BudsMcgee, the beginning...

Welcome. This is sort of a beginning for me. Not my first grow, but the first grow of the rest of my future so to speak. Anyways, first off I am not any professional of any kind, I do things as I see them, and problem solve the best I can. For what it's worth though, I am good at growing for some reason. Always have been, my grandpa before me. What we plant or raise has always been highest of quality. Basically everything I know, other than cannabis specific information, I learned from my grandpa. Hope my ideas, rather my grandpa's can help someone once. Feel free to ask questions, but don't get rude. If you think what I am doing is dumb, just ask me why I am doing it this way, I bet I got an answer for you.
It's about the growing here, if they are all females and produce 2 pounds a piece, awesome, they are males, I collect the pollen, and try the next batch. I like the not knowing. So let's focus on the actually process of growing.

All photos are uploaded in order.

So to start off, we are 4 weeks in already, from seed to bushy 2 week olds in veg.

I am not growing a lot, only 8 plants. I am doing gorilla glue #4, now these seeds are from a hermaphrodite I think. Since this strain was produced from a hermaphrodite, I think I can make some very good females. Before you tell me, don't, I know they could all be male, they could all be hermaphrodites, not a big deal. I experiment a lot. I grow from any seed. That's how strains are born.

Reservoir setup:
55 gal tub from Walmart, $20
2/500 gph fountain pumps, $45 a pump
Tubing and connectors, $25

Plant setup:
5" inch net pots, $1.17 a piece
Hydroton, $32 / 50L
Rapid rooters, $15

This a fast flow, or cascade style drip system. Its very efficient and easy to setup. The thing that sucks on this particular setup is the net pots are so shallow, the rapid rooters sponge sticks out over the Hydroton. I don't like to have the Hydroton cover the water tubes. Gets build up then water loss to the plant. Happened to 2 plants already haha. Will show later.

Room setup:
Temp/humidity guage, $10
2'×4'×7' mylar tent
4/105w clf bulbs, 4 more added next week, $45 per pair
Honeywell fan, $15
Exhaust inline fan, free
Drying hose and tub, $12
Metal ducting, $34
Charcoal, $27/5lb.

Nutrients: prices vary, but amazon usually is the cheapest
General Hydroponics Floral Series
CaliMag
Floralicious
Rapidstart
Zone by Dutch master, highly recommended

*Using all recommended amounts, on phasic schedule. Will add nutrients as needed as well.*

PH is usually 6.0, it's high but they seem to love it. Check the PH daily, adjust as necessary I try to get it 6.3 or below. I try not to mess with it too much, I have learned plants manage themselves better than we think, and over compensating is worse.

More of the particulars are that it's on 18/6 light schedule, I like it, it works. It's setup in a basement.
Temps are usually, between 73°F to 81°F
Humidity, between 45% and 60%

Now I do have one issue, the stalks are twisted and weak on a few of the plants. Not sure what caused it, but they are still growing. Tied supports to them, to help them. Hopefully they will grow out of it.

Thanks for looking! Let me know if you have any questions.

Healthy looking plants!
I've dabbled in DWC, does your set up have any air stones in the reservoir? Or is it only the pump? If it is only the pump, have you ever had any problems with root rot or your nutrient solution settling?
Looking forward to seeing how things go!

avid.toke said:

Healthy looking plants!
I've dabbled in DWC, does your set up have any air stones in the reservoir? Or is it only the pump? If it is only the pump, have you ever had any problems with root rot or your nutrient solution settling?
Looking forward to seeing how things go!

Click to expand...

Well I don't use air stones, I am not relying on them to sit in the water although they will. I use another small pump to move the water about so the nutes don't settle. Root rot happens, but I have never had a problem as far as them dying or getting nutrients cut off. Here is what my reservoir looks like on the inside.

This could possibly be day 1 after seeding them, and getting them rooted. Over thought my first design of water tubing to the plants. Haha

*Update*

Added 5 gallons of water to the reservoir today.
Additives: Zone by Dutch master
CaliMag
Floralicious
Rapidstart rooting enhancer

I will continue to add like this until flowering starts.

*update*

Repeated the last update yesterday. PH has been holding at 5.9. High, but they are growing, like I said I let mother nature do her thing. No signs of bugs, or mold. A little root rot, not below the water line though. But my res is heating up since 3 pumps are going. I may need a cooler. Or change from phasic to water change, that's not what I was setup for though, I would have made a dump valve a few other mods.

*update*

So apparently my timer broke, so I have been in 24hr light for awhile now I guess. Has not seemed to hurt them at all. Now I know why my res has been so warm also though. Not ever getting a chance to cool down properly. So I am getting a new timer, and may go ahead change out the nutes. Get ready for 12/12, because they have grown faster than I thought they would.