bloody hell, there is a difference in the two. so im panicking for nothing. I did think about maybe getting a smaller tube to fit on to the water dripper but i have checked the resevoir and the roots are already comin out of the bottom of the pot and dipping in the resevoir itself. If i do hand water the plant, wont the soil cube i used retain water and i may overwater. I did read on here, someone saying that i a hydro set up the roots at the top need very little water, the roots half way down need enough that will be provided by the watering system, ad the bottom roots need to be constantly bathed in water. A bit like in nature I supose when the plants are in the ground, the roots go right down in the soil where its most moist. Do you think your smaller plant of the two will catch up?