What's the most hands-off method?

[DrDichotomy]

I was wondering... is there a hydro/aero method or nute schedule that doesn't take much maintainence? I don't want to use soil but I also don't want to have to check pH, TDS etc constantly. Any tips are welcome.

DrDichotomy Reviewed by DrDichotomy on 06-21-2008. What's the most hands-off method? I was wondering... is there a hydro/aero method or nute schedule that doesn't take much maintainence? I don't want to use soil but I also don't want to have to check pH, TDS etc constantly. Any tips are welcome. Rating: 5

[Revanche21]

check my link I didn't check PPMs or anything

For nutes, I just followed directions on the bontanicare bottle

in the beginning i messed up cause I used the wrong nutes but I pretty much didn't do too much

[justanotherbozo]

I was wondering... is there a hydro/aero method or nute schedule that doesn't take much maintainence? I don't want to use soil but I also don't want to have to check pH, TDS etc constantly. Any tips are welcome.

sorry man, no matter what method you choose to use, it will demand some maintainence.

it's like having a pet, if you have a dog you have to take him for walks, if you have a cat you have to clean the shitty litter.

we're talking living plants here so the more TLC you give, the more the plant will give back.

after a while, you will get hooked on the growing itself, it's awesome to start this little seed and raise it into a 7 foot monster, or to take that same plant and keep it real short, taking clones off it every week to fill a SOG.

anyway, give it a try

[Weedhound]

For those with lots of $$$$$ you can get controllers to monitor everything for you .....or hire someone I suppose.....

Otherwise you're better off going with soil imo.

[NaughtyDreadz]

would be nice though... to travel for like 2 weeks and come back and see the progress...

[DrDichotomy]

Don't get me wrong, I have grown in soil twice and both times I fawned over my plants like a new mother but I'd like to be able to forget about a hydro setup for a week or two without much risk of the pH going wild and killing everything.

[justanotherbozo]

sorry, the best you could do is have large resevoirs, the larger the res, the easier it is to maintain and keep stable

lol, i think, i'm no expert on hydro or even growing in general, it's just that, if your growing in optimal conditions, 1 healthy plant can drink close to a gallon of solution a day, and they grow fast man.

that's my understanding at least, my own experience is very limited but it seems to be holding true with my small plants, enough that i believe it

[GreenDestiny]

It'd definitely be a recirculating system with a large reservoir... pH will stay more consistent too.

Would just have get a good mix of nutes/water for the plants to uptake so that when levels fall, it retains that same balance.

Other than the hydro system, someone's gotta be around to move the light up so they don't get burned..... unless you know how fast the plants will grow and build a light mover to raise it tiny bits at a time to match it.

like WH said, you can spend a lot of money getting everything practically automated. And lot of work fine tuning it for the specific strain before you can 'set it and forget it'

[Revanche21]

i left my plant 3 ft above the DWC system didnt touch it
70 day grow

[stinkyattic]

I'm going to go with fully automated drip-to-waste in coco with a large res and a waste receptacle that either automatically pumps to a drain, or is large enough not to need emptying.
However, drip emitters DO need frequent checking because they can get clogged with slime.

Ebb n Flow is also very low maintenance, but you have to check and clean the pump filter weekly in any recirculating system.

Drip to waste in promix is similar to coco but the pH changes over time and you will need to monitor runoff to avoid problems.

With any system that is intended to be hands-off, the quality of your nute is very important. I'm not saying, "run out and spend $400 on a nute system", I'm saying that you should do some research on nutes that are forgiving, unlikely to burn, and are buffered at the correct pH for your system. I have been VERY pleased with my results using the Canna Aqua line, which is essentially a hydro-organic fertilizer buffered EXACTLY where your plants need it, so you have to check pH less often.