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I know for soil that you want a gallon pot per month the plant will grow, but is there a rule of thumb for hydro? I am researching different systems, and want my plants to grow to a height of 2-3 feet or so, what size container should they be in, or does it even matter since the roots can expand beyond the pot? (Did I just answer my own question?)
Well in hydroponics you worry about the root ball more then the feeder roots. For plants growing only 2-3 feet you can use 4" minimum but 6" would be better and 8" would be the best choice.
I agree with Zandor.. I use 6", and that's barely big enough.
Ok, so that being said, is there one unit that stands above the others? Again I have the 4x8x7 (width x depth x height) hydrohut. I am either going to use 2 600 watt lights, or 2 1000 watters. I've thought about figuring out a way to design my own, but haven't come up with anything yet and will probably resort to buying something. Budget isn't much of a concern, although I would like to keep the cost below a grand for the hydroponic part.
How much yield are you looking for? Don't forget odor control and room for air movers. In a space that small you should use air cooled lights and are better off with the 2-600w lights then the 1000w in that small of a space.
How many plants are you think of?
I was actually thinking of either 2 600 watters or 2 1000 watters. It is 32 sq feet and 224 cubic feet, so I'm not sure that 2000 watts would overheat it substantially, although I do plan to air cool whatever lights I get. Odor control is going to be taken care of as well. I am not the average user of this forum, as I actually have the money to do it right.. lol. I don't know exactly how many plants I want to use, enough to scrog the entire thing. If a scrog is even possible in an area that large. I am hoping to get 4-5 pounds out of it. I read that a scrog done right would yield 2.6 oz's per sq. foot. 32 sq. feet is around 84 ounces, or a little over 5 pounds. I would be happy though with anything over 4.
My plants finish at about 2 1/2 feet and they seem to need all of the 6" x 6 x 9 space that the roots take up. I wouldn't try much less then this.
As a rule of thumb in hydro...DWC, you can use 5 gallon buckets or 10 gallon sterlite tubs...1 plant per tub...or make a recirculating system, Grow a MUM, and clone it...veg until plants are 12-18" tall, then flower. this allows you to grow more plants smaller, and acheive the same grams per watt or sq. foot or whatever you are shooting for. If you want trees from seed..then you have to go thru sexing, and that will end up requiring as many as 3 grow spaces...whereas with cloning, you can use a small cloning area, and veg them 'til you need them. sorry, rambling on
I do plan to go to cloning, after my first grow. I have no clones to start with, and don't know anyone in my area to obtain some. I'm sure there are some sin city people here, but I don't know them and don't trust anyone but my wife and myself..lol
here is a hint...If you can be patient...(just find your MUM) take 2 clones from each plant once they get 1 month old and healthy..label each, so you know which plant they came from....buy some rapid rooters to make it easy. If you want I will teach you if you don't know how.
tthen flower plants so you can sex them (approximately 2 weeks) so you have buddage growing...assuming you get at least one fem...you are in business. By this time the clones will be rooted...throw away the male clones...and pot the rooted females...after 2 weeks of vegging rooted clones...pick the strongest one and put it under perpetual veg, at 18/6. flower the rest...every 2 weeks take 3-4 clones and root them...peace
5gallons per plant minim is what i've read, but for smaller plants i'm sure less would do. i also use 3" netcups in my setup, one of my plants has kicked its pot askew in the hole, but by the time they get big enough to do that the support from the rootball and screen keep it in place, seal off the light with some foil and no worries.
Latewood, good idea about speed cloning. I will use this I think. Thanks.
Trying to get going:
NL x BB
WW x Lambsbreath
Chemotherapy