Best way to get an auto seed started for DWC?

cjsbabygirl313

cjsbabygirl313

Well-Known Member
Once my seed is germinated, what is the best way to set it up for DWC (rapid rooter? peat pod?). This will only be my second grow and I want to avoid the troubled start I had the last time (3 years ago!). Also, I’d rather not deal with rock wool if at all possible.
@Nafydad420 ?
 
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LKABudMan

LKABudMan

Member
Hi @cjsbabygirl313 fancy seeing you over here :) I use EZ-Gro plugs (like rapid rooters but not pre-moistened). I soak the rooter for about an hour in a mild CloneX solution (can also use a mild nute solution, around 250ppm) pH'ed to around 6. Then I stick the seed about 1/4 inch into the cube and tear off a corner to cover the hole. Put it in a humidity dome with a heat mat set to 74f under a grow light. In 3-4 days, I get a sprout. Once sprouted, take off the dome and allow it to get acclimated to it's new environment. Once 1" of root is coming out of the bottom of the cube, you can move to your bucket with your grow medium.

I have read a lot about people putting seeds in water for 24+ hours and using paper towels to germinate. So far, I have had great results with the above, no soaking or paper towels required. I never have to handle the germinated seed or worry about touching the root. Do not use peat pods, as the peat will get too wet and disintegrate in your DWC bucket. Good luck!
 
cjsbabygirl313

cjsbabygirl313

Well-Known Member
Hey @LKABudMan !

yeah, this is my old stomping ground, most of those who helped get me through my first grow are no longer around it seems - hence why I joined the other board!

I still have the rapid rooters, but they’re soooo dried out its not funny so maybe I’ll go ahead and soak them in a mild nute solution like you were saying. I have both the GH Flora Trio, the Botanicare Grow and Botanicare Bloom, and a cal/mag solution - which do you think? Guess I also better get some distilled water going *sigh*. (Waiting for my little greenhouse tray and hearing mat to get here.)

I did the paper towel method my last go-round and then moved them to my aerogarden plugs. Went “ok” - one did well the other not so much. Then a couple of the guys here took pity on me and helped me though and the two plants totally switched places. Feel free to look at the pics throughout that grow journal in my profile here.

Btw, i have bookmarked your grow journal in the other thread and am gonna be following that!
 
DirtyJerzey

DirtyJerzey

Well-Known Member
What I normally do is start the seed the good ol fashioned way with a moist paper towel. Once it pops, ill usually wait an additional day and Ill soak a cube of rockwool in some good water (I'm well water, and my ppm is stupid low). I'll then split the cube in half and nestle that bad girl in there.

Then I place it in my DWC cage with my expanded clay. I set my water level higher, just touching the bottom of the cage. The bubbler then keeps the clay moist. Set your lights a little higher and let er rip tater chip.

Ive never had any issues once I get it in the bucket. The ONLY time Ive had issues was doing that same method, but putting it in soil. Could be me, or the strain, I only tried a few times with Auto Froyo. Failed every time.

When it comes to nutes, most times I wont nute the water until I get my first true leaves. Then I start my CNS17 regime, including Cal/Mag
 
rkymtnman

rkymtnman

Well-Known Member
cjsbabygirl313 said:
Once my seed is germinated, what is the best way to set it up for DWC (rapid rooter? peat pod?). This will only be my second grow and I want to avoid the troubled start I had the last time (3 years ago!). Also, I’d rather not deal with rock wool if at all possible.
@Nafydad420 ?
Click to expand...
i germinate right in a rapid rooter in a small aeroponic unit then into the DWC when they get some decent roots on them.
 
icetech

icetech

Well-Known Member
I start mine in a paper towel in a zip lock (usually takes 1 day) then into a solo cup with dirt.. once the plant is big enough i clean the roots (in a tub with water gently massaging them til they are clean) then into my bubble cloner til they have good root mass then into a DWC bucket.. i like to use the cloner to get good roots so when they hit the bucket they are usually into flower withing 1 to 2 weeks..
 
