Hi, Gen I don't want to be bad news but for hydro you don't want to start in dirt. I saw this discussed just a week ago or so. Dirt roots are dif from hydro roots. You should start in peat cups so you can wash the peat off when you put them in the hydro. Or use 1 inch rockwool starter cubes. I don't know how dif but there are bacteria and things in dirt you don't want in your hydro. My brother had dirt in the tron and I didn't clean it out before I turned it into a bubbler and I was getting this slime on the roots. Just a heads up. Maybe some one could shed a little light on it for us.