Water Farm/DWC club

[latewood]

Another question guys now that I just read latewood's thread....any ideas on how to keep roots from getting tangled in something like that? Would some sort of screen between them or something work? I want to build a setup like that to start my 8 seedlings off before I transplant them into the farms but didnt consider the tangling root thing....suggestions?

I am designing an DWC unit, that will have sub compartments with-in tub for just this purpose.

you know...all these multi-plant bubblers were really designed for vegetables that won't effect each other, and It causes this small problem with POT
p.s. Blue bear, Sorry I haven't followed your thread. I have been real busy. I will read over later and respond to several quesiton's posted here...peace

[latewood]

RW always has that potential to have PH problems, what about Rappid Rootters???
Adieu

rapid rooters are too small.

He is right...If you use the 4x4 blocks the roots will fill the r'wool before they grow all over. In fact, many commercial growers use ebb and flow for their seedlings, and clones just for this reason. i loove raqpid rooters, but they are just starter p[lugs.

I have reverted to rockwool for all my cloning.

BB the ph problem with rockwool comes from recirculating bad nutrient solution through r'wool...If you use ebb and flow with proper ph soltion then the r'wool will do OK. I think Most have4 problems with r'wool due to overwatering...peace

[xcrispi]

hey weedhound ,
yep i drilled all the holes to like a 1/4 in. diameter and added lots of extras too . word of warning tho keep all holes away from outside edges of the top pot , the roots being really close to the edges makes it a p.i.t.a to spin the top half as roots wanna get pinched between the 2 halves when you set it back in bottom half to rest .
peace
crispi

[Weedhound]

Well i wll putting some extra holes in these things then...thanks for the tip about the holes near the edges....I can see roots being torn off due to that. Latewood I dearly hope you are planning to let us know how you do your setup....please keep us updated on that! As far the RW goes, how often should the solution be changed? I change my regular res once week during grow...does it need to be more for RW? Thanks people!

[latewood]

NO extra work...rez change every 7-10 days is great, as long as you keep rez topped off with ph 5.8 water. I personally have not had the nightmare's that "respected" friends here have had with rockwool. If you follow a regimen and keep everything "shipshape" so to speak...I don't think you will experience problem's...that's just my opinion.

I only use rockwool in 2 ways. In DWC it worked OK, and OK in dutch leach trays...but I grew in dutch leach trays without it and got the same results. I don't see the need that justifies the expense of 4" blocks. I use small pieces of r'wool and starter cubes for cloning, but I prefer straight hydroton. It is reusable...over and over. You just wash it with Flora-Kleen at end of each grow (soak at least 24hrs) and throw it in the ready bin. peace

Again. the best thing I ever did to universalize my growing...was to buy a 3.5"holesaw. for 3.75" netpots. I don't worry about the netpot holding plant up...although it does a decent job. I know going in that I will have to support the plant after it get's big.

As far as multi-dwc system...I am almost to the point where I may concede that I need an injection molded rez to pull off my ideas. peace. I will keep you all posted.

[MisterE]

Has anyone ever tried using Shoe Goo to make water tight compartments? Or is it too toxic?
It's a shoe repair goop that is water tight and is even usefull to repair fishing waders and such.

If it's not too toxic, you could construct inner chambers with it pretty easily I would think. It comes in clear and black.

[BlueBear]

I am thinking about doing a special order from a plastics molding company to get the set up I want, but don't have a spacific place to go with, because I want to find somebody that others have gone threw.
Adieu

[BlueBear]

LW with the 3.5 net pots, I know folks who drill a few holes in the edge of the net pot and screw it into the bucket and use wing nuts on the other side for a quick release in order to avoid having to do the tying up stuff.
Adieu

[JackdaWack]

u would be weary of rust and metal erosion, + its more work. Not an bad idea though.

[Weedhound]

Now there is another thing I would not have thought of ...support for the pots. It's so nice to get all this info BEFORE I start rather than after and have to backtrack (like I have to do now with drilling holes in the farms) and correct things later. Wish I could offer some suggestions but I am much better at sucking out info from others' brains then coming up with any of my own....