Looking for an expert eye please

**nasel** · 07-10-2012, 06:20 PM

Hi all.
I have previously done a small pc grow that was only slightly successful. i have recently fired up a new grow and its my first try at anything hyrdoponic and im hoping that this time ill get more than the cost of the electric back (although only for personal),

I Wont bor everyone with the details on the room, needless to say. Mylar lined, 2x red spectrum cfls rated at 200w each, 2x25w tubes from an old reptile tank. 1000l/h water pump, hailea air pump with 2x air stones. 8" output and passive intake (mayy add a 5" fan though) there is also a 12" oscillating fan fr air movement.

PH is usually around 6.1 although i have just pulled it down to 5.9 and plan to let it rise to 6.5 to allow the girls to get all their nutes.

My tap water measured 600ppm, 700ppm after phing and i was running to 1100ppm with formulex and rootex however i have just raised the ppm to 1500 as they are just over 2 weeks old.

I was watering for several hrs a day, but have just reduced this to 3x 30 min sessions (timers wont allow less).

some plants are in soil plugs and the rest are in rockwool. all on expanded clay pebbles

I have noticed some of the veins turning darker on one plant. is this likely to be genetics or a nute problem?

I have 5 autos on the go (2 in one pot) fro various strains
I also have a block of rockwool full of 12 bagseeds to experiment with
the other pot with many plants in is strawberry's, tomatoes and lavender as i figured hat i could use these as a control to see that the basic principals of my system are working satisfactorily
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**nasel** · 07-11-2012, 03:22 PM

no one? Even if its just constructive criticism

**Dirtfree** · 07-11-2012, 03:26 PM

Seedlings that small dont need nutes. Not untill they are a few weeks old with full sets of leaves. You are also over watering....alot! Once a day if not every other day at this stage of growth.

**nasel** · 07-12-2012, 02:22 AM

thankyou, thsats ideal info

**Kaitlyn19** · 07-20-2012, 07:24 AM

I agree with dirtfree. You are watering them way to much, which could cause root rot. I say once every 3 days at this stage. And yes you dont feed then nutes this early, its not good for them. Other then that, it looks great

**bigsteve** · 07-23-2012, 12:43 PM

He's in hydro guys, water every 3 days???

The attraction to growing hydro is that it is faster. It is faster because they are fed (via the water)
so often. My buddy has a timer that turns the pump on for 6 minutes and off for 6 minutes all day.
The idea is that the roots recieve near-constant feeding and so grow fast. If you tried watering every 3 days in hydro
they will dry out as the roots should be not in rockwool. Wait until thery are a week larger then peel off the rockwool
and put the roots right on the clay pellets.

Good luck, BigSteve.

**Dirtfree** · 07-23-2012, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by bigsteve

He's in hydro guys, water every 3 days???

The attraction to growing hydro is that it is faster. It is faster because they are fed (via the water)
so often. My buddy has a timer that turns the pump on for 6 minutes and off for 6 minutes all day.
The idea is that the roots recieve near-constant feeding and so grow fast. If you tried watering every 3 days in hydro
they will dry out as the roots should be not in rockwool. Wait until thery are a week larger then peel off the rockwool
and put the roots right on the clay pellets.

Good luck, BigSteve.

Yes water everyday or many times a day is correct for hydro....but his plant doesnt even have its first set of true leaves yet! Its still a seedling! Im guessing you know nothing about root rot in seedlings. What is the point in excessively watering a plant that cant absorb that much in a week. It doesnt have a root system large enough to handle that much water. If a tender stem stays wet for too long it rots and falls over.

**hotrodharley** · 07-24-2012, 09:16 AM

Originally Posted by Dirtfree

Yes water everyday or many times a day is correct for hydro....but his plant doesnt even have its first set of true leaves yet! Its still a seedling! Im guessing you know nothing about root rot in seedlings. What is the point in excessively watering a plant that cant absorb that much in a week. It doesnt have a root system large enough to handle that much water. If a tender stem stays wet for too long it rots and falls over.

One of the biggest mistakes people make - not enough water for themselves and too much for their plants. Killing with kindness so to speak. Lost a bunch of clones early this Spring when I changed rooting media. It stayed wet on our record-cool Spring, way too wet, and the stems dampened off before I got a day off to re-pot them. Easy to remember: If they need water they droop but do not die. Talking growing plants and not rooting clones. Water will revive most in short order. Over-watering is not so easy to overcome and requires emergency intervention at times. I have re-potted more than one in a hurry, feeling that yucky mess around the root ball but breaking it up to rid the roots of it. Haven't lost one yet being gentle but they do act wimpy for a few days after sometimes.

**calicat** · 07-24-2012, 09:22 AM

With my seedlings I do not feed until the first set of true leaves appear. The cotyledons (false leaves) do not count. Seems you are overwatering especially at this early stage. Do not be surprised to see your leaves claw or worser scenario root rot.