Clarification on DWC...

Ok... I understand the concept of DWC, oxidizing the water while the roots are constantly submerged... but how do u start (for example from seed) if there are no roots? I see all these DWC setups with hydroton and other grow mediums... but isn't that just to hold the beginning roots and main stem in place... so the roots grow out of the net pot, and then into the oxidized water, but how do u get the roots that far to begin? I guess what I'm really asking is... are the net pots, with hydroton (or other medium), submerged up to the point where the rockwool/seed is??? Or is there some way of a transfering a small plant, with a decent amount of root grow, to the DWC after it has enough roots to allow for this type of system? I ask this because I thought the roots needed to be covered with bubbles in order for it to work, and if it is in the rockwool, there won't be much contact between roots and air bubbles. If this is a remedial question I apologize, I just needed this fuzzy thought to be cleared up.

(((any incorrect terminology, sorry, just wingin' what I think I know)))

Oh yeah, and if anybody wants to know how my other crop was doing, well, let's say the parents weren't too fond of the plants once they started budding, so they made me cut them up... it's a really depressing topic so that's all I'm going to say.

Well,

One option is to grow clones first, and get them to have some roots... then transplant them into the netpots with hydroton.

I think I see one of your doubts. I haven't grown DWC, but I can tell you that the roots can be dangling without water contact, and the air bubbles will get them wet. When the air bubbles rise to the surface, they 'pop'. With that pop, they 'spray' the roots.

This goes on until, the roots touch the water. Once that happens, well, roots + water + shitloads of air bubbles = DWC.

I think

-turtle420 :cool:

Turtle is right. I grow from seeds with rockwool cubes and little netpot. If the plant has got or no roots, it's the same. The popping bubbles damp the rockwool cube ( if the level of water is high enough ). It's better to wait the roots to go out from the cube before putting it in the DWC system. Rockwool keep dampness too much, and i notice better progress to plants that have been put in DWC once roots out than the other ones. If they have no roots out, you better feed them manually, once or twice a day.
Fhydro

Or when they are younger you raise the water level and the air stones closer to the bottom of the net pot. Then lower the water level once you have ample roots sticking through the pot.

Up until the past 2-3 months, all my hydro was DWC...1st, germinate seed...or germ in rockwool or rapid rooters, then treat as you would seeds started in peat pellets...once the roots are showing out the sides of whatever plug you germinate in...you transplant to netpots with hydroton or other hydro medium...when you transplant to net pot...fill up your tub/bucket/whatever with ph'd 5.8 RO/distilled water with some superthrive, B-52, B-1,or Liquid karma (in other words, some type of B vitamin based additive for propagation)...make sure that the bubbles are right under your netpot...make sure that the water level stays right up to the bottom of netpots and be patient...In a few days you will see pristine white roots poking their way to the water. you see the bubbles pop and make the Hydroton rocks moist...the roots seek out this moisture...goodluck.lw It has always worked great for me...I even clone straight into
hydroton netpots(but that's another story)

this is how my cheap ass macgyver`s DWC from seeds

use styrofoam cups with the bottom cut out instead of netpots
cut bottom of cup off .
use a piece of anuther cup to cut a peice of styrofoam cup to wedge in bottomless cup to make a removeable bottom

i cut a square ahh,.. more rectangelish piece and then poke ahole or cut a slit so your seeds tap root goes thru but not big enough for seed to fall thru

wedge your removable bottom piece in to your cup
put bottom cup to water and im done ..few weeks i have a babys ready for my bucket

where i do perdy much the same with strofoam cup holding my plant

by the time shes budding shes sitting on a ball of roots to hold her in place (somewhat) so she doesent tip over
i

Mainly you want to put a layer of rocks at the bottom of the net pot.Then set your rockwoll cube on this little layer and fill the rocks around it.Then like Everyone said keep the water level right below the net so the bubbles pop and get the rocks and the rockwoll cube.