Weedchick goes Hydro 1st attempt

[Mrs.WeedChick]

Ok here it is! A cheap set up 3-4 gal res. Airstone on bottom (6) 3.75" net pots. Hydroton and coco husk mix. Using flora series with a cap full of superthrive. ph between 5-7 daily checks. I'm using the same box as my soil grows and I have since purcheased a 250hps that I plan to hang over the box durring flower. I also invested in some seeds I got 10 fems and 30 indoor mixed for 50 bucks so I got a few of each. One of the fems popped up she is indicated by a toothpick in her pot. The only issues so far are I had problems germinating in the set-up. So I bought some soil starter cubes and that fixed that problem only other issue is the ph levels adjustments they are not easy I put a little up in then a little down in and you get the picture. I'm using tap water but I plan on buying (ro) from Wally mart for next res change around x-mas. Haven't been around in a while hope everyones peachy

Mrs.WeedChick Reviewed by Mrs.WeedChick on 12-13-2005. Weedchick goes Hydro 1st attempt Ok here it is! A cheap set up 3-4 gal res. Airstone on bottom (6) 3.75" net pots. Hydroton and coco husk mix. Using flora series with a cap full of superthrive. ph between 5-7 daily checks. I'm using the same box as my soil grows and I have since purcheased a 250hps that I plan to hang over the box durring flower. I also invested in some seeds I got 10 fems and 30 indoor mixed for 50 bucks so I got a few of each. One of the fems popped up she is indicated by a toothpick in her pot. The Rating: 5

[cnd411]

Germinating seeds with rapid rooter until they have 3-5 set of true leaves, then transplant them into your system seem to be a simple start.

[lemonboy]

3-5 sets of leaves in a rapid rooter? How do you keep the roots from baking under your lights for that long?

[cnd411]

3-5 sets of leaves in a rapid rooter? How do you keep the roots from baking under your lights for that long?

Good question :thumbsup: just place rapid rooter in a coffee cup with coco medium.

[Mrs.WeedChick]

Well they are now in second week of flowering... One male so far and two ladies other two unknown and 6th died long ago. I haven't set up my 250 hps yet I hope to get around to that this weekend. I give them 1tsp.bloom fert. per gal and a cap of superthrive as well as half a co2 tablet a week. I was changing the res. every two weeks but I think i'll do once a month if possible. These smell a lot more than my soil batch did so i'll be getting some carbon filters to stuff in my fan holes. I use wally spring water and it seems to work much better than my tap water but i was thinking of buying water softner from the pet shop and seeing if I could go back to tap. Oh and I think paper ph strips suck! I need to find something else. Feedback and hydro tips are most welcome Until next update :smokin:

[LOC NAR1958]

They look good. Get your 250 on them, don't wait. have you got vents. I saw those boxes and was thinking the same. Cool little setup. Good luck.

[lemonboy]

I use wally spring water and it seems to work much better than my tap water but i was thinking of buying water softner from the pet shop and seeing if I could go back to tap. Oh and I think paper ph strips suck! I need to find something else.

Yeah, I bought some of those strips and might as well have flushed my money down the toilet. If you can't afford an electronic meter get a drop tester. They work well. As for your water, leave it out for 12 hours with an airstone in it before doing anything to it. This will allow time for a lot of the bad stuff to evaporate.

[LOC NAR1958]

Don't get a softner, they add salts to the water to make it soft. You want an RO (reverse osmosis) system. You can get a good price on ebay. I use distilled only because I already had it. Sears about 100 bucks has distiller. If you get a PPM meter you can check water from dif places. I know of one that uses a britta on the tap water and PPM's come way below 100ppm's. Wally's water is better for now. And change your res every 10 to 14 days. Some go longer but if you have a meter you can put clean water in like a flush and watch the PPM's go up, the plants give off toxic salts that poisin the water that's why we change so much. You will see your plants slow down the longer they go in the same water.

[Mrs.WeedChick]

Well I have 4 girls! wee.... I will change the res. every 14 days and continue on wally water. HPS is up and running, I have just hung it over the box with lid up. I do not have it vented or cooled since it is out in the open and the basement is pretty cold! I just have to remember to close up the box at night to keep the plants warm. I am going to try hanging the lamp from diffrent lengths from the plants. I don't want to burn them or the resin/plastic box but also want sufficiant lighting. What is the norm? I've read as far as ten' and as close as 2'. Thanks everyone this grow is comming along much better than my soil grow did. I haven't had any bug or leaf issues.

[LOC NAR1958]

Hi, Mrs. WeedChick.
4 that's great. I have a 100 HPS now started with 400. Get the light as close as you can without burning anything. My 1000 is a foot or less from my plants. I also have an AC blowing between light and plant and cooling the small 4' x 6' x 8'. You don't get burned till you touch the bulb. The farther away the bulb is, the more lumens you loose. Just a foot or so past optimum can cost you half your light. Keep the updates coming. Later.