Illusion's grow log #1

[Illusion]

I decided it would be a good idea to document this grow. That way, I can look back on it and see how much I have progressed, and also get help from the local experts along the way! :thumbsup:

This is my very first time with hydroponics.. after countless hours of research I'm still only 90% confident with what im going to be doing.

Two seeds have already sprouted out of the rockwool, 4 Left to emerge. The rockwool was soaked in water with a ph of 5.0-6.0 (I honestly don't know because the PH-Pen needed calibration.)

The two that have already sprouted were placed into the rockwool 3 days or so before the others were planted, and also didn't have light until yesterday. (thats why they are so stretchy).

Im using a single 250w HPS light. It is currently 2.5 feet away from the seedlings (too far? I dont want to kill them with too much light)

I have re-moistened the rockwool yesterday with water with a PH of 5.8, it seemed a bit dry to the touch


QUESTIONS:
1. Rockwool holds a ton of moisture... I don't understand how the roots wont rot when they are in the Ebb and Flow buckets...
Am I supposed to have the water level BELOW the rockwool? Or so it just touches the bottom of the rockwool? Otherwise it i would think it would dry out...

2. Will the nutrients I've chosen (pictures below) okay to use?

Illusion Reviewed by Illusion on 10-21-2007. Illusion's grow log #1 I decided it would be a good idea to document this grow. That way, I can look back on it and see how much I have progressed, and also get help from the local experts along the way! :thumbsup: This is my very first time with hydroponics.. after countless hours of research I'm still only 90% confident with what im going to be doing. Two seeds have already sprouted out of the rockwool, 4 Left to emerge. The rockwool was soaked in water with a ph of 5.0-6.0 (I honestly don't know because the Rating: 5

[Illusion]

The two sprouts that have emerged are starting to have their roots pop out of the rockwool cube...

I started soaking rockwool blocks in PH 5.5 water..

A few questions I really need to ask before I get started..
I have five gallon buckets, with net pots on the top (pictures below)

I'm not sure if im supposed to fill ONLY the net pots with hydroton, and leave the remainder of the buckets to be filled with nutrient solution (ebb and flow system by the way)

If the net pots were only to be filled with hydroton, then I would think it wouldn't be a wise idea to use the rockwool cubes, as they hold TONS of moisture, and will leave barely any room for hydroton.

But if I understand correctly, if I were to JUST fill the net pots with hydroton, the roots would grow below the netpot into the bucket-- But since this is not DWC, I would think the roots might dry out if there is no growing medium inside... Or would that mean that I would just need more frequent watering schedules? Again... lost with all this moisture the rockwool holds.

help

[Illusion]

So does anyone know if I should just fill the net pots with hydroton, or the whole buckets? AND net pots

should I use the rockwool block (3"x3"x4") even if I don't fill the entire bucket, or just stick with the rockwool cube (1.5"x1.5"x1.5")

[Illusion]

I just realized it's quite possible i've been combining DWC and Ebb & Flow..

In Ebb and flow is it possible to have roots suspended in just air?? This is how Ive been planning it...

If I am doing ebb and flow, does that mean that all my roots need to be contained in a growing medium?

The way Ive planned is to have only the net pots filled with clay pebbles... they will then grow down into the buckets- but this is not DWC so the bottom part of the buckets will not always have water in it...

Will the roots dry out if I don't fill the entire buckets with hydroton?

any help is super appreciated!

[Illusion]

I realized I don't have enough hydroton to just use the rockwool cubes alone, so I transplanted the 6 to slabs..

They have all started poking out

I am planning on leaving them in the slabs without hydroton until i start flowering them, That way Ill at the most have four females...
I only have enough hydroton to plant four plants...

Hopefully they will not become rootbound in the rockwool in the next 4 to 5 weeks..


Should I just continue to water the rockwool by hand when it appears dry?
No nutrients yet, right?

Should I just put four of the slabs into hydroton in a couple of weeks, and leave two out and hopefully the two that aren't in the hydroton are male and not female?

OR... should I just order more hydroton so that all six can be moved into buckets in a couple of weeks, even if the roots aren't poking out of the slabs?

[Opie Yutts]

You put hydroton in the net pots only. I would cut the rockwool cubes in half roughly. I actually just put my rooted cuttings directly in the hydroton. You want most of your pot to be clay pellets. That would give you rockwool for your other seedlings. You do not want the water to touch the pots, except when the pump is on, which should raise the level enough so that the bottom half of the net pot gets wet. Your roots will be dangling in air to get the maximum oxygen possible, but a few inches of the bottom of the roots should be in water in case your electricity goes out or something. You need to time the pump on times carefully, or make sure there is an overflow. In fact, just make sure there is an overflow. You want as little nutrients as possible to get to the roots believe it or not. In other words you want maximum pump off time. Look around and see what people are doing for ebb and flow, but maybe something like 2 minutes on and 1 hour off.

GH nutrients are good. I use Fox Farm stuff, but both are good. Correct, no nutrients for the first 2 or 3 weeks, depending on how hearty they look.

I would keep an air stone in each bucket, or a big circulation and aeration pump in the reservoir.

[Illusion]

thanks opie for the reply ;]
i will be adding an overflow on the tray, everything seems much easier that way..
And now I definately know i need to order more hydroton.

I'm suprised to find out that it will actually work to have the roots suspended in air.. And really happy too


In addition to the hydroton I will be ordering Super Thrive, Liquid Karma, and Hygrozyme.

It says 500ml of hygrozyme is $18... That seems really expensive..
How long will 500ml of hygrozyme for a 50gal reservoir last? The 1L is $30

[Illusion]

Ended up going with hydroguard instead of hygrozyme... because it was much cheaper. I'm sure it will do the same job.

After stopping at the hardware store, I picked up the rest of what I needed plus a few extra lights.. four 32w 48" fluorescent tubes. Total of 11200 extra lumens ;].

The bulbs are 5100k spectrum... Which is this again? Flowering or Vegetative?

I'm hoping that I'm not giving them too much light right now between those and the hps light (which is 24" away from the seedlings)- but they seemed like they have been stretching so probably not.


I really do think I should cut the rockwool cubes in half... But I'm afraid that the roots have already grown way down.

Am I definitely going to have problems with the rockwool if I use slabs that big?

I wouldn't have used rockwool if I had done just a wee bit more research prior to using it.. Ill end up learning the hard way I guess.

[Opie Yutts]

5100K is more bluish and a great choice for vegging, but it is best if you can have a little blue in while flowering too.

And I hate rockwool, though many people use it. It holds way too much moisture. Never had much luck with it.

[Illusion]

5100K is more bluish and a great choice for vegging, but it is best if you can have a little blue in while flowering too.

And I hate rockwool, though many people use it. It holds way too much moisture. Never had much luck with it.

I noticed how it holds so much moisture... I took the plastic wrapping off of it, and the next morning it was Completely dried out and the babies looked sad like they were thirsty.

I'm not really too concerned with the moisture problem, I figure that when I have the ebb and flow set up, Ill just make sure that the maximum level doesnt touch to rockwool, and always make sure I water it by hand... or just make sure that at least one of the cycles during the day touches the rockwool..

That shit does stay moist and I dont think it would be a wise idea to flood it entirely more than once over the course of 24 hours.



Considering that I only soaked the rockwool blocks for 24 hours (5.5 ph blah)... Do you think I will be able to correct any potential problems? I just want them to stay alive.


thanks for the reply