Just transfered one plant from the cloner to the veg system. I'm using a 400w and a 20gal resivoir where the water flows directly on to the clay pellets and drains back to resivoir. So my question is do I run the light for 18hrs and off 6 while water 24/7 or do I need to time the water as well? Using general hydro flora series nutes. This is my first attempt at hydroponics on my own so I do appreciate the useful info.
Quick question about schedule
- Thread starter nd2slodwn
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DeeTee
Well-Known Member
Sounds like a flood and drain system, am I right?, if so how big are the pots? if you're growing say in 1 gal pots or larger I say just flood the pots 2 to 3 times a day and let drain out when lights on only, to flood the pots constantely would drown the roots, I'm just guessing 'cause I don't know your system but it sounds similar to how I grow.
DeeTee
Well-Known Member
Are those " square tubes " filled with dydroton pebbles? if so I'd say that's kind of like What I call a flood and drain system ( not sure if that's the right terminology ) therefore I would only flood the system 2 to 3 times as I mentioned, the pebbles will stay moist for some time and no need to constantly flood the tubes, kind of like if you had pots filled with pebbles you'd fill the pots to the brim and let drain out doing that say every 4 hrs or so when lights on, as I stated that's kind of like how I do it, only I use pots.
A few pics so you can see what I mean, my pots are in trays alowing the nutes to drain to a reservoir and I feed twice a day with good success, it's just something I came up with and works well, note I use rockwool grow cubes rather than pebbles, I find pebbles to be a pain in the ass.
A few pics so you can see what I mean, my pots are in trays alowing the nutes to drain to a reservoir and I feed twice a day with good success, it's just something I came up with and works well, note I use rockwool grow cubes rather than pebbles, I find pebbles to be a pain in the ass.
jondamon
Well-Known Member
Do the nutrients in your setup have sprayers next to those net pots inside your square tubing?This is my system.
Looks like a DIY aeroponics I've seen in a mag.
If so I would spray a bit more frequently than 2-3x a day as the roots will be exposed to oxygen quite alot.
Give a little more info and we can help more.
But I agree with DeeTee about only when the lights are on.
J
So all the nutes are mixed together in the resivoir where I have a pump to bring the water up to the plant through a 1/4 hose. The pump gives a steady stream of water to the pellets which trickles down the tube back in to the resivoir. The hose you see at the bottom is for my drain and fill. There was mention of a sprayer at the pot, is that what I should have to control the amount of flow? If so then what would be the watering schedule, like run water for X minutes for X times a day durring light?
I hope this clears some things up. If not please ask specific questions so I can try to answer better. Again this is my first attempt and I might not have the lingo down or techniques but I'm here to learn.
I hope this clears some things up. If not please ask specific questions so I can try to answer better. Again this is my first attempt and I might not have the lingo down or techniques but I'm here to learn.
jondamon
Well-Known Member
Does your nutrient mix flow through the tubing up to the plant from outside of your pipe work?
I presume you have the tube stuck into the pellets and this is where the nute mix is applied from.
Then all the white pipe work is for the pot support and to drain away any remaining nutes etc?
J
I presume you have the tube stuck into the pellets and this is where the nute mix is applied from.
Then all the white pipe work is for the pot support and to drain away any remaining nutes etc?
J
I don't have any of the mentioned meters. Is there one that has them all built in to one? You are correct about the system. The water comes from the outside and the tubes are for housing the pots and drain back to resivoir. I did however notice that while I was doing the transfer there was about a 15 minute period where there was no water flowing, and I could see the leafs get a little relaxed. Then once water started again they perked back up in about a half hour.
jondamon
Well-Known Member
Without the meters it means guess work and gauging plant reactions.
Hydroponics are a very different animal to soil growing.
PH needs to be alot lower than with soil.
I don't know of any good combo meters as I prefer seperates.
BLUELAB make one called "guardian" I think which does all and sits in your reservoir. But its pricey.
The idea with hydro is that you set your res to for example: pH5.5 EC0.8 and then you allow the system to run for 24hours and then test your res for pH and EC differences.
Higher EC means your nutes are too strong.
Big pH swings can mean problems too.
Have a look online for combo meters and then google them to find reviews etc.
J
Hydroponics are a very different animal to soil growing.
PH needs to be alot lower than with soil.
I don't know of any good combo meters as I prefer seperates.
BLUELAB make one called "guardian" I think which does all and sits in your reservoir. But its pricey.
The idea with hydro is that you set your res to for example: pH5.5 EC0.8 and then you allow the system to run for 24hours and then test your res for pH and EC differences.
Higher EC means your nutes are too strong.
Big pH swings can mean problems too.
Have a look online for combo meters and then google them to find reviews etc.
J