New Grower First Grow Journal

[eggmansky]

Hi eggmansky, RWDC is Recirculating Deep Water Culture. DWC can be as simple as a bucket of water. I am currently using DWC with a controller and a secondary res to keep my primary res topped off. I plan to continually pump the water from my primary res to the secondary res creating a RDWC system. I hope this is going to stop the algae blooms I've been having in the controller and secondaty res.

:Sharing One:

McJack,
My next grow will be completely automated with 2 buckets modified to RDWC. I've had this unit in the attic for 20 years and am prepping it now for the next grow:
http://generalhydroponics.com/site/index.php/products/systems/waterfarm/waterfarm_8_pack/

 

[DABaracuss]

Im thinking of getting a RDWC system like the Current Culture system. 4 or 6 pot xl http://hydrobuilder.com/brands/curr...TI_7_PpH4vIv2TY2QbPf3VQOVvJDrche55BoCQQrw_wcB

 

[eggmansky]

Im thinking of getting a RDWC system like the Current Culture system. 4 or 6 pot xl http://hydrobuilder.com/brands/curr...TI_7_PpH4vIv2TY2QbPf3VQOVvJDrche55BoCQQrw_wcB

Very similar!

 

[jackmc]

Eggman, Do you have GH "re"circulating add on? DAbaracuss you should consider building a system. The parts are so inexpensive compared to the pre-built systems. You can get almost everything you need at usplastics.com The inly thing they don't have are small pumps and air-stones. The pumps and stones are available on Amazon. Peace

 

[eggmansky]

Eggman, Do you have GH "re"circulating add on? DAbaracuss you should consider building a system. The parts are so inexpensive compared to the pre-built systems. You can get almost everything you need at usplastics.com The inly thing they don't have are small pumps and air-stones. The pumps and stones are available on Amazon. Peace

McJack,
The only thing I had to order from GH is the newfangled drip ring assemblys and the recirculator for the controller. All other modifications I did myself. This whole system has been in my storage facility for over 15 years, as I was holding it for my brother (who never even unpacked it). Mine now!

I drilled the holes in the bottom of the grow bucket much bigger (as I discovered roots growing even through the small ones seeking the rez), added a bubbler for each unit as well. They are now essentially drip RDWC, and can be totally automated. The one I have now is an experiment with a damaged plant and it has healed nicely but is stunted due to root damage.

 

[eggmansky]

Day 31



Yeah, I got facking hammered. Tripped, fell, one of my girls landed on her head. Shit. I musta put her back together pretty well 'cause ya can't tell except for one broken leaf.


Experienced my first nute burn. It looks EXACTLY like this:





Funny, one plant wants more nutes and one wants less. Now I simply dilute before feeding the touchy bitch. Same strain, one likes 900ppm and the other can barely take 500. Who knows? Dialed in CO2 injections today with timer and regulator. Six times per day the CO2 levels rise SLOWLY to 1500, then cut off to slowly dissipate. A dehumidifier was necessary due to the high humidity from plant respiration. All automatic now. If only I can stay sober for another 2-3 months!

 

[JAYAR]

Hahaha great sign.. "uuuuggghhhh.." been there bro luckily i couldnt get the tent open so i just passed out beside it lmao. Hey congrats on your first nute burn!! Today marks a special occasion.. now every year on jan 30 you must get wasted in honor!!

 

[eggmansky]

Hahaha great sign.. "uuuuggghhhh.." been there bro luckily i couldnt get the tent open so i just passed out beside it lmao. Hey congrats on your first nute burn!! Today marks a special occasion.. now every year on jan 30 you must get wasted in honor!!

JR,
Bwaaha! Even if I don't remember...I'll prolly be wasted anyway!...think I'm gonna get a tattoo...
any ideas for "Nute Burn" tattoos?

 

[JAYAR]

JR,
Bwaaha! Even if I don't remember...I'll prolly be wasted anyway!...think I'm gonna get a tattoo...
any ideas for "Nute Burn" tattoos?

Hahaha u crazy egg!! Lol what would be a good nute burn tat..... hmmmm.... thats a thinker lol. Maybe a cool mature bud with like flames behind it!!

 

[eggmansky]

Day 34

Day 34

Of my 2 viable girls, one is by far ahead, showing pre-flower bud sites EVERYWHERE! The other is probably 5 to 6 days behind, but sturdier, thicker, lusher, more compact and takes WAY more nutes. Only 2-3 definitive bud sites. For a first time grower, I'm ecstatic that I've brought them this far. Now I'm faced with some critical decisions...do I change the lighting schedule? The more I think about it, the less I'm apt to do so. I really don't want to take the chance of stressing the girls out with something they're not accustomed to. For this grow it's gonna be 24/7 all the way thru.

Despite what some of the 'power growers' here at AFN suggest, I'm going back to my original plan (GrowWeedEasy coco nute schedule) and use plain PH'ed water every other watering...since the girls are drinking so much, that boils down to feeding every other day or so. Nute Burn can make a newbie slightly gun-shy. I'm currently at the end of my 2nd plain water feed and the girls seem to like it with no signs of nute burn. Keeping runoff to 10-20% (instead of 50-60% I was using), there seems to be enough residual nutes to keep 'em happy and I don't get a buncha buildup. The ppm difference of new feed/runoff is infinitesimal. I did use a flush at day 28 when I first noticed signs of nute burn. I was scared shitless using it...they came thru happy and healthy...so another valuable experience.

Approaching the halfway point, the vertical growth is at it's most vigorous level. 1.5 to 2" daily for the last two days! They seem to have enjoyed the co2 immensely. Killed an aphid yesterday, but haven't panicked yet. Applying sticky traps in tent today and dusting entire area outside tent with DE. Very minor leaf damage and will inspect more thoroughly later today. Yesterday, I trimmed most of the lower, oldest fan leaves to increase ventilation of the plants. FIMmed the mutant as an experiment, and lowered the nutes on the drip in coco. Observing closely the drip in coco as this MAY be the method I use on my second grow. I'm torn as to the method of the next grow as success to date of smartbuckets/coco is beyond what I thought capable. I may stay with the smartpots...use the drip/hydro for heirloom tomatoes just to get a feel for it. Yeah, I think that's what I'll do.

My two digital cameras have crapped out on me and I ain't using a phone! I'll get pics up later today. Wish me luck!