Nutrient dosage question

Hi. I'm relatively new to growing, but have developed an interest in DWC and I think that'll be how I grow my next crop. I know that a lot of people suggest using extra diluted nutrient mixes when you start dosing plants in soil (ex - 1/4 strength for a week, 1/2 strength, full and so on . . . ) but do you have to do that for DWC/hydro? I've got the GH Flora series and was thinking of growing 2-4 plants in a 5-10 gal tote with CFLs to veg and a 250 watt HPS for flowering. Also, I'd imagine you'd use the "Seedlings/Cuttings" stage dosage guideline right from the get go with seeds. Is that correct? Thanks in advance! I'm really looking forward to maximizing my ladies' potential

I had another question that I just remembered. Am I still able to add molasses to the mix during the last few weeks of flowering to help "juice up" my buds?

1/4 all the way untell you learn your setup and strain

I would wait until they had developed 4-5 sets of adult leaves before I would being nutrient feeding. And make sure you follow the GH schedule. I think its on the web site.

Turtle

That 5hit said:

1/4 all the way untell you learn your setup and strain

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I just read something that suggested using 1/3 strength of whatever the bottle recommends throughout the entire grow and with your input I'll probably do that for my first run through!

IronTurtle said:

I would wait until they had developed 4-5 sets of adult leaves before I would being nutrient feeding. And make sure you follow the GH schedule. I think its on the web site.
Turtle

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So if I'm starting from seed I just run the system with water only for the first little while then start adding a diluted nutrient line-up to the reservoir?

Yeah just ph'd water for the first couple of weeks.

seed starting in water only is ok if you dont use r/o or distilled water. if you do use r/o water you will want 200 ppm nutes of some sort.1/3 strength nutes in hydro is ok for weeks 2 or 3 through 4 or 5 but then you will need to bump up to 1/2 or more. Other wise you might as well just use dirt.when my plants hit the bucket they get 400 ppm right away and by week 4 they are at 750-800 ppm. by the time they are flowering i have them at 1200 ppm and they are growing 2 times faster then my dirt plants using the same nutes at a little lower dose.the one on the right is in promix in a 7 gal pot and sitting on a milk crate the one on the left is in a 6 gal dwc bucket on the floor and is 1 month behind the dirt plant. everyone does it a little different, but i push my hydro pretty hard so i dont have to wait so long.

sixstring2112 said:

seed starting in water only is ok if you dont use r/o or distilled water. if you do use r/o water you will want 200 ppm nutes of some sort.1/3 strength nutes in hydro is ok for weeks 2 or 3 through 4 or 5 but then you will need to bump up to 1/2 or more. Other wise you might as well just use dirt.when my plants hit the bucket they get 400 ppm right away and by week 4 they are at 750-800 ppm. by the time they are flowering i have them at 1200 ppm and they are growing 2 times faster then my dirt plants using the same nutes at a little lower dose.the one on the right is in promix in a 7 gal pot and sitting on a milk crate the one on the left is in a 6 gal dwc bucket on the floor and is 1 month behind the dirt plant. everyone does it a little different, but i push my hydro pretty hard so i dont have to wait so long.

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Thanks! Great condensed bit of info +Rep for you, sixstring!!!

fredsgrow said:

Hi. I'm relatively new to growing, but have developed an interest in DWC and I think that'll be how I grow my next crop. I know that a lot of people suggest using extra diluted nutrient mixes when you start dosing plants in soil (ex - 1/4 strength for a week, 1/2 strength, full and so on . . . ) but do you have to do that for DWC/hydro? I've got the GH Flora series and was thinking of growing 2-4 plants in a 5-10 gal tote with CFLs to veg and a 250 watt HPS for flowering. Also, I'd imagine you'd use the "Seedlings/Cuttings" stage dosage guideline right from the get go with seeds. Is that correct? Thanks in advance! I'm really looking forward to maximizing my ladies' potential

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here is the link to the Lucas formula, i did it on my last aero grow. i will do it again on my dwc grow.
https://www.rollitup.org/hydroponics-aeroponics/4387-lucas-formula.html

Thanks, MBG! I had heard tell of the Lucas Formula, but didn't quite understand it at first After a bit more research it doesn't seem too complicated. Just have to get my first grow out of the way first, haha! One last question if you don't mind
I have my set up pretty much finished, just wanted to know how many plants I would be advised on going with for what I've thrown together. I picked up a 10 gal Rubbermaid "Roughneck" tote. It looks like about 4 gallons of nutrients/water will give me an inch or two between the waterline and the bottom of the 3.5" net pots (medium = 1.5" rockwool cubes/hydroton). I'm running a 5 watt, 100 gallon dual-output air pump w/2x12" airstones. When I had 5 gallons in testing it earlier the lid was pretty evenly soaked with spray so I'm thinking my set up will work just fine. I was thinking 2-3 plants would be alright if I kept them relatively small. Was also thinking of ScrOGging them. Either going to build a 2.5' square tent or use a corner of my closet relatively the same size x 8' high. 250 watt HPS will also be used. Thanks again! Sorry so long!!!