Recent content by StonerJ

If your veg solution is stable, I would recommend keeping it during the dark period, then change to fresh bloom nutes when lights go back on. Plants seem to leach things back into the solution during the dark periods that tend to change the pH of the solution so I'd rather go into that period...

I wait until they develop the first set of "real" leaves, not the little rounded cotelydon leaves. Then I add veg nutes at 20-25% of the normal full growth strength mixture. I usually start them at 200-250ppm for 5-7 days before upping it to half strength for a few days, then finally full...

I like to sample my buds starting about a month before harvest. I check the trichomes on the lower branches that don't get much light and won't develop into thicker stickier buds. I take these branches off, manicure them & remove the leaves, cut them so each bud has about 6" of stem attached...

A chiller is very easy to use with DWC. I've been doing it for quite awhile now. All it takes is a submersible 160 gpm pump inside the reservoir. You then bring 1/2" black plastic tubing from the pump (along with the power cord) thru the lid of the bucket to the chiller. The return from the...

You can use all of the additives you want to try to inhibit or control algae, if you don't keep your water temp down, it won't last. You need to get your reservoir temp down. Try frozen water bottles, insulation around your bucket, etc. Check your water temp everyday and keep a bottle of frozen...

It depends on how large the roots are when you put the clone in the net pot. If you've got good root length that you can thread through the holes of the pot as you fill with hydroton. If none of the roots are long enough to thread thru the holes, I would keep the water level a little higher...

Just my opinion but I think you have way too many plants for a 5 gal reservoir. You'll be chasing your pH every day and will need to change your solution every few days. I always use 5 gals per plant as my rule of thumb. It will give you a very stable solution that you can keep in use for longer...

Rockwool has a very high pH naturally so soaking the cubes ahead of time helps to lower the pH to a more neutral reading in the root zone.

Yes, I generally run DWC in a large reservoir. This would work for soil as well. Follow the process I described to the point where I put them in the reservoir and just plant the rapid rooter instead. Just make sure to check the bottom of the RR plug to be sure you have a root coming through...

I grew some AK47 Lowryder2 fem cross from seeds earlier this year that I had obtained from a company in Amsterdam. The information on this strain said that they would reach 50-75cm tall so I expected to have them reach 30-36". I don't know who produced these seeds but halfway through the cycle...

I use a somewhat different approach. I put the seeds in rapid rooter plugs, place them into a chinese food leftover container (the rectangular ones with the clear plastic lid). I then add about 1/2" of water with a few drops of B1 Red in it by pouring it slowly over the rapid rooters to moisten...

I use Technaflora BC nutes and have grown autos with them. As is always the case, I mix my nutes at a reduced strength. When I first put the seedlings into my DWC reservoir, I add BC Grow formula (mixed as per their chart) at about 1/4 to 1/5 strength. Thsi will vary based upon your reservoir...

Yes, you can use rock wool cubes. Just be sure to soak them for a few hours first in pH 5.5 water, then lightly shake them out and insert the seeds. The rest of the process is the same.

Re: Thinking of making a slight change. The downside of doing micro bubblers is that with multiple plants, you have multiple containers to maintain temp, pH, ppm, etc. It definitely adds more maintenance as opposed to having one reservoir (25 gal for example) with multiple plants. Also, if you...

You may have a nute lockout of you are letting pH drift up to 6.5. I would lower your whole pH window. Instead of 5.8-6.5, I would shoot for 5.4-6.2. At 6.5 you're locking out some of the trace minerals you need for healthy plants.