1st timer, w/Hydroton, could use a little help...

[TMusic]

I'm a first timer, so I'm obviously going to have some questions. After reading about growing for the last 10 years or so, i decided to give it a shot. I spent the last 3 weeks in this forum reading everything I could (THANK YOU ALL), decided what would be best for me and went to the store. The guy talked me in to a few changes but I came out happy and spent a exactly what I wanted to.

My space is a bathtub (about 2.5 ft x 4.5ft x 7ft) in a full bath.

400w HPS
Digital Ballast (MH or HPS)
24x48 Tray
Bag of Hydroton
30 Gal Reservoir
Pump, Hose, Tubing for Drip system
Smaller pump to circulate water in reservoir
Long Airstone
A box of the CO2 pucks that you put in water

I'm 7 days in. Started from seeds. I planted 7 seeds from the steady flow of purple we've had for the past 6 months. All 7 sprouted, 6 of them made it. I started in Rapid Rooters, stuck the seed right in, pushed it down a little.... They're about 1 1/2 inches tall and are all starting they're second set of true leaves, one of them, which i think is a different strain, is 2 or 2/12 inches tall and has started it's 3rd set.

Here I am 7 days later and I need a few questions answered before I can move on...i think.

I took the plugs and put them in the Hydroton about level with the plug. They've been in the system since day 4 and I've been giving them about a 33% nute solution (technaflora products) all seems fine...

I have the light on 24/7, when do I switch to 18/6?

I don't have a dripper tip in the end of my tubing for each plant, it gently flows out of it right now, no splashing or anything like that, is this ok?

I've been feeding every 4 hours for 5 minutes. How will that change once I start the lights on 18/6?

I've read that I can water every 3 hours for 4 minutes but when it comes to using Hydroton, everyone seems to say something different when it comes to a feeding schedule.

Thank you.

TMusic Reviewed by TMusic on 08-21-2007. 1st timer, w/Hydroton, could use a little help... I'm a first timer, so I'm obviously going to have some questions. After reading about growing for the last 10 years or so, i decided to give it a shot. I spent the last 3 weeks in this forum reading everything I could (THANK YOU ALL), decided what would be best for me and went to the store. The guy talked me in to a few changes but I came out happy and spent a exactly what I wanted to. My space is a bathtub (about 2.5 ft x 4.5ft x 7ft) in a full bath. 400w HPS Digital Ballast (MH or Rating: 5

[GoldenGoblin]

I think why everyone is on the fence is because Hydroton doesn't hold water (or enough anyway)

Everything looks good with everything, 18/6 is another fence issue. It allows the plant a regular Calvin cycle
Personally, I think the dark reactions are just as important as light ones.

As to constant drip I am not to sure. Rockwool watering is usually 15min every 4ish hours though.
I might say you need more intervals. Is it really aerated? Root rot in your situation could be drainage. No standing water in your pots?

[Opie Yutts]

I took the plugs and put them in the Hydroton about level with the plug. They've been in the system since day 4 and I've been giving them about a 33% nute solution (technaflora products) all seems fine...
Plants should have no nutes the first two weeks, then 1/4 strength for a week, then half, then full to be safe. But if everything is fine, I guess you don't need to worry about it.

I have the light on 24/7, when do I switch to 18/6?
Now. Plants take in the stuff they need during light hours, and process the stuff during dark hours. They need both unless you are rooting cuttings. I have only two light schedules. 18/6 and 12/12. People may say different, but I don't think adjusting those schedules will do much of anything.

I don't have a dripper tip in the end of my tubing for each plant, it gently flows out of it right now, no splashing or anything like that, is this ok?
That's fine. There will be plenty of splashing from your air stone and res. pump. But it should be more like dripping instead of flowing.

I've been feeding every 4 hours for 5 minutes. How will that change once I start the lights on 18/6?
Feeding schedules on systems like yours are very debatable, and as varied as the systems are. You just need to keep one thing in mind; you want your roots to get as much oxygen as possible without stressing the plants. This means that you actually want your roots as dry as possible. Believe me this is the key. Light schedule will not matter, just make sure the roots don't completley dry out, but are as dry as possible. I have a hybrid spray/dwc type thingee, and I water for 30 seconds every 10 minutes. For the most part this is pretty typical.

