Nervous about first grow

This is my first time growing anything and I decided to go with the bubbler method. I purchased 2 feminized LSD seeds and germinated them using the paper towel trick. After I saw the tap root I put the seeds in rapid rooters and waited till the sprouted. I put a humidity dome over them and kept them in a dark room at the temp around 80F. I then moved them to there final destination and put 6 23W 6500k bulbs around the 2 plants. I ordered a 400W HPS light that should be here next week. I plan on using that ASAP. I have been reading a lot of forums and it is freaking me out about everybody that seems to be having problems. Sense it is my first grow I am worried about every little detail. So I have some questions.... 1st question. I have read that until the roots come out the bottom of the net pot, I should hand feed them. How often do I feed them? Right now I have been watering them 3 time's a day with 125ppm and PH 6.5 water. I water enough to get the rapid rooters wet and the water runs out the bottom of the net pot Am I doing the rookie mistake of watering to much? 2nd question..... should I go ahead and set up the bubbler and just use that or should I keep hand feeding until the roots show out the bottom? 3rd question..... my grow room stays at about 80F. When I do set up the bubble system, will 2 frozen water bottles every 12 hours keep the water cool enough so I won't have to worry about root rot? (it's in a 18 gallon storage bin) And I also purchased Hydroguard to help with that. If anybody has any other suggestions feel free to help me out.

KushPushK said:

1st question. 125ppm and PH 6.5 water. I water enough to get the rapid rooters wet and the water runs out the bottom of the net pot Am I doing the rookie mistake of watering to much? 2nd question..... should I go ahead and set up the bubbler and just use that or should I keep hand feeding until the roots show out the bottom? 3rd question..... my grow room stays at about 80F. When I do set up the bubble system, will 2 frozen water bottles every 12 hours keep the water cool enough so I won't have to worry about root rot? (it's in a 18 gallon storage bin) And I also purchased Hydroguard to help with that. If anybody has any other suggestions feel free to help me out.

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Welcome to RIU

IMO, you're using the wrong approach starting seed in paper towel then moving to DWC then having to hand water to keep them alive.

6.5 ph is out of bounds----5.2-5.8 for hydro. Do you know the EC to PPM conversion factor for your ppm meter (if not, what manufacture)?

Watering too much is more revenant to soil----not hydro if nutes well oxygenated.

My suggestion for starting seed:

16 oz plastic cups, a few slits in the bottom for drainage-----vermiclite (sp) Around 250 - 300 ppm flower nutes.

Plant seed only slightly beneath the surface 1/8".

Let it grow until it gets a pretty good root system.

Remove from cup and gently rinse the roots off----then put into DWC. Same method can be used to root clones.

I'd be nervous about your 80F room temp in DWC------nute temp = air temp if not cooled some way----no experience with the frozen water bottle trick----check out the DWC sub forum here for experiences with that.

Here's what I'm talking about (pic of rooted clone but same approach for seed).



A~~~

Thank you so much for the reply. I am definitely going to use that cup trick next time. Would make things a lot easier. I have been studying up on this for about 2 months now and I am still confused on some things lol one website will say do it one way and another will say something else. Anyways I guess my plan is that I will go ahead and set up the bubble system and keep the water level about 1 inch from the net pot and let the air bubbles do the trick from now on. As far as the water temp goes, idk what else to do besides insulation and checking the water temp every 12 hours and ajust accordingly using ice bottles and cold PHed water and hydroguard hoping to God I don't get root rot.

I wouldn't suggest dwc for your first grow. I did dwc at first and i failed horribly. The yeilds are consistently same using rockwool cubes, you won't drownd your plants or get root rot in your 80' water...

Growing takes time, theres always something new to learn, but just relax and make it enjoyable, use a simple proven method and learn the basics first.

Be patient and innovate.

Lastly, throw any paranoia out the window! Your either in 100% or not at all. So if you can't accept the consequences, Dont do it!

Most importantly, Dont tell a fucking soul!

Listen to me, you'll be OK!

