Grow Mediums DWC Hydro

[NorthernLights_420]

Part 1, the basics of hydroponics...

PH: To lower or raise ph use ph up or down by general hydroponics.
PH in hydroponics will work between 5.5 and 6.5!
6.0 to 6.3 is ideal for veg.
5.7 to 5.9 is ideal for flower.

PPM.
Start off using 1/4 strength and work your way up. I'll attach a feeding schedule I use for general hydroponics Flora trio nutrients. Read your plants with a ec/ppm meter. If ec or ppm goes up or rises there's too much nutrients, the plant is drinking more water than nutes. This means you should lower ec/ppm with just plain tap or reverse osmosis water.
If the ec/ppm drops or lowers that means your plants drinking more nutrients than water. You should add more nutrients to your water or make a new batch that is stronger than your res if you need to top your bucket off. The best way to keep track of ec/ppm, ph, and water temps is to keep a pen and notebook handy in the grow area. Check all daily and record your data in your grow log. You can then go back to yesterdays data to see if anything is dropping or rising and adjust accordingly.
If your plant is staying the same ec/ppm that means she is in her sweet spot and no need to adjust anything.

Humidity:
Clones and cuttings 70 to 80%
Veg 40 to 60%
Flower 40 to 50%
Final weeks/flower=Less than 40%

Air Temps:
70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit I say.

Water temps: Ideal is 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

[NorthernLights_420]

Part 2, mixing nutrients...

*Always shake nutrient bottles before use.
*Always mix in order.
*Always stir well after adding each nutrient before adding the next.

I use general hydroponics Flora trio as my base nutes, always start with armor si first if you use it (I don't). Then calimagic if using ro or if your using tap water only you shouldn't need it unless your plants show a calcium or magnesium deficiency then you should add some to the tap water. Next goes micro. Then grow, then bloom. Then I ph adjust it in range. Then I add hydroguard at 2ml per gallon of water the whole cycle to help prevent root rot. Always add hydroguard unless you go sterile then it will kill the beneficial bacteria in the hydroguard.

 

[NorthernLights_420]

Part 3. The basic setup. What I use anyway. 5 gallon black buckets. Net pot lids for the 5 gallon black buckets, hydroton for the growing medium in the net pot. (always clean and wash hydroton and sterilize after or before each use same with buckets and air stones and air tubing) next you will need to drill a small hole close to the top of your bucket just big enough for the air tubing. I use black aquarium air tubing, clear tubing can let light in which let's algae in. You put the air tubing in the hole and connect it to an air stone inside the bucket. The tubing hanging on the outside of your bucket gets connected to your air pump. Without oxygen your plants will die. I have 2 air pumps currently. The dual diaphragm air pump with 4 air outlets per each pump, made by general hydroponics. Will take pics of my set up next time I go in my grow room and post them on here.

 

[NorthernLights_420]

What about water levels? In the beginning you want it above the bottom of the net pot. Once roots drop and start growing awesome you can lower your water level just under the net pot.

 

[NorthernLights_420]

Here's some great sites to read and learn about growing on.
https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/blog-growing-cannabis-c3

http://www.ilovegrowingmarijuana.com

https://www.growweedeasy.com

https://www.how-to-marijuana.com

 

[NorthernLights_420]

Pics I said I'd upload

 

[Muddy]

Just a couple quick comments. Your pH for cuttings is too high. Cuttings do best when started at a pH of 5.2, raised to 5.7 once rooting has begun. Dyna Bloom is the best nute I've found for cuttings. It's high P and K help promote good root growth. Your temps are also too low, especially if using LEDs. Under HPS 78 was considered optimal but with LEDs and the associated lower leaf temps, the temp can go as high as 82. If you're supplementing CO2, the CO2 is better absorbed at 84 - 85 degrees.

 

[NorthernLights_420]

Just a couple quick comments. Your pH for cuttings is too high. Cuttings do best when started at a pH of 5.2, raised to 5.7 once rooting has begun. Dyna Bloom is the best nute I've found for cuttings. It's high P and K help promote good root growth. Your temps are also too low, especially if using LEDs. Under HPS 78 was considered optimal but with LEDs and the associated lower leaf temps, the temp can go as high as 82. If you're supplementing CO2, the CO2 is better absorbed at 84 - 85 degrees.

I'm not saying I'm right or wrong, that's just info I read online. In hydro you don't want your air temps too hot. If your water temps get too hot you get root rot fast. Unless using hydroguard or going sterile then you can go higher temps but 80 is too high for water temps I feel either way. I like to keep my water and air temps closer to lowers 70s.

 

[Muddy]

I'm not saying I'm right or wrong, that's just info I read online. In hydro you don't want your air temps too hot. If your water temps get too hot you get root rot fast. Unless using hydroguard or going sterile then you can go higher temps but 80 is too high for water temps I feel either way. I like to keep my water and air temps closer to lowers 70s.

Water temps should always be below 75. I run RDWC and wouldn't do so without a chiller. Well worth the cost to ensure proper root temps and max oxygenation. If you're using LEDs and running temps below 82 you are not getting maximum transpiration. That will really impact your growth. Air temps in the low 70s with lights on just doesn't cut it. You would be surprised at how much your are losing. Also, I suggest running UC Roots from Cultured Solutions over Hydroguard or any other such product. Far superior in my experience.

 

[NorthernLights_420]

Just a couple quick comments. Your pH for cuttings is too high. Cuttings do best when started at a pH of 5.2, raised to 5.7 once rooting has begun. Dyna Bloom is the best nute I've found for cuttings. It's high P and K help promote good root growth. Your temps are also too low, especially if using LEDs. Under HPS 78 was considered optimal but with LEDs and the associated lower leaf temps, the temp can go as high as 82. If you're supplementing CO2, the CO2 is better absorbed at 84 - 85 degrees.

I've never heard that about cuttings before. I don't supplement with co2 and I grow hydro so I try to keep my air temps under 74 so water temps don`t get too warm. If you've ever gotten root rot (pythium) you'd know it sucks and can be a bitch. That's why I always add hydroguard just in case my room gets too warm on me. But I try to keep my room temp right at 70 to 74 myself. Different situations for different peoples set ups though.