First time rdwc and could use some help

So I built a 4 bucket rdwc that seems to be working great but my problem is plants are way more than expected. I also switched to jacks 321. I started in dwc till I got it all built and all was great till I put them in. Was like pow! Nothing like my short stalky little guys, they took of like no other. I knew it would be better but damn.. My question is I had so much branching I was scared to cut anything back since there autos. So now have 50 bud sites on each plat. I don’t know if it’s from the hydro, jacks or what. Only been indoor off on 2 years. This is what I would want boutdoor. They swallowed my tent! Using Same seeds that was using in soil. Bruce banner. I got behind a week defoliating and never could catch back up. The front left one is going thru stretch. So with hydro is it more forgiving taking small suckers. I did a test a week ago and have a small cutting that has now rooted with little bud. Ha! If I would had done that 3 weeks ago I could had 20 or better cuttings lol. Never seen such a thing. I made a single manifold thinking it was pointless joining every bucket together with pipe and being able to get away with 5 spin tights rather than 10 when each one is being fed individually and all drains back to res anyway! It apparently works as you can see. Anyway what can I do next time to be able to get a grip on it? Thanks in advance

Welcome to DWC. Yes your girls will and are doing beautifully. Almost nothing can match the speed of DWC, but, come harvest you'll see its biggest drawback. The hydro shrink.

Johiem said:

Welcome to DWC. Yes your girls will and are doing beautifully. Almost nothing can match the speed of DWC, but, come harvest you'll see its biggest drawback. The hydro shrink.

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What’s the hydro shrink? What I’m seeing already! Shit ton of little sites. I could avoid a lot of this if I’d grown photo. Wouldn’t worie about lolipoping and stressing them out. I didn’t even top these autos..I have some regular cuttings going now. One thing is for sure there will only be 1 bush per tent.

No, nothing to do with the larf specifically. I've noticed that growing DWC, while drying, the buds shrink, significantly. I know all material that is dried out shrinks, it just seems particularly noticeable in hydro growing varieties.

Johiem said:

No, nothing to do with the larf specifically. I've noticed that growing DWC, while drying, the buds shrink, significantly. I know all material that is dried out shrinks, it just seems particularly noticeable in hydro growing varieties.

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That makes sense. Grown in water and buds being nice and hydrated they would have to lose that water. Do you think the jacks could be part of the crazy amount of branching. Or is this typical of dwc too. I know there’s a lot of factors it could be. But
lights I’m using right now aren’t to heavy on reds. Have top colas at 950 Pfd and everything is in spec water temps ph ppm and all that on money. Did you have more than normal branching in flower with yours. Sorry for all the questions I’m just stumped. Appreciate your input too so thanks!

Generally have gotten pretty crazy branching myself, but I think that has more to do with training techniques. I use the "GH Trio". First was harvested almost a week ago, second I was clearing her sucker buds tonight.

Sweet! Looks familiar. I’m having up to 10 branches 8 to 14inches down from top. Making for a lot of small buds. Thanks for the pic Johiem. I lowered n down but probably to late. Jacks good for growth but will take some adjustments for flower I see.

Not much of a topper, but I'll LST the crap out of them.

Johiem said:

No, nothing to do with the larf specifically. I've noticed that growing DWC, while drying, the buds shrink, significantly. I know all material that is dried out shrinks, it just seems particularly noticeable in hydro growing varieties.

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Yup some strains will really puff up like in my avatar,dry for a week and its like which are the big ones again?LOL.

Johiem said:

No, nothing to do with the larf specifically. I've noticed that growing DWC, while drying, the buds shrink, significantly. I know all material that is dried out shrinks, it just seems particularly noticeable in hydro growing varieties.

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I thought it was just me

myke said:

Yup some strains will really puff up like in my avatar,dry for a week and its like which are the big ones again?LOL.

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I’m seeing what your saying now. Shrink back a lot!