First cycle in Hydroton, are my plants overwatered?

Jypsy Dog said:

As long as you see numbers in the right direction... Just monitor. Don't fuck with the pH until it hits 6.1
Forget about the lower leaves, there being used for compensation by the plant while you figure this out. You have to let them stabilize B4 you change again.
I saw another page on Wilma systems, The guys running them modify them into damn near DWC.

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myke said:

I use to normally see Ca and mg def.I now hover my ph between 6~6.3.I dont see those def.anymore.
Ya looks like that Wilma could be altered towards the dwc.Do you have a link?

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I am pretty interested in this! I’ll have a search on the web tonight. I am missing my old DWC right now, I like how quickly something could be rectified the plants would respond almost immediately. I had a few problems with DWC but nothing as long lasting as this, I wanted a more convenient system with some sort of substrate thinking it would be much easier. I saw much quicker growth than I am now, then again I am not exactly nailing this Hydroton/Wilma thing. I had root rot very bad and managed to “fix it just before the flip.. This was a few weeks before harvest last time and considering the rot, it wasn’t too bad for the tiny room ... sorry about the LEDs




The plants are looking good tonight! Darker green and “perkier” than usual. This is the test plant at the beginning of this thread ..



And now



So there has been some growth, hopefully if I don’t mess it up we are on the way to recovery.


I’m not sure how I would convert the system.. I guess cut a large hole in the tank so the roots can make it into the solution?

Seems to be no shortage of modifcations being done.. Can't find the one I liked. Most drill out the bottoms.
http://www.thctalk.com/cannabis-forum/showthread.php?145589-My-Modified-Wilma-Watering-System

Jypsy Dog said:

Seems to be no shortage of modifcations being done.. Can't find the one I liked. Most drill out the bottoms.
http://www.thctalk.com/cannabis-forum/showthread.php?145589-My-Modified-Wilma-Watering-System

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Thanks mate.! I have actually done one better and pipped up the tubes so when I turn a valve the water drains straight out the room. The tanks are all connected through a chiller (not sure if this is a bit over the top for this system)

Check out the plants

I am so happy, this morning there was no droop! I still haven’t seen the tank numbers move in the right direction. The ppm is stable now compared to a few days ago when it was rising daily.

Fancy checking in every once in a while to guide me through

I am thinking I haven’t got that much time until I have to flip but I haven’t introduced them to anywhere near the ppm they should be taking. Will I be running at a lower ppm in flower than I would have been if this went perfectly from the start? How long shall I leave the tank alone before increasing nutrients?

So your watering once a day?If so seams kinda pointless having all that water below the plants.I would just use it as a drain.Mix up some nutes in separate pails.Kinda like coco.
your ppm will rise as the water evaporates leaving behind the salts.

myke said:

So your watering once a day?If so seams kinda pointless having all that water below the plants.I would just use it as a drain.Mix up some nutes in separate pails.Kinda like coco.
your ppm will rise as the water evaporates leaving behind the salts.

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I am now feeding 3x a day at a very slow drip rate. I would imagine I can increase this as the plants get bigger but at the moment yes, all that water is pointless. I think this is why I haven’t seen the tank numbers move, so much water but only small amounts pass by the roots.
When can I increase ppm in prep for flower?

I don't know whats your plan?I would be tucking /lst the shoots under your scrog until its almost full.
The color of the leaves will tell you when they want more.

I have to ask,, why all the concern to jack up your ppm's? And if you wait for the leaves to tell you plant health, your behind already. That's the entire idea behind Hydro, Information and close control of what he plant receives.

So if I wait for the leaves to tell me, I risk falling behind. How else should I know when I need to up the ppm? Just increase it slowly before seeing lighter leaves?
I’m not overly concerned but just thought as they are growing so fast now it won’t be long until the net is 80% full ( I filled the net way too much last time) and I will have to flower. I know when I flip the plants will need more nutrients. I was just wondering as they are so low now, will it effect the ppm in flower? You don’t seem to worry about this though Gypsy Dog.

Wilma to dwc, just replace pots with buckets.

Just a heads up, the drain holes have high chance of becoming blocked by roots.
Drilling another hole in the center of the drain channel will prevent a flood event from occurring.

Woodsy92 said:

So if I wait for the leaves to tell me, I risk falling behind. How else should I know when I need to up the ppm? Just increase it slowly before seeing lighter leaves?
I’m not overly concerned but just thought as they are growing so fast now it won’t be long until the net is 80% full ( I filled the net way too much last time) and I will have to flower. I know when I flip the plants will need more nutrients. I was just wondering as they are so low now, will it effect the ppm in flower? You don’t seem to worry about this though Gypsy Dog.

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My concern is leaving them with increased salts laying around on the roots. More salts, less water/evaporation. Burn. I would think an extra cycle of feeding first.
Just my thoughts man. Leaving roots like that with fewer (washings) would be a fear.
I still think checking your numbers gives the truest info on how they feed.