First Setup, Hydro, Clones, ?Advice from some more experienced please?

thegeoffrey

Active Member
Ok so I transplanted 9 clones 6 days ago and i want to use this thread as a way to get some feedback, post some pictures, and most importantly get answers to a neurotic questions i have as a new mother! :)

When i got the clones all of them had some root structure started within the rockwool cubes, some better than others. I have 3 strains, 3 of each in a single powergrower eco which is a drip system using hydroton.

I have a 125W cfl which i began approx 3ft above and is now roughly 1ft. The first day i did not water and everyday since i have increased the light period by 1 hr. Also i just started my first day of nutrients, 1/4 strength, but im only watering once a day with lights on and for 5 mins.

so here is my first set of burning questions...
How often/much should I water my clones? (rockwool cubes into hydroton)
Is this too much/too little light? & When can i turn on my 2nd 125w cfl?
Is one a day watering ok for rockwool in hydroton?
Lastly,
The tips and edges of my clones leaves are kinda brown/yellow! is this some shock? over lighting?

Thanks everyone!
 

thegeoffrey

Active Member
Any advice would be helpful... Im itching to turn on the second light and get them growing.
Here are a few pics of the setup and leaf issue...

photo-1.JPGphoto.JPGphoto-3.JPGphoto-2.JPG
 

Springtucky

Well-Known Member
turn the other light on, stick you a thermometer in there, start thinking about air movement. How are you watering them? Do you mean you only turn the pumps on once a day now or what?
 

thegeoffrey

Active Member
Just turned the second one on! i also lowered both cfl to like 3 inches casue i think they were too far away. And yes, im turning the pumps on once a day, in the AM, cause the rockwool was staying wet... will they absorb more now with the closer more intense lights?

I also just put a fan in the room, ill check the temp
 

Springtucky

Well-Known Member
fluorescents dont generate much heat but they do make some so best to put your hand there and if it doesnt make you uncomfortable then you're cool. You're right in your observation about the light being probably too high, I could tell there was too much shade and lack of light from pics. A Metal Halide bulb would be optimal in a few weeks for vegetative growth and when you deal with this high intensity bulbs (mh or hps) you will have to test this much more than the fluoros, get them right up on them. They should definitely love this. Is the rockwool under the hydroton? How long do you leave pumps on?
 

thegeoffrey

Active Member
yea the rockwool is under the hyroton and i water for about 5 mins in the morning. I would like to water/feed more than this but i dont water to over water them.
 

thegeoffrey

Active Member
Any suggestions the watering/feeding schedule... the hydroton doesnt hold any water, but the rockwool stays pretty damp.
 

Springtucky

Well-Known Member
thats what I was thinking...how do they look? If they look happy and are growing then you're good. You'll definitely need to water them more as they grow bigger, but right now I would stay where you're at until you see otherwise.
 

doser

Well-Known Member
Well be careful because you are playing with the extremes at both ends of the spectrum. Damp is best. Not wet not dry but damp. however you get there!!
without getting rediculous you can add as many cfl's as practical without worry. You can't kill a plant with cfl light no matter how many you have and more is better so go for it.
 

doser

Well-Known Member
my suggestion would be to surround the hydroton with a more water absorbant material such as coco and the roots can choose to enter or not but it will keep a damp ball around the roots.
 

Springtucky

Well-Known Member
Once the roots get past the rockwool cube you'll be fine (Im assuming your clones came rooted in 4" cubes) Depending how big you want them they may run into space constrictions, but you should be fine. I also noticed the drip ring is located right over some of the clones, so for now until they start to grow once is fine.
 

thegeoffrey

Active Member
Thanks guys.. So I am no longer watering once a day and have switched to 5x. I know this sounds like a large increase, however i was watching the rockwool meticulously for a few days and it seems like this keeps the cubes damp, and not wet nor dry. Yes the drip ring is directly over most of the clones, but there are 2 which are not and tend to get much more dry. I think they are a little deprived right now but will reach roots outside if the cube a bit faster.
 

thegeoffrey

Active Member
Its been 10 since the transplant and the past two days there has been a significant change from rooting to vegging. They have all grown about 1 inch in the past two days. So I changed the water for the first time since and I increased nutes from just under 1/4 to 1/2 and im hoping this increase leads to an even faster rate of growth. So ive been reading about a lot of people planting clones letting them take root and then immediately flowering, ive also read about people goring trees.. si im wondering which one is the best method? All of my strains are approx 6inch tall now, but not very thick or bushy at all. They all flower in about 9 weeks...
 

thegeoffrey

Active Member
I dunno if anyone is still looking at this thread still, but I have more questions... 3 of my plants, all of my chemdawg, are not doing very well..2 of the 3 weren't the best clones so they're still pretty fragile looking and rather thin, the 3rd one is growing retry well but all of them are growing new leaves with a strange coloration... They are light green almost yellow at the base/middle of the leaf and the get gradually darker towards the edges. is this a problem? I can post pics if needed
 
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