Flushing Hydro style?

[razzapiggy]

I am growing in SunShine #4 right now, a little over five weeks into flower. I know I have to flush for the last five to six days, and I am curious how much needs to be given to the plants? My bud sites are becoming a bit too heavy, so the plants are going to be tied to PVC pipes and unfortunately are not on a tray or anything like that right now. Trying to make some sense of what is going to be a tricky situation here shortly, due to the fact that I have no good drainage system. I guess you place a plant on a brick...and flush into a decent sized container, empty the container in the nearest bathroom, and repeat process...right? Going to be alot of work but this is my first time around, and things are looking wonderful... not about to take the cheap way out now!

razzapiggy Reviewed by razzapiggy on 01-26-2007. Flushing Hydro style? I am growing in SunShine #4 right now, a little over five weeks into flower. I know I have to flush for the last five to six days, and I am curious how much needs to be given to the plants? My bud sites are becoming a bit too heavy, so the plants are going to be tied to PVC pipes and unfortunately are not on a tray or anything like that right now. Trying to make some sense of what is going to be a tricky situation here shortly, due to the fact that I have no good drainage system. I guess Rating: 5

[razzapiggy]

To add to my question...I know when the babies have nutrient burn you are supposed to give them 3X each gallon of pot...so 9 gallons for a 3 gallon pot (sometimes less for soil-less mediums like mine) Are the same measures taken at the end flush (90% run off?) Thanks in advance.

[razzapiggy]

To claify further, I am reading via the search engine on this site that people flush for anywhere from 5-7 days. So now here is my issue, it's going to be very difficult to get rid of the water if I flush in the room that the plants are being grown in so I was thinking untieing 4-5 from the PVC pipe, bring into the garage and have a huge container for water that is being pumped from the hose outside. Place plants on a bit of corregated roof on a slight incline, and drain the waste water down the driveway. Would this process work if I used about 8-9 gallons per plant maybe twice in the last week or so? Less? More?

[dusto2k3]

Razza, heres what I did. I was in a similar situation as you. I use promix. On day 1 of flush i took them into the bathroom and in the tub, i flushed them with about 2-3 gallons (2g pots) of water. I figured this rinsed all the fert out of the soilless mix. Then, for the remaining dys, i just watered them with a little more than usual amount of water. So, really, i only dealt with runoff once. Who knows if this is the right way, but my buds tasted just fine.

[Zandor]

To claify further, I am reading via the search engine on this site that people flush for anywhere from 5-7 days. So now here is my issue, it's going to be very difficult to get rid of the water if I flush in the room that the plants are being grown in so I was thinking untieing 4-5 from the PVC pipe, bring into the garage and have a huge container for water that is being pumped from the hose outside. Place plants on a bit of corregated roof on a slight incline, and drain the waste water down the driveway. Would this process work if I used about 8-9 gallons per plant maybe twice in the last week or so? Less? More?

You can't just get large Sterilalite type of tubs and place the plants in the tubs for flushing? You can place the plants on net pots or what ever you have to keep the water from pooling at the bottom of your pot.

Not sure how much head room you have but for a flush that should work just fine.

Your idea sounds like way to much work when it should be easy.

3x the volume is the average to flush. If you want to make sure you have them flushed all the way you can use a commercial flusher like flora kleen, clearX final phase or what ever else is out there.

Happy growing

[razzapiggy]

Zandor, sure I could do it in the room. Only difference is this would require lugging out the waste water. Am I watering to 90% run off? So maybe 6-7 gallons per plant since I'm using SunShine? That's a ton of weight, probably 60-70 pounds for each plant that will be lugged out of the room. I do plan to use ClearX, I just figured it would be easier to bring them into an area in which the water is disposed of easier, no? I could I could hypothetically get a nice pump, and pump all the waste water out into the bathroom after every 2nd to 3rd plant, it just seems like more work to me. Zandor you are usually spot on so I am going to think on this one, with your method (doing it in the room) the plants still need to be completely untied and remounted in such a way that they are still held up during the flush. I vegged a bit too long, and having more open space just seemed appealing to me. What about my method is creating tons more work? Carrying the plants out into the garage? Appreciate the help!

[razzapiggy]

Do you think one solid flush of 6-7 gallons would do the trick and then just water with PH'ed water from then on and get some run off? Thanks gang!

[Zandor]

Do you think one solid flush of 6-7 gallons would do the trick and then just water with PH'ed water from then on and get some run off? Thanks gang!

With clearX yes that would be fine.

My only hope is when you move the plants you don't snap a branch.....that could reduce your overall yield.

But not knowing everything about your setup I can only make assumptions. But if you were going to use pipes is there a way to hook the same hoses or pipes to the tubs and then draining the tubs that way?

Maybe?

But you have the idea and you will do what is best for your plants in the end anyway. So good luck I will watch and see how it goes, keep up to date please.

[razzapiggy]

Could try to drill a hold in the tub that I am using to drain the water into, hook up a bit of pipe, and then run a hose into the garage. This way I get the best of both worlds. I don't need to carry my plants far (which decreases chances of breaking em) but I can drain out the waste water easily. My room is a tad cramped at this point due to vegging em for too long, but I think this method could work out. Or I could try throwing some corregated roofing under the plants prior to the flush, and then have the water drain into some big container... and either pump it out or try to use gravity to my advantage during flushing. Next time I will have both a table and trays, and a better system so I won't need to do this much thinking LOL. Thanks though Zandor. What do you think of my ideas?