Grow Mediums House & Garden with HydroGuard?

[Mañ'O'Green]

I have been using Hydroguard in my Dyna-Gro DWC for several grows and I am so happy with the results that I cannot imagine not using it. It gets really hot here in the summer and my reservoir temperatures get really high up to 84°F and with Hydroguard I don’t have root problems and I get excellent harvests - maybe I have just been lucky. All of the “Experts” I talk to tell me I cannot do what I am doing there is not enough oxygen in the reservoir at those temperatures to support a healthy plant – hummmmmm or Bah humbug! Yes I understand 68°F is maximum saturation for oxygen in water and in a perfect world I would own some chillers but I am not perfect and neither is my world.


I attended a vendor show today and was gifted a large volume of House & Garden nutrients. I would like to try them but when I explained my high summer reservoir temperatures and the success I have using the Botanicare product the vendor explained to me that H&G nutrients don’t play well with HydroGuard? So my question to this forum is anyone aware of any problem using HydroGuard with the House & Garden line of nutrients in DWC?

 

[Muddy]

I was running H&G nutes in my rdwc up until recently when I switched to Cultures Solutions after I was gifted a good quantity of their full line. I got good results with their products and their tech support was great. Those guys really helped me understand rdwc and getting my system nutes in balance. As far as the Hydroguard, it's really a question of if you're going to use organics or go sterile. Hydrogard is for organic growing. In rdwc I run sterile, so I wouldn't use it. I use either UC Roots or an extremely mild bleach solution as my sterilizing agent. When I started with H&G I used their Aquaflakes A&B, Multi Zen, Algen Extract, Roots Excell, in veg. I got a lot of root slime. I tried teas but they were ineffective. I called them and first thing they was said stop the Roots Excell and the Algen. They are organics and were breeding in the system and causing the slime. Again, that's in rdwc. After that I had no interests in organics in these systems. Running sterile is so much easier and the results are excellent.

If you're a good organic grower they are good nutrients and will produce well. Their web site has good info, feeding charts and a nute calculator. I'd also suggest you call their tech support. Tell them what you're doing and they can advise you on how best to use their line with your extreme temps.

 

[Mañ'O'Green]

Thanks Muddy:

Well, I have decided to take a different tack. As you may have noticed my main concern in the summer is my hot reservoirs and subsequent lowered O2 saturation. Hydroguard solves the rot problems but does not add anything to the O2 shortage. So I am going to go with Rockwool blocks with drip. All of the benefits of hydro with the added oxygen I am looking for and this will allow me to use the free nutes!

Current Culture is right here in the neighborhood and I have talked to them at vendor shows in the past. In fact I have used their net pots with a shelf to solve a crown rot potential in my summer grows. I would love to have space and money to go with their full system. I don't at this time but who knows I am always tryin new stuff.

 

[Muddy]

That sounds like a good idea. Are you going to use the 1/4" mini cubes? I just bought a small bag to try in one pot the next grow. If I like them they will be a lot easier than Hydrocorn.

I like the raised centers on the CC net pots as well. I needed to get another 8 when I got my veg system going. I didn't want to pay the outrageous prices some were asking and finally found them $5 each. There is a bit of a learning curve on their systems but once you get them dialed in they produce.

 

[Mañ'O'Green]

I will be using A-ok 1.5"x1.5" to germinate then the 6" hugo for the remainder of the grow. They will be on a flood tray with a drip system. I should be able to cut my nutrient usage by 50% or more. Since the roots will not be down in a reservoir the lower oxygen levels during the summer will be negated at least that is the theory. Still investigating the equipment and process.

My reservoir temps are hitting 76°F already and summer is not here yet! I must admit that with the HydroGuard I don't have root problems at these temperatures. I will have an update on my current grow tomorrow or Friday. It is in my signature.

I think I pay $5.25 for the CC net pots.