.

comptown · Feb 5, 2009

Cr8z13,
What about the leaves starting to turn black? I checked the water level in the buckets and reservoir, never got lower than the bottom of the net pot. The top of my RW cubes are dry, but you can definitely see moisture coming up through the hydroton. BTW +rep for helping me out.

Eddie McPot · Feb 5, 2009

Dood I would flush and use straight water for a bit. They should clear up.

comptown · Feb 5, 2009

Ok. will do that right now. you think it was the superthrive? the whole system holds 10 gallons and I only put in 1.5 teaspoons, the recommended dosage for 6 gallons. Thanks for the help. +rep

Cr8z13 · Feb 6, 2009

Yeah, just plain water for at least a week or two while they recover.

Where in the hell am I? · Feb 6, 2009

Well yer set up looks tits. Sounds like yer gettin some good help, too. I'll chek in on ya, if ya need help that ya aren't geetin, just hit me up! Good luck and I hope that yer probs start resolvin!

Eddie McPot · Feb 6, 2009

Yah, keep up the journal man. You may help us out as well. I follow several grows, learning new techniqes.

comptown · Feb 7, 2009

All,
The kids are not looking good. Plant A has shown no improvement and the cot's are now completely yellow. Plant B, which had looked decent, has all of it's leaves curled WAY down and the tips are starting to turn yellow. They were flushed and water was redone on Thursday. If these things don't show me something quick, then it may be better to chock it up as a lesson to not ever use superthrive in DWC and start over. I'm OK with that, I did not use any of my good seeds. If I start over, then I will just continue the current thread and add more pics. I don't consider this a "Grow Journal" yet, because all I've manged to do is kill plants, not grow them. I'll post pics of the girls here and I'll let you guys decide whether or not to chuck it and start fresh or to try and save what I got.

Cr8z13 · Feb 8, 2009

Maybe they'll bounce back, but yeah, consider it a lesson learned.

comptown · Feb 8, 2009

all,
OK. Killed the two plants I was trying to grow. I've gone ahead and starting germing some Thai Power Skunk from the attitude. Cleaned out my set up and found some 5 inch bubble disks, which I am adding to try and increase the air in the water. Once the seeds have germed and I've got in the rockwool, I'll start updating the post again. No Superthrive this time. I'll post pics as soon as I I've got something worth taking a pic of. Thanks for all the help guys, I'll try and make you proud next time.

Newbs First grow - Bubbleponics

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