Yeah I completely agree. I probably shouldn't have done DWC my first grow. After reading post and forums it just seemed like the right thing to do. Anyways I already have all the stuff so I am going to try and push through it. I really appreciate all the help from this website. As of now my water temp stays right around 70F. I know that might be an issue so I got some hydroguard and I will Change my water once a week. My plants are a week old and they are looking good so far. My main concern it of course root rot. And my other concern is do I put Nuts in a gallon at time or do I put the nuts in all at once after the container is filled with water? But your right, I do need to stop freaking out so much. I am just so into it and I really enjoy it. It's a great hobby.

don't worry we've all fucked up a few plants u'll get the hang of it

Change rez once week and oxygenate!!!

Shouldn't need to top off or feed at all. For most cases...

Only adjust pH daily with pH down only.

Set water at 1000 ppm for instance on Sunday, on Monday it'll be 975, Thursday 900 and Saturday 850, dump and replenish...

That's how I do...

If you have old ac or dehumidifier, you can rip out cold coil and put it in res, same thing as chiller tbh

I just had this mystery girl die on me, stopped taking up nitrogen I think.

Big bitch tho, was in week 5 or 6 of flower, still got a lb off her tho! But it was midgrade bud! Smmfgdh

Here's last pic I got. Before flower.

is that safe I think I speak for everyone no one wants to get knocked across the room or brought to their knees I know it's not fun getting shocked it's happened to me

Yeah it would suck to put this much time and effort into something and it not workout. But I know I will have to live and learn. Now am I crazy of I want to fork out the money for a water chiller? I mean I came this far and I want to keep this going for a long time. This won't be my first grow that's for sure

at a boy keep the spirit up maybe in the next few years u can teach me something about hydro for now ill stick to soil

I sure hope one day i can become an expert. I am just really thankful for websites like this one, that way we can help each other out

KushPushK said:

As far as the water temp goes, idk what else to do besides insulation and checking the water temp every 12 hours and ajust accordingly using ice bottles and cold PHed water and hydroguard hoping to God I don't get root rot.

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I'd use a chiller myself.

A~~~

I am highly considering getting a chiller. But I don't know if it's worth it. My water temp stays around 70F during the day and about 68F at night. I am doing the while ice bottle method and it isn't working very well. So if I do get a chiller, and keep the light out, are my odds highly better or just slightly better to avoid root rot?

Well if its your first grow, even second, I'll always say use a bag of ocean forest, learn the basics.

...but... if dwc truly appeals to you, then buy the chiller... Even used on craigslist as long as you clean it. Its worth your investment.

Hygro hybrid on youtube has some good info IMO.

Any dwc success I've had has been in details, I use collars over netpots and run bleach at low doses.

But honestly, its your grow...

5 gallon buckets of ocean forest will ensure a sizeable harvest of some dank bud for almost any beginner.

If issues do arise, you can always transplant to good soil I guess...

All depends...

I'd way rather see you try a flood table first tho... GH maxi series, simple but effective...

Goodluck

Ps- buy chiller or rethink it all lol

KushPushK said:

I am highly considering getting a chiller. But I don't know if it's worth it. My water temp stays around 70F during the day and about 68F at night. I am doing the while ice bottle method and it isn't working very well. So if I do get a chiller, and keep the light out, are my odds highly better or just slightly better to avoid root rot?

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If those temps (70F during day, 68 during night) are consistent then------good to go.

Is a chiller worth it? If you don't mind being held hostage by keeping your nutes cool with frozen bottles?---your call.

I agree with @jayjay777 about rethinking it all if a chiller is out.

A~~~

Yeah it seems the more I read and do research the more I have questions lol I just went to my dad's and he has the same set up as I do. The only thing is that his is in an attic and it gets hot. I was talking to him about root rot and he says he never had problems with it. He doesn't run a chiller or anything. Not even H2o2 or hydroguard. Hell his bins are light blue and without a doubt let's light in. After hearing that I feel a little better

KushPushK said:

Yeah it seems the more I read and do research the more I have questions lol I just went to my dad's and he has the same set up as I do. The only thing is that his is in an attic and it gets hot. I was talking to him about root rot and he says he never had problems with it. He doesn't run a chiller or anything. Not even H2o2 or hydroguard. Hell his bins are light blue and without a doubt let's light in. After hearing that I feel a little better

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If your dad doesn't have any problems----even in an attic-----just mimic what he does.

Please keep us posted on how it goes.

To me, the learning process is most of the fun-----I doubt if I'll ever run out of it. (the smoke and $ are OK too).

A~~~