drip pump times

[nige420]

hey guys on my 1st hydro grow, system is a wilma 4 pot. could someone please put my mind at rest as to watering times. I am currently on 12/12, from 9am-9pm, I have my pump set to water an hour before my light comes on and an hour before it goes off, is this ok? thanx:thumbsup:

[Opie Yutts]

Depends on a lot of things. How hot is the grow area? What's the humidity? What's your medium, rockwool, clay pellets, coconut fiber? With rockwool you may only have to water every other day or even less. With the prefered medium (clay pellets) you may want to water once per hour for 30 seconds. The point is you'll need to experiment to find the perfect time. Believe it or not, the goal is to have your roots as dry as possible without stressing the plants. I would keep decreasing watering times or amounts until I started noticing any stress on the plants or any one plant, then crank it up a notch.

Sorry I'm not real familiar with the wilma 4 pot, perhaps someone else could give you a better approximation based on their experience with your settup, but I tried.

In my opinion the time of the day that you water does not matter in the least. It rains at night, morning, and several other times of the day, and outdoor plants usually manage to survive, and sometimes even to thrive. I'd be happy to engage in a discussion with anyone about this, but be prepared to show me some proof. Scientific-botinological-like proof.

[nige420]

thanks. the bloke in the hydro shop i bought my system from advised 15 minutes every hour during light, my medium is clay pebbles. this just sounds like topo much but my plants have not complained. i have been growing in soil for a long time and cannot believe the difference in size between the hydro and the soil. i am using bcuzz nutrients and my plants are just at the beginning of their flowering cycle.

[Opie Yutts]

i have been growing in soil for a long time and cannot believe the difference in size between the hydro and the soil.

Oh I know, isn't that awsome when you see the difference? If your plants are not exhibiting signs of overwatering (drooping, curling leaves) then I would probably leave it alone, or try just a little less water.