A Couple Root Questions

SOGfarmer

Well-Known Member
So I grow dwc and I am planning on doing a seed run, two big rubbermaids with about 50 plants, all from seed. There may be a problem with this method though but I am not sure. Once the plants start flowering, I will obviously need to pull all of the males (as i am not keeping any, sry :cry:). I am worried that when I go to do his, the roots from all of the plants in the bin will be intertwined and mixed together, so i am thinking that I will have to cut away all of the male plants from their roots, leavng them in the rubbermaid with all of the female plants and their roots. Is this a terrible thing/idea and will these dead, left behind roots cause any problems for the remainder of my female babies still growing? Or will they just die and start to float around and fall apart and they will slowly be somewhat naturally removed as I drain and refill the rubberaid on a weekly basis. And how long do you think before all of the roots even are all tangled together? I'm pretty sure this happens before you start flowering. Let me also point out though that i grow sog so veg is only a couple weeks, but, plants from seed will probly get 3-4 weeks veg. Thanks.
 

HSA

Well-Known Member
SOGfarmer: have you considered using top fed rock wool cubes on a flood and drain table? On a 4' by 4' drain table fifty plants might still be too much but even in two tubs, I think you're pushing it with 50 plants.
As far as cutting off the male's roots and leaving them in the reservoir, I think you're asking for trouble there. That could be a recipe for disaster. This will give you the same overcrowded situation in the reservoir that my friends who tried to grow more than two plants in an Aerogarden had and that ended in failure.
I'd say scale it down to at least a square foot, foot and a half, per plant and it should work but any less than that and you're going to create a lot of problems with overcrowding. Don't forget your plants not only need nutes but also light and air circulation.
I don't mean to rain on your parade but I think you need to research this a lot further. You might want to consult Cervantes and Rosenthal on grow planning.
I hope this helps. HSA
 

SOGfarmer

Well-Known Member
SOGfarmer: have you considered using top fed rock wool cubes on a flood and drain table? On a 4' by 4' drain table fifty plants might still be too much but even in two tubs, I think you're pushing it with 50 plants.
As far as cutting off the male's roots and leaving them in the reservoir, I think you're asking for trouble there. That could be a recipe for disaster. This will give you the same overcrowded situation in the reservoir that my friends who tried to grow more than two plants in an Aerogarden had and that ended in failure.
I'd say scale it down to at least a square foot, foot and a half, per plant and it should work but any less than that and you're going to create a lot of problems with overcrowding. Don't forget your plants not only need nutes but also light and air circulation.
I don't mean to rain on your parade but I think you need to research this a lot further. You might want to consult Cervantes and Rosenthal on grow planning.
I hope this helps. HSA
Thans for the help HSA. I was planning or running 30 seds, tga and cal, but i have 30 bag seeds i wanted to throw in there as well. I thnk i will slip on those and jus do the 30 tga and cali connection, butdo you guys think with 30 plants, 15 in each bin, i will be able to remove the male plants with no or very minimal issues?
 

Bigz2277

Well-Known Member
Why do you need so many plants. if its a vertical issue scrog 1 one two plants and get the same results.
 

HSA

Well-Known Member
Hey Guys: BigZ has a point, "Why so many?" If you want to be the town's pot king there are more efficient ways to grow. Most of the bubble tubs you see on you-tube are set up to grow eight plants and that's still a little too tight for me. From what I've seen of people who tried to grow that many plants in that close of proximity was a lot of problems. Light can't get to the lower parts of the plants, air circulation is poor and god help you if a bug gets into your grow. You won't know until it's too late. I vote against it. How about you guys? HSA
 

THCDigest

Member
I also think it is a more efficient use of time and space to focus on 1-2 plants rather than 50. Maybe start with 10 and shrink it to 4 or 5 at flower?
 

bird mcbride

Well-Known Member
If you go 12/12fs a 4'x4'x8" F&D table would do your 50 seeds. Always plant and pull the roots when the table is flooded.
 

SOGfarmer

Well-Known Member
Why do you need so many plants. if its a vertical issue scrog 1 one two plants and get the same results.
Lol I wish all my dreams came true too.
I grow sea of green obviously should have mentioned that thought I did, my bad. I have no problem getting 25 lollipopped plants in a 4x4 area, but like I said I decided I will be only starting with 30 seeds, theoretically pulling half of them due to balls. So, please refer to my previous post, how do you think that this will work out pulling half of the plants 2-3 weeks in. 15 in each bin, 4x4ft area, will the roots already be too tangled to pull the males withough harm to the females? Or will I be alright...
 

bird mcbride

Well-Known Member
I do it. I plant in rows and pull five and plant five every two weeks in a 3'x3'x8" lava rock/hydroton flood and drain table.
 
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