First Time DWC. Need Advice!

[Krenshaw]

Hoping to get a jump start on my transplant and the best way to go about it. This is what I think. I'd like some feedback from growers who have knowledge of DWC. My biggest questions involve the watering and nutrients.
(((FLOWERING STAGE)))
Transfer my rockwool cubes into my 5 gallon pots with air stones and RO water (ph balanced to 5.8) filled a half inch above the bottom of the mesh pots which are filled with hydroton. Do not use any nutes during this initial stage, and even though the buckets are filled with water and the air stones are bubbling I will continue to hand water a couple times a day for the first week...ish. Light is on an 18/6 cycle, MH bulb, 400 watts.

As soon as the roots appear through the mesh pots begin adding the nutes (entire GH flora series) 200-400ppm according to the GH guide (I know ppm's vary based on individual growing conditions) but generally, this seems correct. As the weeks continue and the plants grow I will up the ppm about 100 per a week until I reach around 800ppm.

(((GENERAL MAINTENANCE)))
PH balance the water twice a day, no additional nutes.
hand water as water levels falls with ph balanced RO water, no additional nutes.
Completely change the water once a week w/PH balanced RO w/appropriate nutes. During the complete change is the only time I will add the nutes

Krenshaw Reviewed by Krenshaw on 03-30-2012. First Time DWC. Need Advice! Hoping to get a jump start on my transplant and the best way to go about it. This is what I think. I'd like some feedback from growers who have knowledge of DWC. My biggest questions involve the watering and nutrients. (((FLOWERING STAGE))) Transfer my rockwool cubes into my 5 gallon pots with air stones and RO water (ph balanced to 5.8) filled a half inch above the bottom of the mesh pots which are Rating: 5

[ThePinkJina]

Hoping to get a jump start on my transplant and the best way to go about it. This is what I think. I'd like some feedback from growers who have knowledge of DWC. My biggest questions involve the watering and nutrients.
(((FLOWERING STAGE)))
Transfer my rockwool cubes into my 5 gallon pots with air stones and RO water (ph balanced to 5.8) filled a half inch above the bottom of the mesh pots which are filled with hydroton. Do not use any nutes during this initial stage, and even though the buckets are filled with water and the air stones are bubbling I will continue to hand water a couple times a day for the first week...ish. Light is on an 18/6 cycle, MH bulb, 400 watts.

As soon as the roots appear through the mesh pots begin adding the nutes (entire GH flora series) 200-400ppm according to the GH guide (I know ppm's vary based on individual growing conditions) but generally, this seems correct. As the weeks continue and the plants grow I will up the ppm about 100 per a week until I reach around 800ppm.

(((GENERAL MAINTENANCE)))
PH balance the water twice a day, no additional nutes.
hand water as water levels falls with ph balanced RO water, no additional nutes.
Completely change the water once a week w/PH balanced RO w/appropriate nutes. During the complete change is the only time I will add the nutes

Sounds like you have a handle on it so far.! I have a DWC setup (6, 5gal buckets hooked to a 7th 5gal res.) The res holds my nutes and extra water. I also use the reservoir for ease of access to add nutes, drain system, and add water before next flush. I use bubblers in each reservoir to keep the nutrient solution mixed. I also have a 155 GPH water pump setup on drippers that I use to auto water my plants. Which is actually on a constant drip, just add nutes and extra water to the res and go on your merry way.. lol. And another thing I do, may be a little much but the air stones don't do enough. I have an extra 55 GPH water pump that I use to floom the reservoir. If you are unsure of what "Flooming" is, Google "Flooming" it makes sense..

Good luck, and if you have any questions continue to post here and we'll do what we can to help

[Krenshaw]

I appreciate the vote of confidence. A lot of this process is trial and error, I get that, but I always appreciate the suggestions from this forum. Some day I want to go full hydro with the drip but for now I wanna hand water and get a feel for it. I regret buying seeds, nearly $150 from overseas (feminized) but with the recent legalization in AZ you can buy clones dirt cheep. I def could of saved myself some time/$. Thanks for the feedback. Good luck with the DWC, not that you need it!

[Ismm]

I normally just keep the rockwool cubes in a cloning tray filled with perlite for a extra week to let the roots grow out a half inch to inch out of the bottom of the cubes. Then all you gotta do is get ur net pot in ur full 5 gal with half the clay pellets taken out of the pot so you can see the water line, add a few pellets above the water line to get the cubes out of the water while keeping the roots in the water. I do it like this every time and ill have roots coming out of the bottom and sides of my 6 inch net pots within 24-48 hours. As for buying clones yeah you coulda saved urself some time but ordering online you can dang near get any strain you want online. When you go to ur local dispensary there probably only gonna have a few strains on hand and who knows what kind of bugs or mold is gonna be on the things. But yeah if you know the clones your gonna be getting are award winning top notch strains then yeah go for the clones.