1- Ideally, you should adjust pH two times a day, if needed. Thus, twice-a-day pH checks. There are "probes" for the pH that you dip into your solution. I got my self a Hanna GrowChek (or GrowCheck) that has "in-line" probes. So, the meter is constantly reading the pH, ppm, TDS, etc.

2- Fluorescents should be used for the early stages of a plant's life... soon there after, if you have MH bulbs, GO FOR IT! More energy for them...

If you have a low power HID (MH or HPS bulb), then adding supplemental CFLs will help somewhat. But I would GUESS that if you're running a 400W MH, or a 600, or a 1,000 watter, then extra CFLs would be more or less moot. Just my opinion on that.

3- I don't think I understand your question. If you don't germinate your seed, then, what will you grow?

You can start the seeds for a hydro grow in many number of methods (say, paper towel method), then place the little one into your growing medium (rockwool, hydroton pebbles, lava rocks, etc. etc.)

4- By "Flora Kit", do you mean the General Hydroponics (GH) Flora Series? (I think that's its name)... then, yeah... those are really good.

Best to you homie!,

-turtle420
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turtle420 Reviewed by turtle420 on . 1st time hydro grow and I have Qs! Hey all, I am planning my first hydroponics grow and I have a few questions. 1) I read a thread where someone said they didn't check the pH for 2 days and their plants are dying... Do I really have to check the pH that often? How often should I check it? 2) I also heard/read it is best to use flourescents for the first one & 1/2 weeks, then switch to Metal Halide for vegetation, then to HPS for the flowering. Is this a good idea? Should I run my flourescents throughout the entire grow? Rating: 5