hi im new to hydroponics

hi guys, i'm new to hydroponics, i have read a couple of guides about it and still dont get it. i'd like one of you to explain it to me in simplest of terms.

then, i have another question, if i plug a timer to the hydroponic system i can go away on vacation and the plants feed themselfs right?

thirdly and finally, i was wondering if this system was any good for a beginner

hydroponics, nutrients, NFT, flood and drain

have you read the grofaq on this site? its very helpful. sounds to me like you should go back and read those guides one more time, it can be hard to make sense out of hydro, but you need to understand those guides bro.

yes, you can go on vacation but it takes way more prep than just plugging in a timer.

no, i do not reccomend a NFT sys for a beginner. i started with a simple ebb-n-flow system myself and loved it!

keep reading, its worth it in the end!

luck

Every system has it's good & bad points. You need to find one that best fits you, and what you want to do.
I agree with SlikWiLL13 Ebb n Flow is very good for what you want to do. So would be DWC (Deep Water Culture) or BP (BubblePonics).

Here are some useful links:
Hydroponics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
High Times > THE HISTORY OF HYDROPONICS
How to Build a Homemade Hydroponics System Cheaply - wikiHow
Cannabis Hydroponic Principles
Hydroponic Marijuana Guide
Hydroponic Nutrient Solutions
One of the best links you could read:
Marijuana Botany Chapter 1 - Sinsemilla Life Cycle of Cannabis
http://www.mellowgold.com/grow/mjbotany-removed/marijuanabotany2.html
http://www.mellowgold.com/grow/mjbotany-removed/marijuanabotany3.html
http://www.mellowgold.com/grow/mjbotany-removed/marijuanabotany4.html

DWC is an amazingly simple and effective method. but if your in an area with frequent power outages you need to be wary as prolonged outages with this sys can drown your roots when the airpump quits. i cant use this where i am except maybe in the winter because summer storms knock out the power somewhat regularly.

asrultraz said:

hi guys, i'm new to hydroponics, i have read a couple of guides about it and still dont get it. i'd like one of you to explain it to me in simplest of terms.

then, i have another question, if i plug a timer to the hydroponic system i can go away on vacation and the plants feed themselfs right?

thirdly and finally, i was wondering if this system was any good for a beginner

hydroponics, nutrients, NFT, flood and drain

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I would (and did) go with a dwc (deep water culture) as a first system. no timer needed, just leave your airpump constantly running. In this system, the roots actually stay submerged in your water an nutes. The air stones fed by the airpump give the roots much needed oxygen, so the more air stones the better. I built my first one about a month ago, and im having amazing success. good luck.

Hey guys and gals!

Do I need to keep the cover over the net cup on a seedling that just cracked He cracked yesterday and I popped him in a RW cube and then in the Bubbleponic system.

Thisng is I have a couple plants in the other slots and I use HID lighting. SO I covered him up with a lid after puting him in securly in hydroton rocks and put the lid cover I made that will block sunlight. its just a thick cardboard piece wrapped in reflective duct tape as teh covers for the net pots.

The nutes in it are very very very light like not even 1/4 strenght as the other plants are babies themselves but with roots touching the water.

SO what should I do? I can see there backs if I look down close in at the rock wool cubes sitting in the rocks on the net pots.....they are about to spring up through the rock wool by morning I should see 2 little crumpled up what is gonna be the two starter leaves.........whats next?

Should I put plastic domes on them for a few days to help them along or just let them be under the regular veg lights like normal?

Thanks!

this is a pretty simple, and inexpensive expandable hydroponic setup... EXPANDO-GARDEN [GRD015] - $27.89 : Hydroponics, Hydroponics - Horticulture - Gardening

hope that helps.

Are you talking to me GrowTech? If so, Im way confused at what that is suppose to mean.

I just took another peak under the lid and his little head is already showing and poking up. Should I leave him in the dark? Put a dome on him? Or just let him ride it out?

Thanks!

Bullethead21 said:

Are you talking to me GrowTech? If so, Im way confused at what that is suppose to mean.

I just took another peak under the lid and his little head is already showing and poking up. Should I leave him in the dark? Put a dome on him? Or just let him ride it out?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Give Her some light. keep the light away at first, and wait for the cotyledons to pop open, and then you can slowly move your light in closer.

Those are HID lights HPS 400w and 400w MH...gonna prolly need a dome for at least first couple days I would think, ...dont ya think or ya think they will be ok???? The light are regualtion about 18 inches away...any closer than that and I would burn my tomatoes with those HID's...LOL!!

Thanks for the response topfuel29!

SlikWiLL13 said:

have you read the grofaq on this site? its very helpful. sounds to me like you should go back and read those guides one more time, it can be hard to make sense out of hydro, but you need to understand those guides bro.

yes, you can go on vacation but it takes way more prep than just plugging in a timer.

no, i do not reccomend a NFT sys for a beginner. i started with a simple ebb-n-flow system myself and loved it!

keep reading, its worth it in the end!

luck

Click to expand...

i started with an nft kit and its really simple, u just gotta change the water when needed n thats that