LKABudMan

LKABudMan

Member
Well, I guess my method is not as 100% as I thought. I just put two seeds in EZ-Gro cubes on Sunday. The first seedling came up Wednesday. The second came up last night, but it is missing something:
20211022_083230.jpg
20211022_083235.jpg

Not sure why, but it looks like the leaves got stuck in the shell and ripped off when it sprouted. Oh well, time to pop another bean.
 
cjsbabygirl313

cjsbabygirl313

Well-Known Member
LKABudMan said:
Well, I guess my method is not as 100% as I thought. I just put two seeds in EZ-Gro cubes on Sunday. The first seedling came up Wednesday. The second came up last night, but it is missing something:
View attachment 5014638
View attachment 5014639

Not sure why, but it looks like the leaves got stuck in the shell and ripped off when it sprouted. Oh well, time to pop another bean.
Click to expand...
Hopefully the next one wont “lose it” coming up!

I decided I’m actually going to drop 6 seeds to pop, once sprouted drop them all in rapid rooters in a mini greenhouse and then let them all ride under the growlights until they all are well established (2-3 nodes) and show a good set of roots - then the best two will go into hydroton. The 4 others then? Not a clue what I’ll do with them yet!
 
cjsbabygirl313

cjsbabygirl313

Well-Known Member
@LKABudMan

Just to start getting back in the groove, last night I distilled 1 gallon of water; verified that EC and PPM are at 0, PH was 6.8.

Today I added 7ml of CNS17 Grow which gave me:
  • EC: .7
  • PPM: 320
  • PH: 5.5
Added 2ml of Cal/mag which gave me a total of:
  • EC: .9
  • PPM: 430
  • PH: 5.4
Added 3ml Hydroguard and 1/16 tsp+life and everything stayed the same; this is seedling strength for my nutes according to Botanicare. I will check everything in 24 hours to verify all stayed the same (last go-round I had terrible PH swings, never determined if it was because of air stones or the hydroton, but eventually it stopped swinging so bad). Will adjust PH if necessary back down to 5.5

If all stays good, I will dilute that down 50% and use that strength to soak my rapid rooters in and for watering my seeds once they have popped, been moved to the rapid rooters, and transferred to the mini greenhouse I have under the lights in the tent (24” up from the greenhouse and maybe 50% veg and 0% bloom lighting).

Once they are up from the rooters, I’ll pull the humidity dome off and turn on the little mini fans in the tent for air circulation and to start strengthening the stems.

This will all go in my grow journal which I REALLY REALLY hope to start next week!

Let me know if ya think anything is off, not right, or should be adjusted!
 
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icetech

icetech

Well-Known Member
cjsbabygirl313 said:
@LKABudMan

Just to start getting back in the groove, last night I distilled 1 gallon of water; verified that EC and PPM are at 0, PH was 6.8.

Today I added 7ml of CNS17 Grow which gave me:
  • EC: .7
  • PPM: 320
  • PH: 5.5
Added 2ml of Cal/mag which gave me a total of:
  • EC: .9
  • PPM: 430
  • PH: 5.4
Added 3ml Hydroguard and 1/16 tsp+life and everything stayed the same; this is seedling strength for my nutes according to Botanicare. I will check everything in 24 hours to verify all stayed the same (last go-round I had terrible PH swings, never determined if it was because of air stones or the hydroton, but eventually it stopped swinging so bad). Will adjust PH if necessary back down to 5.5

If all stays good, I will dilute that down 50% and use that strength to soak my rapid rooters in and for watering my seeds once they have popped, been moved to the rapid rooters, and transferred to the mini greenhouse I have under the lights in the tent (24” up from the greenhouse and maybe 50% veg and 0% bloom lighting).

Once they are up from the rooters, I’ll pull the humidity dome off and turn on the little mini fans in the tent for air circulation and to start strengthening the stems.

This will all go in my grow journal which I REALLY REALLY hope to start next week!

Let me know if ya think anything is off, not right, or should be adjusted!
Click to expand...
Just a FYI, Southern AG is more concentrated than hydroguard and is like $16 a quart... just hate to see people throw money away they don't need to :)
 
G

GeoBewley

Member
I've used peat pods when I first started my growing. I would let them get going good bout 2 weeks in pods. Then have 5 gallon bucket of water that has sat in same area for 24 hrs as not to shock roots. Dim lights as low as possible, lightly cut fabric on pod one side. Then lightly remove fabric from plant, carefully. Lightly dip plant up and down in the water , it will remove dirt. Only use gentle, movements. Then I would place in my hydroponic system. I hope it helps. Also if you need seeds, Royal Queen Seeds are amazing.
 
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