Need advice on starting in dwc buckets

[hotshotisdashit]

Whats up riu? Im a little confused as to what to do next. Im growing 1 auto wappa by paradise seeds and 1 auto northern lights by nirvana. By the way im a first time grower and would appreciate any help you can give. Anyway the n.l. Just sprouted its head and will tend to that one soon. Both are under the 400 watt c.l.w. Solar storm (225 for veg). The auto wappa seems to b oing well. It about a little over an inch tall and has at least 10 healthy roots protruding from the rockwool bottom. Its on its third set of true leaves AND IS BOUT 2 WEEKS OLD. I moved it in my dwc bucket about 3 days ago. Heres my dilemma :im using a 5 gallon dwc bucket to grow with 6 inch net pot. (i probably should have bought the 3 inch nets pots) the bottom of the net pot is level with the water. Water can only reach hydrotonBOTTOM and not the rockwool. Question 1. Should i even have thrown the seedling in the dwc yet? 2. How should i water it until the roots are long enough to reach the water? 3. How often should i water the rockwool now? 4. When will the seedling be ready for nutrient solution and do i pour it directly on top of the rockwool? Any help will be great and well appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[hollaway]

You got any pics?

 

[Deusracing]

i had that happen i use 6 inch as well just water the roots a few times a day if you can... the rock wool should retain quite a bit i imagine it looks something like this

 

[Moishe]

One thing you can do is bring the water level just underneath the rockwool (so that it bubbles around the hydroton underneath your rockwool). You'll get enough splash action for your roots to find the water and start reaching down.

 

[hotshotisdashit]

Ill be sure to post pics tomorrow. I have trouble sometimes with my phone but Ill get them up after work. Be sure to let me know what you think.

 

[hotshotisdashit]

Nice set Deusracing. What light are you growing up under?hps? Im a newbie and was worried about heat. Maybe next grow ill invest in that.

 

[hotshotisdashit]

Thanks moishe. I was thinking the same thing. Was just worried about smothering the roots. But youre right if i put it under the rockwool where it can only splash my rockwool i should be ok.

 

[hotshotisdashit]

Can anyone tell me around what time to feed nutrients to seedlings in dwc...

 

[Deusracing]

That was these here

 

[Deusracing]

I set bucket up with water add nutes check all levels. N she's good. I check ppm once every three days

 

[hotshotisdashit]

Nice... How many watts are you running? I also considered cfls cause of low heat. As i said this is my first grow so fighting heat problems would be too much for me. Oh and i was askng at what age doi start feeding them nutes? Ive hard 1week, 2 weeks 3rd set of leaves. Idk.

 

[Deusracing]

Well that photo it was 125 dual spectrum. REAL 125 watts. Now it's 200wcfl veg. Mainly for my poor clone and aero garden

 

[hydroMD]

I'd start feeding seedlings about the time they are starting their true leaves. Once those first leaves have formed it can start feeding. 300-400 ppm or like .3-.7ec would be fine. I have gone straight filtered tap for a few weeks and have had success. Just started feeding once I saw deficiencies. Thats the cool thing about hydro, fast onset of problems, fast cure.

 

[hotshotisdashit]

Thanks Hydro. I have a little money to get some extras to help with this problem. Do you think I should buy some smaller 3 " net pots or maybe a bubbleponics 3" system? I don't wanna fail cause of a problem I could've resolved. Also is anyone receiving messages saying that RIU is harmful to your computer. Don't wanna give my computer a virus...

 

[hydroMD]

I use 6" net pots in black 5 gallon buckets. I prefer a little more medium than the 3" pots give.

 

[faller200]

Can anyone tell me around what time to feed nutrients to seedlings in dwc...

Your going to get all kinds of answers to that question. I feed mine from day 1

 

[faller200]

What ever it says in the instructions for the nutes that you are using use less. Remember nute companies want to sell as much as they can. Don't fall for it.

 

[hydroMD]

Feeding from day 1 will make things grow faster. Just keep it about .4 ec for the first week and see how they like it.

Also note that ph will affect small plants a lot. Keep it at the correct 5.6-6.0

If your root mass is mostly in your medium, check a little bit of run off to see what the ph is at your medium, might be different in your bucket, especially if your using rockwool or cocoa that hasn't been leached. (Soaked in correct ph water amd flushed)

Once you have roots shooting through your net pot adjust your water to 5.6-5.8 with a low nutrient level. No more than half strength until you see a surge in growth. After that your stable

 

[hotshotisdashit]

I know. Ive gotten many answers. I spoke with Wayne from Modular Hydro and he says he starts feeding his plants from day one as well. maybe Ill try this method my next grow. How do your plants respond? and at what strength do you start them?

 

[hotshotisdashit]

Hey Hydro I have a question for you and anyone else that can give their experienced opinion. When I first put my plants in dwc if I let the water level come up to the bottom of the net pots how high should the rockwool medium be above the water level in hydroton. I think I have them it about 1 inch over the top of the water level but it seems to be too low because my rockwool is getting saturated. Looks overwatered. I could probably start my grow over but I wanna see all the problems now so I can better handle them later. Any help you guys can give would be very helpful... I need it! lol...