Indoor A Sea of Green in Hydro

[Zaaboot]

Hey - just a quick question, why are there no roots on your tray?
one of the reasons I stopped NFT trays back in the day was the unholy amount of roots everywhere making the whole “clean grow” too messy for me.
Is there anything you do, or do you think they just naturally prune- reason I ask is that you have flexibility to move the plants which is a winner

 

[420autoflower]

Really impressive “green hell” :smoking:.

Good luck bro and hope it will not go up over lights .

Thanks brother!
Looks like the girls are slowing down on their stretch and luckily I can still raise the lights another foot.

 

[420autoflower]

Hey - just a quick question, why are there no roots on your tray?
one of the reasons I stopped NFT trays back in the day was the unholy amount of roots everywhere making the whole “clean grow” too messy for me.
Is there anything you do, or do you think they just naturally prune- reason I ask is that you have flexibility to move the plants which is a winner

I agree… the roots do get out of hand sometimes.
I’m using the 6x6 Grodan blocks on this grow and its nice to be able to take the plants out of the tray and work on them. I also use the 4x4 cubes with the roots growing directly in the tray by using panda film to block out the light but prefer not locking the plants in place.

Hard to see the roots from the pics but this is what they look like under the 6x6 block

Here is a grow with the roots locked into the tray. Hard to maintain the plants this way.

 

[hope2grow]

I agree… the roots do get out of hand sometimes.
I’m using the 6x6 Grodan blocks on this grow and its nice to be able to take the plants out of the tray and work on them. I also use the 4x4 cubes with the roots growing directly in the tray by using panda film to block out the light but prefer not locking the plants in place.

Hard to see the roots from the pics but this is what they look like under the 6x6 block
View attachment 1480023

Here is a grow with the roots locked into the tray. Hard to maintain the plants this way.
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So is the key there to make sure you have enough block for your roots bro? 6 inch blocks can hold the roots where 4 inch isn't enough block? Or is it don't cover your blocks over like with the film? What makes the difference between roots all over the place and nice neat portable blocks?? If the blocks aren't covered do the roots maybe air prune/die off when the light gets at them??

 

[Zaaboot]

I agree… the roots do get out of hand sometimes.
I’m using the 6x6 Grodan blocks on this grow and its nice to be able to take the plants out of the tray and work on them. I also use the 4x4 cubes with the roots growing directly in the tray by using panda film to block out the light but prefer not locking the plants in place.

Hard to see the roots from the pics but this is what they look like under the 6x6 block
View attachment 1480023

Here is a grow with the roots locked into the tray. Hard to maintain the plants this way.



View attachment 1480027

it is that last picture that halted my NFT grows same as you I used the Black white Black as the main cover for teh tray, i even tried the fabric sheets to control them but I could not get it to work, the b igger the plants the more clogged the trays got. I must say though the roots on the top pic are very clinical, good show

 

[420autoflower]

So is the key there to make sure you have enough block for your roots bro? 6 inch blocks can hold the roots where 4 inch isn't enough block? Or is it don't cover your blocks over like with the film? What makes the difference between roots all over the place and nice neat portable blocks?? If the blocks aren't covered do the roots maybe air prune/die off when the light gets at them??

Yes… if not covered the roots air prune themselves.
The plants grow great wether the roots are directly in the tray or on a larger slab. The expense and cleanup is very minimal when only using the 4x4 cube but complicates things when you can’t take the plants out of the tray… makes pruning and maintaining a pain in the ass. The 6x6 Grodan (Hugo) blocks are the most expensive out of them all and I can get the same results by cutting my own 8x8x3” slabs out of a longer 8x35x3” slab then use plastic to cover the ends to save money.
I currently have a experiment going with multiple different size rock wool substrates that I’m doing a comparison with. This grow I’m using the 6x6 Hugo blocks, the Lecters are on 4x4 cubes places on 8x8x3 slabs, Slaughter Lambs are in 4x4” cubes set on 6x6x3 slabs that I cut out of a larger 3x12x35” slab then wrapped with 3 mil plastic gift bags, and last but not least my little micro grow where I’m only using a small 4x4x3” cube underneath the main 4x4x4” cube to simulate a hydro type solo cup grow. Lol
Just having a little fun with rock wool!

6x6 Grodan blocks

4x4 cube placed on a 8x8x3” slab

Gift bag wrapped 6x6x3 slabs

4x4x4” cube set on a 4x4x3 cube

Very easy cleanup when the roots grow directly in the tray.

 

[420autoflower]

it is that last picture that halted my NFT grows same as you I used the Black white Black as the main cover for teh tray, i even tried the fabric sheets to control them but I could not get it to work, the b igger the plants the more clogged the trays got. I must say though the roots on the top pic are very clinical, good show

Thanks brother!
I don’t like the roots growing in the tray as well… makes things so much more complicated. Here are pics of my last grow where I only used 4x4 cubes and the roots ended finding their way into the reservoir. Lol

 

[Zaaboot]

Thanks brother!
I don’t like the roots growing in the tray as well… makes things so much more complicated. Here are pics of my last grow where I only used 4x4 cubes and the roots ended finding their way into the reservoir. Lol

Thats exactly it, once they get going they clog absolutely everything, in the NFT which sits at a slope, the water stopped making it past the first foot or so.
The info above is great, thanks! The cubes sat on blocks inside the wrapper is the perfect solution to it all - love it

 

[hope2grow]

Great info as usual bro.. thanks I've been looking at grodan blocks online all week lol the little mini cubes look good as well.. those could go in net or airpots on a flood and drain table with a 3 or 4 inch cube on top the Hugo blocks are amazing and I see on their website there's a bigger one again 8 x 8 inch I think.. pretty sure they called it the big mama haha but may have imagined that.. I suppose all those roots sticking out of the 4 inch cubes is just the plant saying it could use more rockwool really.. too much root mass for the 4 inch cube.. im absolutely hooked on this style m8.. I think I actually might have to give it a go.

 

[420autoflower]

Great info as usual bro.. thanks I've been looking at grodan blocks online all week lol the little mini cubes look good as well.. those could go in net or airpots on a flood and drain table with a 3 or 4 inch cube on top the Hugo blocks are amazing and I see on their website there's a bigger one again 8 x 8 inch I think.. pretty sure they called it the big mama haha but may have imagined that.. I suppose all those roots sticking out of the 4 inch cubes is just the plant saying it could use more rockwool really.. too much root mass for the 4 inch cube.. im absolutely hooked on this style m8.. I think I actually might have to give it a go.

Good to hear Hope! Would love to help you with getting started… once you get a couple grows under your belt you’ll be able do it with your eyes closed.
After looking at all the rock wool options what are you considering? I spend about $25 on a 10 plant grow using self cut slabs and about $35 growing on 6x6 Hugo blocks. I really don’t think the plants need more than a 6x6” slab underneath a 4x4” cube to grow well but we shall see. The Hellraisers are growing on the party bag wrapped 6x6x3” slabs and they seem to be developing just fine.
Please keep me updated on what your plans are and don’t hesitate to pm me if you have questions or a lot to talk about.