Start a DWC???

Ok so I started my first grow in a soiless mix with no nutes for the first couple weeks. After seedling showed their first signs of vegetative growth (3 and 5 leaf sets,) I moved them into my ebb and flow setup, but growth is slow. I have been looking around the site for another method that would accelerate growth and shorten the amount of time between veg/flowering. DWC seemed to make the most sense because they look easy to build and I already have mostly everything I need. I just ordered my net pots (3.75",) and now the only thing I have left to buy is a manifold for my watering system. However, I can't seem to find one anywhere that would fit the existing equipment I have. So the 2 questions I have are: 1. Where can I find a manifold that will fit a 1/2" hose? and 2. How long each day would I run the watering/feeding system to obtain optimal growth potential? Oh and by the way right now I have 6 plants of unknown sex...3 White Widow, 2 Afghan x Mazar, and 1 unknown bagseed.

Edit: Another question I have is when would be a good time to start taking clones from my WW? One that I started in soil is 3 weeks old, about 4 inches tall, and its 7 leaf sets are just emerging from the top of the stem.

My DIY Bubbleponics DWC < a link for parts


You also need a Irrigation Hub, also called an Irrigation Manifold. Many different ones can be found.



DiG Six Outlet Irrigation Manifold DiG Six Outlet Irrigation Manifold
Price: $12.99 420Budman showed us one that Lowes has, he said:

The brand name is MISTER LANDSCAPER. It is in the DRIP IRRIGATION section (even says "drip irrigation" on the package), the technical name for it is PVC SPRINKLER ADAPTER (that is on the package too), the item# is 191779, and the model# is MLA-RA9, and the cost is $10.73. My local Lowes had about 9-10 of them in stock.




Rain Bird Landscape Dripline System 2.0 GPH Manifold #MANIF2-1PK
Available at Bizrate.com, Amazon.com, and Home Depot for $4.99 to $5.99

DiG Six Outlet Irrigation ManifoldDiG Six Outlet Irrigation Manifold
Price: $12.99 DiG Twelve Outlet Irrigation ManifoldDiG Twelve Outlet Irrigation Manifold
Price: $29.99


at www.stealthhydro.com under Irrigation parts

Use the word growtips and get a 5% discount.

Take a clipping now and then flower it so you know their females for sure. The clone being a female, means the mother is aswel.

Ok so I finally got my irrigation hub, the riser necessary to connect it to my 1/2" tubing, and I'm just waiting on my 10 net pots to arrive in the mail. Another couple of questions I have are: 1. One of my plants is already 3 weeks old, growing in a fertilized soiless mix (ebb & flow hydro), so would it traumatize the plant too much to transplant into the DWC system? 2. Once I get it set up, how often and for how long should I run my water pump? I will be doing a drip line into each cup, btw. and 3. I'm having trouble identifying what strain my 3 week old "Kayla" is. I know I've already said in earier posts that it's white widow, but it looks nothing like any WW pics I've seen at all. This plant looks like it's mostly indica, but it's not that bushy. Granted that it's only 3 weeks old, I'm sure it should be bigger/bushier than it is right now. Here's a pic of the plant...

if i were id just put the water with the nutrient solution in the buckets or tubs and just let the roots sit in the water 24/7 and change water every two weeks

IlEastmanlI said:

Ok so I finally got my irrigation hub, the riser necessary to connect it to my 1/2" tubing, and I'm just waiting on my 10 net pots to arrive in the mail. Another couple of questions I have are: 1. One of my plants is already 3 weeks old, growing in a fertilized soiless mix (ebb & flow hydro), so would it traumatize the plant too much to transplant into the DWC system?
No, not at all. Many growers start in soil, and then change to DWC after it has roots.

2. Once I get it set up, how often and for how long should I run my water pump? I run mine 24/7. If it is a DRIP or constant flow, it needs to be on a timer.

I will be doing a drip line into each cup, btw. and 3. I'm having trouble identifying what strain my 3 week old "Kayla" is. I know I've already said in earier posts that it's white widow, but it looks nothing like any WW pics I've seen at all. This plant looks like it's mostly indica, but it's not that bushy. Granted that it's only 3 weeks old, I'm sure it should be bigger/bushier than it is right now. Here's a pic of the plant...

Click to expand...

Good Luck.

Roseman said:

Good Luck.

Click to expand...

Thanks Rose! You always give great advice! Anyway, my netpots just got here today so I'm going to start building my DWC either tonight or tomorrow and transplant by Wednesday at the latest. What do you all recommend using to make holes in the lid of my container? All I have is a drill with a 1" flat bit, a regular 1/8" bit, some pliers and scissors. The container is 24" long, 18" wide, and 8" deep. The lid sort of clips onto the top and is maybe 1/8 or 3/8" thick. Oh and the holes have to be minimum 3" dia.

Ok so right now it's 7:44 a.m. where I live and I just got done constructing, setting up, and transitioning my only soil less/hydro grow box into a DWC grow box with 6 decently healthy plants. Honestly I hope I didn't traumatize any of them too much during the soil less mix removal/subsequent transplant into net pots. Anyway, all I have left to do is light-proof the container and I'm all set. Right now I have a drip line going to each cup from a 50-80 gph water pump, a 12" airstone positioned right next to the water pump, a 16" oscillating fan, Arm & Hammer odor control, 4 6500k CFLs, and 5 2700k CFLs. All of my lights are 26 watts, except for one 42 watter I have in the closet. I'll post some pics of my new setup later today, but right now I'm going to bed because I've been up literally all damn night putting the thing together.

Lowes and Home Depot sells a hole cutter, 3 inch, for $4.95, you attach it to a hand drill.