Ebb & Flow Noob Needs Help, Please.

[alighieri]

Hi all: medium-time grower (organic soil & DWC) trying hand at 4x4 ebb & flow table. My clones (GHS White Rhino, sativa pheno) looked good when they went in a few weeks ago, but under too little light. Have since increased lumens but clones seem to be struggling and nowhere nearly as healthy as their organic soil neighbors (TGA's JTR). The WRs are between six and nine inches tall (I'd like them to be 15-ish before flowering). Am using cooltube 600 watt HPS and a Procyon 100 - equivalent to 400w (total of about 1000). I know the spectrum is wrong for veg but must limp along - the JTRs (in soil; they are (ej grow at med strength in 30 gal.res.expanded clay and rockwool.flood cycle has been 4x@6min but just upped to every 4 hrs for 5 min.as worried that roots are drying out between waterings (they are). Also, it's too warm in there but due to temporary venting issue. Normal temps are 78-80 day (doing 24/7; so no night temp) - now hovering around 90, which too high is still okay as have brought in crops under such conditions. Still, will get down...

The PH has been fluctuating crazily - way high, all the time. Just trying to get between 5.5-6.0-ish for floods as otherwise all I'd do is wrestle it down. The genetics are white rhinos from greenhouse, the sativa phenotype. I let the indica one go as the stone was a bit stoooopid for me. This one however is wonderful and very anti-anxiety. An indica, for sure; but this pheno has a nice fruity/flora (delicate) aroma and serious head/body high - balanced and very strong. The Jack the Rippers from TGA (shout out Subcool and Mz. Jill); are in organic soil using Happy Frog ferts - nothing special; but the plants are strong; healthy and very pretty. This strain is frighteningly strong and very up - the phenos I have (not sure whether 2-4, I think 4 but will find out this run) all reek of lemons and pine cleaner and are frosty as hell. I need a male of either WR or JTR to cross as it would be ultra luscious. Yet; I digress...

So, here are my questions: 1) How many times to flood and for how long? 2) Nute regiment okay? 3) I know I need a tray cover but until then; how can I protect roots? 4) Any other help is greatly appreciated as I'd love to bring this crop in.

My TDS pen is dead and getting a new one but again, keeping at around med ferts - getting new TDS pen soon.

thanks!
A_~

PS: not topping off res during week, am working up to managing it. No idea about nutes but think heard 1/3 strength is right. Am working on res cover to stop so much evap. It's humid, around 60-70 relative and that's way too high for the WRs in late budding - they are profoundly dense and prone to mold, so that's an ongoing challenge.

alighieri Reviewed by alighieri on 10-11-2009. Ebb & Flow Noob Needs Help, Please. Hi all: medium-time grower (organic soil & DWC) trying hand at 4x4 ebb & flow table. My clones (GHS White Rhino, sativa pheno) looked good when they went in a few weeks ago, but under too little light. Have since increased lumens but clones seem to be struggling and nowhere nearly as healthy as their organic soil neighbors (TGA's JTR). The WRs are between six and nine inches tall (I'd like them to be 15-ish before flowering). Am using cooltube 600 watt HPS and a Procyon 100 - equivalent to 400w Rating: 5

[alighieri]

Just adding a few more to illustrate above post...thx A_~

[tinytoon]

you jumbled your soil grow in with your hydro so to tell you the truth I dont have a clue what you are running for nutes.
I flood my tray 4 times a day for 15 mins a pop.
I dont have a tray cover and not a problem with that for over a year

[smokeOnE702]

From what i learn. if u gotta set the ebb and flow on a timer and flood it every 3 or 6 hour denping on your medium. i see that u got plants that wus to b in dirt and now in HYDRO. that the same problem i had with the starberry cought. is because of all that dirt and shit that in the rockwool that making your PH jump up hella high. so take your plant and make sum 5.5 water and PH down and let it soak for a lil. the yellow on your plant is sign of PH level unbalance. i just top my water with 5.5 water and ph down. and it will even out the ph or lower it. good luck.

[dejayou30]

Looks like you've got some root rot or overfeeding to me, I can't really tell. Do your bins drain completely? You don't want any standing water. Also, I flood mine every 3 hours for 15 minutes when the lights are on, nothing during dark time.