I'm a relatively new to growing and I want to build a system that is automatic so I don't have to water or monitor it more than maybe once or twice a day.
I've built a simple DWC system (I think it can be labeled so anyway) with two containers on top of each other, a bottom container with an air pump to oxygenate the water and a water pump to pump the water to the top container. The top container is slightly elevated on one side so the water runs from one end to the other where an outlet hole leads the water back to the bottom container. I fastened two planks to the sides to fix the plastic trays so they don't float uncontrollably, but to a certain level, so the water level is even for all the clones.
I think this should work, what do you say about it so far?
I wonder if the bottom end of the clones, where I've cut them to get new roots, should be covered with water at all times, I was thinking of using rockwool cubes and let the bottom end of the clones reach out under the trays to a little bit below water level.
Or is it better to not let the clones stick out of the rockwool cubes, but instead just let the bottom of the rockwool cubes sit just below the water level so they are moist?
With either method, should I let the water run 24/7 or at timed intervals?
As I said earlier, I'm quite new to growing and at first I just rooted seeds in rockwool cubes, but I found it very demanding to keep the medium at a proper moist level at all times, it was very time consuming, almost all of the seedlings died, mostly from overwatering in the beginning. So I had to buy new seeds and start over again, something I wish to avoid in the future, having an automatic system that takes care of the clones.
I welcome any experienced growers to give input about this!
In the picture you only see seedlings, but further away in the grow room I have two plants that are in the third week of vegetative growth soon ready to take clones from, they are from the first batch of seeds I bought.
The seedlings are from the second batch I bought, out of 50 seeds about 30 have survived, not a great success rate..
I've built a simple DWC system (I think it can be labeled so anyway) with two containers on top of each other, a bottom container with an air pump to oxygenate the water and a water pump to pump the water to the top container. The top container is slightly elevated on one side so the water runs from one end to the other where an outlet hole leads the water back to the bottom container. I fastened two planks to the sides to fix the plastic trays so they don't float uncontrollably, but to a certain level, so the water level is even for all the clones.
I think this should work, what do you say about it so far?
I wonder if the bottom end of the clones, where I've cut them to get new roots, should be covered with water at all times, I was thinking of using rockwool cubes and let the bottom end of the clones reach out under the trays to a little bit below water level.
Or is it better to not let the clones stick out of the rockwool cubes, but instead just let the bottom of the rockwool cubes sit just below the water level so they are moist?
With either method, should I let the water run 24/7 or at timed intervals?
As I said earlier, I'm quite new to growing and at first I just rooted seeds in rockwool cubes, but I found it very demanding to keep the medium at a proper moist level at all times, it was very time consuming, almost all of the seedlings died, mostly from overwatering in the beginning. So I had to buy new seeds and start over again, something I wish to avoid in the future, having an automatic system that takes care of the clones.
I welcome any experienced growers to give input about this!
In the picture you only see seedlings, but further away in the grow room I have two plants that are in the third week of vegetative growth soon ready to take clones from, they are from the first batch of seeds I bought.
The seedlings are from the second batch I bought, out of 50 seeds about 30 have survived, not a great success rate..
so check em out!