I've read that I can water every 3 hours for 4 minutes but when it comes to using Hydroton, everyone seems to say something different when it comes to a feeding schedule.
You need to remember that there are many growing mediums, and all require different care and schedules. For example rocwool holds way too much moisture in my opinion, so I would water much less often in that than I would clay pellets (Hydroton is a brand). Bleah, I hate rockwool. Way too easy to get root rot, mold, etc.

Hope that helps a little.

[TMusic]

I did my 1st 6 hour dark period, fed about 3 hours before the lights went off, 1 five minute feeding in the middle. 2 of the plants turned their largest leaves (1st set) up like a V. Is this ok.... I read somewhere that it is, but I figured I'd just ask the ? They're were at about a 45 degree angle and have gone back down a little in the last 3 hours.

Also, do the cotelydons fall off? If so, what does this process look like? One of them on my tallest plant is covered by the 2nd set of leaves and is turning yellow.

[HighTillIDie]

man my plants are only a week old, but the nutes in my res are about 75%... a couple plants started to yellow a tad and show calcium defiancy so i had to up my nute strength.. so i say, let your plants tell you, every system is diff... i am using a dwc/wick, with hydroton... i foliar feed every now and then a slightly weaker version of the nutes in res.

i am experimenting with 24 light for about 3 days, and i am getting good results, i just had to find a way to keep humidity and temp right at the plant level. i will give them their first nighttime tonight....

and ya, you are describing when they fall off

[TMusic]

I had them on 24/0 for the 1st 10 days, first night time today, went to 18/6. Foliar fed them some 50% Thrive Alive B1 Green just as the light went out. The shortest is about 1 1/2" the tallest is about 2 1/2".

I plan on switching out my reservoir tomorrow, its been a week in the system. I picked up some MagiCal and Sugar Daddy to add in with the boost and grow, not sure if i should do that now or wait until the next change. (1 week)

I've been at 368 ppm for the last 7 days, that's the boost, grow, thrive alive red, and root 66. Less than 50% of each recommended. I'm planning on dropping the Root 66 and starting on the MagiCal and Sugar Daddy along with the boost, grow, and B1. I'm assuming that I can increase the ppm of my solution with a single change...??? From 368-500ish? Or do I need to do it more gradually.

If I'm doing something wrong, please tell me, I've been growing for about 10 days.

[TMusic]

This is day 11. here are a couple pics, is the yellow on the bottom ok?

[Opie Yutts]

Yellowing as shown in your pics is completely normal. Those bottom baby leaves fall off just like peoples baby teeth fall out. I would not be giving them so much ingredients in their nutes. Don't get so technical man. At that stage I switch to about 1/4 strength veg nutes, then gradually increase to full strength or so. You don't need anything else if you have good nutes like Fox Farm's Grow Big. If anything, I would probably add just a couple drops per gallon of Super Thrive or Liquid Karma, but your crop will turn out fine without anything but veg nutes. I get a little more technical during flowering, but not much. Just bud nutes, and a boost or two.

Also, have you ever thought of making a cheapo airocloner and keeping a couple mothers? Much better results then rooting seeds in peat pellets. You can use scarification (search) to make massive amounts of root sites, and you can just lay the roots in the pot with some capilary matting (like a wick), and fill in the pellets around the roots. Good luck.

[TMusic]

What is the science behind not giving them nutes? Overload potential? If the're not in soil, and they're not gettting any supplemental nutrition, how are they expected to grow to their full potential with water alone? or even 1/4 stregnth?

I'm just trying to understand the "Why"? Only because everyone does something different, an educated guess is what I'm after.

[TMusic]

Don't get so technical man. At that stage ...
... your crop will turn out fine without anything but veg nutes. I get a little more technical during flowering, but not much. Just bud nutes, and a boost or two.

Also, have you ever thought of making a cheapo airocloner and keeping a couple mothers? Much better results then rooting seeds in peat pellets. You can use scarification (search) to make massive amounts of root sites, and you can just lay the roots in the pot with some capilary matting (like a wick), and fill in the pellets around the roots. Good luck.

won't the wicking material keep it from drying out? Isn't there enough moisture in the rapid rooter to hold it through until the next watering?

unless i'm misunderstanding you, that seems a little complicated. Handling roots? When will I be doing that?

Didn't you just tell me not to get too technical? ...or am I missing something?