New Grow, setting up RDWC

White.Black

Well-Known Member
After my successful grow in DWC (10 gallon tote), I'm ready to start a new one.
In my last grow, I had only one plant in the tote, the roots were massive...and the plant was massive too. Harvest was around 300 grams. Here's the picture of the plant and the roots:
IMG_25651109_092232 (2).jpg

IMG_25651120_183426.jpg

Now since the plant was filling up (although I could've done a better job trimming and defoliating) the tent up to 80%... and the roots were just off this world, I'm in doubt as to what I should do for my next grow. I wanted to plant 2 plants in one tent, but I'm not sure if I should do that by putting both in the same 10 gallon tote (DWC)

Or if it would be better to invest in a small RDWC system, like this one:
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My concern for this simple RDWC would be the roots. The roots would absolutely jam these buckets and the pipes, am I wrong? I mean look at that monstrosity in my DWC, looks like some kind of alien creature.

The tent is small. 4x2x5, and in my last grow, as stated above, it was 1 plant, 80% full tent. Some space left, but there is no way 2 of those would fit in that tent, unless I do better job training the plant, and defoliating it. For both options (dwc tote vs rdwc 2 bucket system), the roots would be the problem. They just grow too big! Not sure what to do. It sucks being limited by space.

Thanks
 
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Growoolit

Well-Known Member
Is the volume of each RDWC bucket about 5 gallons? If so, the roots should take up the same total volume as the previous grow.
You may have to monitor the root growth into the reservoir bucket in the later stages of growth and just trim the roots.
Can you get a setup with a remote reservoir (outside the tent)?
 

White.Black

Well-Known Member
Is the volume of each RDWC bucket about 5 gallons? If so, the roots should take up the same total volume as the previous grow.
You may have to monitor the root growth into the reservoir bucket in the later stages of growth and just trim the roots.
Can you get a setup with a remote reservoir (outside the tent)?
Yes, each bucket is around 4 gallons. I never trimmed roots before, not sure how good or bad idea that is.
I could potentially rig this so the reservoir is outside... which I would actually prefer.

I just purchased another tent, 5x5x6.5. I'm thinking of sticking with my DWC in my smaller tent, and in the big tent go with a better and bigger 4+1 bucket rdwc with larger hoses.
 

futurebanjo

Well-Known Member
You can get away with root trimming to an extent, I had to as I had some rot or something. so I cleaned everything and chopped off the slimey roots.
It will just stunt plant growth a bit whilst they recover, as long as there is a good amount of healthy roots remaining.

Root trimming is actually part of the maintenence process in Bonsai, as the trees are perpetually root bound in small pots.
 
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