Seedling to Ebb & Flow

Hello All, been reading for weeks and finally broke down with my first post.

I am almost a week in 1" rockwool cubes using florescents on 18/6.

When can I move the rockwool into pots covered with hydroton and put into my ebb and flow system? Some of the roots are now becoming visible through the bottom of the rockwool. Can you also provide where I should have the rockwool positioned in the pot in relation to the water level?

My second question is when can I put my 400wMH on them? I believe I should keep the light about 2-3ft away to start while they are still young.

I have been watering with pH adjusted water and 1/4 strength nutes. Should I continue the same strength of nutes until about the 3rd week?

bump...

Any advice on this folks?Thought I would try one more attempt at some help with my first grow.

Maybe I should ask this in a different area?

Move the RW cube into Hydroton now. Bury it in the middle. Some hydroton on the bottom of net pot, then RW cube with plant, then more Hydroton around and on top of the Cube. Do not let any of the cube be exposed to the light.

As soon as roots are growing hit it with the big light, 18 inches away to start, move it closer each day until a week has gone by and you should be as close as you can come without hurting plant. Hold back of hand at plant tops, move light closer until hand just begins to feel the heat. That should be the correct distance.8-12 inches away depending on a few factors. Make sure you have good ventilation.

+rep for starting a new grow!!

Hey thanks for the reply No!

I've already soaked in (pH adjusted water) one bag of hydroton and I'm gonna pick up another one from the shop tomorrow. I'll pot them up tomorrow after work and fire up the ebb & flow for the first time. Is it necessary to use the net pots? I've got some nice new 1 gal nursery pots that I was hoping would do just as good. Would it help contain the roots a bit more than running thru the nets? I was thinking I wouldnt have to fill the entire basin with hydroton if they werent in the net pots.

As for ventilation, my wife has agreed that I can use an entire spare bathroom, so I've got an exhaust fan as well as an oscillating fan. I'll monitor the temps now that I've switched to the big light. It's in a cooltube about 30" above them at the present time. I might drop it a bit closer per your recommendation.

One last thing, do I want the rockwool to be above the top water line? Or do I set it where it gets soaked a bit further up?

Thanks again and although new I'll try this +rep for ya being the first to help me.

You don't need to +rep me, later when you have some more posts, its an empty rep until you get 50 posts.

I would use the net pots, it gives the roots more space to expand and a better anchor to grow strong. You don't want to contain the roots, let them be free and your plants will thank you for it.

Let the rockwool sit above the water line, its not good to keep rockwool wet all the time. It will get what moisture it needs from the roots themselves.