DWC when to add nutes? First time. Need help.

Chinity

Member
This is my first grow. I am doing DWC. My seeds germinated today and I put them in my set up with 5.5 ph res. Was wondering when do I start adding nutrition? Also I have these. Is it enough nutrition for my plants to go from seed to flower?
http://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-Flora-Series-FloraBloom/dp/B0024NDVRA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1349971522&sr=8-3&keywords=plant+nutrients

I also will use http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009DV3HM/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00 for micro nutrients.

Anyone can help me with my questions please? If anyone can PM me and help me out that will be great.
 

insan3

Well-Known Member
ppm measure the amount of nutrients in the water. Closer to Zero the less nutes in water, higher the number the more nutes there is. ordinary water would roughly have between 0-400 ( depends on your city standard) Unless you use bottle water or another system). PPM doesn't add up.

a general guide is that you use no nutes(just plain water ) from 0 to 2-3 weeks. 3-4 weeks you use 1/4 strength(200-400ppm), then 3-4 weeks 1/2 strength(500 to 700ppm) and 4-5 weeks full strength(800-1100ppm).

to mix nutes you start with plain water + add nutes, then check ppm. if its to high then take out some of the solution and add water to lower it. if the ppm is to low then add more nutres until you reach the proper ppm level.

Also keep in mind some nutrients will get absorb at different ph levels so check your nutes to see what they prefer. but most people use 5.5 to 5.7 in early grow. They usually absorb the most nutes then.

take from my journal. some extra info in there. as far how much you will need depends on how many plants but to grow from start to finish the GH line will do enough, obiously you can other stuff but KISS. keep in mine since your doing dwc you will need less nutes since the roots are in the water soaking it up nutes 24/7.
 

insan3

Well-Known Member
lets say nute A is 20ml in week 1, you give it 5ml. 1/4 strenght of the solution. some people change it once a week, others 2 or longer. it all depends how you want to do it.
 

Dalek Supreme

Well-Known Member
If the label calls for 1 Tsp.....you start with 1/4-1/2 Tsp.If label calls for 1/4 Tsp you start with 1/16-1/8 Tsp.(for plant cycle/stage)
Use this for the res.Keep the medium moist not soaked or dry with ph'ed water.The roots will work there way to the splash of nutes.

http://lucasformula.com/
 

Malevolence

New Member
If your seedlings start to yellow, they need nutes - 2 weeks or not. I start at 150ppm x0.5 when they get 2nd set of leaves.
 

Chinity

Member
Hey guys can I add nutes into my res and let the airstone mix it up?



I add nutes on the hole without a plant and let airstone mix it up. Will this work?
 

kryptoniteglo

Well-Known Member
What are you doing with all the hydroton rocks on top of the rockwool cube?

Also, for the other two rockwool cubes, the moisture in the rockwool combined with the light will yield slimy green algae in a couple of weeks. When the seedling pops up, use either some panda film or blackout plastic or netpot covers to cover the cube and protect light from hitting it and making algae.
 

Chinity

Member
What are you doing with all the hydroton rocks on top of the rockwool cube?

Also, for the other two rockwool cubes, the moisture in the rockwool combined with the light will yield slimy green algae in a couple of weeks. When the seedling pops up, use either some panda film or blackout plastic or netpot covers to cover the cube and protect light from hitting it and making algae.
So should I wait for another week for my plant to get bigger or should I cover them now?
 

kryptoniteglo

Well-Known Member
So should I wait for another week for my plant to get bigger or should I cover them now?
Wait until they're a little bigger -- they look so young that if you accidentally bumped them as you adjusted any covering you could do damage. This is what the algae looks like -- I think it's pretty harmless at the early stage, but you don't want it getting worse. It literally appeared overnight and freaked me out. My plants were about 3-4 inches tall at the time.

photo.jpg

I then used blackout garbage bags with a hole in the middle and was very careful putting them on. That ended up looking like this:

photo.jpg

Didn't have algae issues after that. Some people might pile some additional hydroton pellets on top of the cube to block the light. My stems were very thin for a long time, so I didn't want anything bumping them accidentally.
 

BigLittlejohn

Well-Known Member
If your seedlings start to yellow, they need nutes - 2 weeks or not. I start at 150ppm x0.5 when they get 2nd set of leaves.
That's my general rule. Once the plant gets its second set of True Leaves, I'll add 1/4 strength Nutrients. That seems to be working for me. I really never get to full 100% strength either, at least according to the feeding chart that comes with the nutes I use.
 
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