should i use plain water on the flus or add one of the recomended flush chems/nuts? and should I flush every res change every time? thanks!!
When you flush your plants you should use something that's made for flushing, it cleans your roots of any salt deposits.
I use Clearex from Botanicare products. There are dozens of other types of brands you can get. I use Clearex mostly due to the fact it's relatively less expensive than the other brands.
I think I pay like $20 for a gallon at the hydro store I go to. A gallon size container should get you through a complete vegg and bloom cycle, depending on the size of your resevoir.
Flushing your roots in between resevoir changes is extemely necessary. It rids any unwanted salt deposits that have clung to the roots.
Some people may disagree with me that it's overkill to flush everytime in between resevoir changes. I do it because, I only use the best nutrients from Advanced Nutrirents. When I do a resevoir change and I'm adding their new nutrient for that week. I want my plants to be able to take up the nutrient as best as possible with no blockage of salt deposits.
You also want to cut off all the brown/yellowing that is on the leaves. Your plants are using all of it's energy to keep those leaves alive. Those leaves will never grow back to normal.
What kind of nutrient are you using?
What kind of micro nutrients are you using?
Are you using tap water?
I used tap water for my first few grows, and I only had problems. Ever since I switched to a reverse osmosis system those problems are gone.
Plus, nutrient can get awfully expensive, if your using "Top of the Line" nutrient like I do. I'm more into quality rather than quantity when I grow.
When you use tap water the electrical conductivity decreases when your tap water reacts with your nutrient. So it will throw off your PPM's. Plus tap water contains sodium, which will leave salt deposits at a faster rate.
I hope that I've been helpful, I try to help as much as possible. Mostly everything I've learned on hydroponic growing has been through extensive research and trial and error.
Hydroponic growing is alot tougher than soil growing at first. But once you've done it a few grows, you'll see that it's much easier to control your plants.
