New Ebb n Flow need a little advice

[manels1111]

Hi all,

I'm just starting out with my first hydro system. I'm using an ebb and flow setup. Going to have 6 plants in a 2x2 tray.

600w HPS
2x2' tray
rockwool
hydrton rocks
1 gal plastic pots maybe 1.5 can't remember
20 gal resivoir
Some SuperNatural nutrients one for rooting, veg, and bloom
Using tap well water which normally has a ph around 7.5

1) My clones came in soil...The hydro store guy said leave in soil and make new clones to rockwool, but I really don't want to do that if its possible. Can I use the 3"x3" rockwool with the center cut out and just drop some of the soil and roots in the center of the rockwool. I'm not going to flood them high enough for the soil to make it out of the center rockwool cutout. Will the roots leave the soil and into the rockwool.

Or can I just clean the roots really good and place them in the cutout and cover with some leftover rockwool?

2) Should I use the rooting nute when I move them into my system especially if I transfer them to rockwool or veg nute and I'm pretty sure I will use 1/4 nute of the recommended for the first few weeks.

3) I had some jalenpnos in the system as a test run and watering them 6 times a day for 15minutes at about 3 to 4 inches tall seemed to drown them. How much on the water cycles? I'm thinking 2 times daily for 15min a pop to start out.

4) Do I need an airstone in my resvoir for this style system.

5) Anything I'm missing?

Thats it for now thanks a ton. I'm going to post a picture here shortly.

manels1111 Reviewed by manels1111 on 05-08-2008. New Ebb n Flow need a little advice Hi all, I'm just starting out with my first hydro system. I'm using an ebb and flow setup. Going to have 6 plants in a 2x2 tray. 600w HPS 2x2' tray rockwool hydrton rocks 1 gal plastic pots maybe 1.5 can't remember 20 gal resivoir Rating: 5

[socialistpete]

First off dont waste your time trying to put soiled plants in a hydro system and second IMO i think your tray is to small for 6 plants unless you plan on keeping them real small.

[manels1111]

Dang I was really hoping I could switch them ohh well.

Anyhow I started off with a 2x2 and see how do with that. Going to keep the plants somewhat small this first go and once I get comfortable with that I'm moving up to 3x3 or something a tad bigger than a 3x3. Space is not a problem.

[SeaOGreenies]

I have moved young plants from soil to rockwool. Simply wash the roots out very well with water, then break open the rock wool cubes. then fold some of the roots so they will be between the rock wool pieces. Then put the rockwool back together. I usually just submerge it in hydroton at this point. Then a good flooding of nutes with root hormones. It will be a matter of days until the roots have adjusted. I also sometimes tear the rockwool cube in 2 places and put roots in the tears. The plants never showed any sign of stress (sk-47 and Brainstorm. I have also gone from rockwool to soil.

And you always need an air stone. You will also need some block covers and a PH meter with PH up and down. 5.8-6.0

Try just to plants and top and train them early to make em huge!

[ilove2_420]

you need to check out something i found on youtube it will tell you everything you need to know go there and search for '' i grow chronic '' i watched some time ago it helped me out a lot i do it all here is the link there is 9 videos to it so i hope you have high speed internet

YouTube - I GROW CHRONIC - PART 1 (legendado)

good luck !!!

[justanotherbozo]

you need to check out something i found on youtube it will tell you everything you need to know go there and search for '' i grow chronic '' i watched some time ago it helped me out a lot i do it all here is the link there is 9 videos to it so i hope you have high speed internet

YouTube - I GROW CHRONIC - PART 1 (legendado)

good luck !!!

good advice, watch those vids and you will learn a thing or two about E & F, that's how he does it.
oh, and btw, the advice about cloning is good advice, and they make little rockwool cubes made to fit into that hole in the 3x3 cube, root your clones in those little cubes, then just stick those into the bigger cubes. the thing about cloneing is that a clone can become the parent for your next grow which is something to consider if you bought premium seeds. learning how to clone is essential if you really want to cultivate cannabis.
just this mans opinion, and you know what they say about opinions!

bozo,
peace, love, dope

[manels1111]

I have watched those video's actually. Learned a whole lot. I've also been surfing these boards quite a bit gathering all the info I can. Thanks for all the help. I think I will try to transfer 3 to rockwool. If they fail then I'll just grow the other 3 in soil and make new cuttings.

If I end up having to grow the 3 in soil can I just use these as my mothers? Is it a big deal growing mothers in soil and my babies in rockwool?

My clones came from a female that was suppose to be pretty bomb we shall see.

[justanotherbozo]

I have watched those video's actually. Learned a whole lot. I've also been surfing these boards quite a bit gathering all the info I can. Thanks for all the help. I think I will try to transfer 3 to rockwool. If they fail then I'll just grow the other 3 in soil and make new cuttings.

If I end up having to grow the 3 in soil can I just use these as my mothers? Is it a big deal growing mothers in soil and my babies in rockwool?

My clones came from a female that was suppose to be pretty bomb we shall see.

LOL in that order, yes you can use the ones you have as mommas and no, it's not a big deal growing mommas in dirt and clones in rockwool, dirt, hydroton, etc, etc, etc. whatever your prefered medium might be.
actually, i think a lot of people do it that way, i think in part because dirt is more forgiving which means you can pay less attention. and you have more time if something isn't right, in hydro, you can lose a crop in a hurry if something goes wrong, for instance, if your pump dies and you don't see it for a full day!

also, you don't mention how old your plants are, if they're all clones, how tall are they, are they big enough to take cuttings from yet? just remember, if you don't clone your plants, when you harvest them, you will either have to get some more (hopefully they'd still be available) or you'd have to start from seed, a tedious, time-consuming process.
anyway, good luck man, and toke amongst yourselves

bozo,
peace, love, dope

[manels1111]

The clones are two weeks old. I'm actually heading to vegas so I can't pick them up till I get back sunday. Not sure exactly how tall they actually are.

When can I start taking cutting off them?

Thanks again for all the help.

[PlantHeadJ]

It is totally cool to go from dirt to hydro.
I prefer to go from dirt to Hydroton because you can fill your net pot around the roots. Take care washing the roots that you don't harm them too much. Also maybe a couple days before, if you can, water the plants in the soil with Hesi root compound or voodoo juice to give them an opportunity (sp?) to be full of rooting juice when they make the transfer. This is how it's done with mother's before cloning. Give the plant 2-3 days to suck up the rooting juice and then the cuttings are full of what they need, hence faster rooting...just my 2 cents...good luck!