Transfer from soil to DWC system

woodpusha

Member
So after killing off a few seeds I decided to use soil to grow the roots out first before transplanting into the dwc system. When exactly would I do this? and whats the safest way to prevent the plant going into shock? I'm using 16oz plastic cups with glad wrap domes. I plan on keeping them in there until a nice root system is in place. Also I have those root riot plugs, do I just place the seeds inside the root riot plugs, then place the root riots in the soil? THANKS A LOT!
 

Jdohman

Member
I have not had the best luck with getting seeds to sprout in my DWC. I think its my lighting situation. Waiting on the 3 100 watt cfls to come in. I have been using 3 24 watters.

This is my first grow so its been a lot of fun learning everything. With the problems I have been having I started in soil. All my seeds sprouted and were looking great. They all grew at different speeds and I did not know how big they should be before transplant either.

Out of the 8 that I had only 2 made it. Those were the two that I let grow to be a inch or two above the soil. The others were still just sprouting but I thought that they would make it since the hard part was done. I was wrong.

I sprouted another 10 seeds. I let the plants establish all four leaves and get some nice roots before I transplanted. Now I have 8 plants growing nicely.

Not sure if this is correct because I am new as well. but this is what I came up with through trial and error. another thing. listen to what people say about the nutrients. I killed 4 plants that way lol not knowing.
 

redi jedi

Well-Known Member
I've done this many times. The longer you wait the harder it gets. Its much easier to deal with a smaller plant having a less developed root mass. My advice to you would be to germinate the seeds using the paper towel method, once you have a tap root place the seed in the rooting plug. Then transplant the plug into soil if the DWC is giving you a hard time. Within a week or so you should have roots protruding from the plug. Then you can make the call if you want to switch back to DWC.
 

skoooooot

Well-Known Member
I wouldn't mess with dirt or plugs. I tried it a long time ago and it's just a mess.
Easiest was is to drop your seed with a decent tap root right into a small rockwool cube and let it go.
Make sure to soak and rinse the cube in PH 5.5 H2O.

A couple of 24W (5000K) CFL's in a dome should be plenty of light for your lil sprout. Not too close. Dont cook her!

DWC is really easy if you have the right tools. Make sure you are using your PH tester and Nute (PPM) meter. Follow the numbers... keep a journal... its that easy.
 

Heisenberg

Well-Known Member
IMO seeds should be germed outside the DWC, in rockwool, rooter plugs, or peat pellets. Once they have some shoots comming out the sides put them in a net pot and surround it with hydroton or perlite, ect. and put them into the DWC. No need to wash away to plug/pellet. Keep the water high enough to moisten the roots, and things should be fine. After your plants are older, check to be sure the rockwool/plugs/pellets aren't staying too wet.
 

these were started in a paper towel on 9/11/10 and sprouted the taproot and went straight into rockwool and the DWC and will be there till the end.
 
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