What's up guys (and gals..) First, thanks for stopping by. Second, if this is your first grow, you may want to try something a little less complex. While being beginner friendly, I don't recommend this to anyone who has yet to experience passive hydroponics (or at least some form of growing.) Third, and most controversial, the uncontested majority of professionals that I have talked to (which has been a lot..) have all told me DWC and organics don't mix well, and I suggest you heed these words as it took me months to figure out.
Most of my start was wasted with inferior products and plain lack of, so it is important that you understand this tutorial will cover only setting up and some unique maintenance of this passive hydro method. I expect at least basic hydroponic knowledge when it comes to ph, nutrients, and possible non DWC specific hydro issues.
This is a single-reservoir per plant tutorial. There are many pre-fabricated systems that do multiple plants per rez.. and that's not recommended. For multiple reasons.. mostly root competition.
Video version:
Next, what you'll need:
1.
(At least) One 3.5 or 5gal bucket, and one extra (for reservoir changes since we aren't doing RDWC or UCDWC.)
2.
Net pot lids for the bucket(s). I use 6" but it really should be dependent on plant size.
3.
Airpump, airstones, and of course ph strips (or even better a ph meter.) Air pressure check valves are nice as well. Also tubing!
Other minuscule things you should already have (basic hydro gear): Rockwool, hydroton, ph up&down, hydro nutrients.. I'm only trying to teach you the basics of a deep water culture, not how to grow hydroponically.
The Setup
Here's how I put things altogether (The VO Grow):
1.
Wash the inside of the buckets and net pot lid (hot water and scrubbing at least, I also do h2o2 treatments{NOT WITH ORGANICS/BENEFICIALS!!}).. After that put a little hole in the bucket as pictured above so you can run the air hose through. I prefer two holes so that I know where I want the water level.. more on that further down.
2.
Hook up tubing to airstones and the airpump. I prefer using two airstones per rez. You can get by with one and no splitter.
3.
You can now fill the water level up to half an inch to an inch below the rockwool (where I put my second hole.) This is at first when you're working with seedlings/clones. Water will be spraying up from the airstones anyway.
4.
Get your net pot setup with the hydroton in the bottom and around the rockwool. Leave room to fill over the top with about half an inch of hydroton later when the stem gets bigger. Then set it on your bucket and you're finished! Read on for maintenance.
Maintenance
Remember to: Fill up that water level every day! (You won't need to for the first couple months because they won't barely drink any, also dependent on your rez size.)
Keep that ph in the 5.5-6.1 range!
Change your rezes' nutes/water and wash at least once a month, twice is nice; I do it weekly.
Try, try hard.. to keep your rez temps around 60-70. Use frozen water bottles if you have to.
You can do it this way:
NOT RECOMMENDED
I prefer you do it this way:
Now I do things this way with a mini ac unit (with airpump directly on the unit):
As far as replacing goes, you may need new airstones/air pumps but you can reuse buckets and airlines (because they never go bad/out and can be cleaned,) but other than that basic hydro nutes/mediums will obviously need replacing.
Other stickies are recommended reads.
Use the tea (if you're organic): Heisenberg's Magical Tea
Check this out for more basic DWC info: https://www.rollitup.org/dwc-bubbleponics/473122-dwc-information-thread-beginners-who.html
It's very possible more coming later. Open to suggestions, answering questions, and trolling trolls! So don't be afraid to comment!
