Hey all.
Love reading the forums and thanks for all the info.
I received 1 clone as a gift and I had a 250 Watt MH. I realize now how inefficient it is to grow just the 1 plant so I plan to clone it and grow 4 offsprings in a self made ebb and flow system.
The grow space will be approx 3 feet wide by 4 feet long by 7 or 8 feet tall. It's a little warm in there with the 250 watt MH but i plan to install an exhaust fan which will hopefully eliminate this problem.
Questions.
I'm broke. Is the 250 watt light enough for veg and flower? I read it's good for approximately 3 by 3 which my space will end up close to being.
And.
How deep should the grow tray be for 4 plants in an ebb and flow system? I figure about 8 to 10 gallons and hopefully as close to 2 feet by 3 feet as I can get. Probably about 6 or 7 inches deep. Does that sound right?
Also.
I'm a bit confused. Do I grow the 4 plants all together in my medium with no pots or do I grow them in individual net pots? filled with medium with no other medium in the tray? If it's the net pots? (is that right?) what happens to the roots that grow through the sides? Do they just sit by themselves in the empty tub?
Thanks for any input.

Z

Well, if you fill the bed with rocks, you won't need nearly as much nutrient solution to flood the area. But then you won't be able to move the plants, they will stay in place.
So if you want to move the plants, grow them in pots, and you'll have to have a much bigger res to flood the bed, but that's about it.
So I opt to grow in pots in the bed. With only 4 plants in a large bed, you can use 6 inch pots. And don't use net pots, use solid-sided black pots, and the medium will stay wet longer. And you can fill the empty spaces with something, a brick, big rocks, or plastic jugs filled with water. It's extra nice to be able to move the plants around as they grow.
If I were you, I would just buy a 2x4 hydro bed. Heavy black plastic, all the added extras, and only about $50. Or you can scrounge something else, like a cement mixing tray, or other plastic container. A cement mixing tray at casa de pot is 3x2 and 8 inches high, and holds 14 gallons of water, and costs $15. You'll want to flood 5-6 inches.
Your MH will work fine for a start. You could even use it all the way through flowering.

HTH

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