5 weeks in do i need to prune?

SuthernKumfert

Well-Known Member
I think he's just amazed that that system is working. The floating-foam form of hydro isn't really weed-friendly. It's usually used for things like lettuce and kale. It's generally accepted that marijuana needs more oxygen to the roots. This is often the limiting growth factor in hydro, which is probably why your plants are somewhat small for their age. I read about growing that way on a few sites outside this forum, and almost did it, but opted out after reading more here. This just once again proves that growing isn't an exact science... different things work for different people. It's obviously not an optimal system, but it's working. You might wanna look into an ebb and flow or dwc system for your next grow though, if you're wanting to stick with hydro. NFT is another type, but from my understanding, it's a little more advanced. I'd also look into buying some O2 and/or bubble wands(which would be really easy to add) for this grow. It can't hurt. I'm by no means an experienced grower though, so you might wanna wait and see what others say.

Check out my first grow journal if you want a comparison between your results and mine in an ebb and flow... I only veg'd for 4 weeks, but my plants were over a foot tall by then.

thanks for the input, i was going to do the NFT system using 4" pvc pipe but i figured for my first grow i would use a simlpe system. any other help please give i am thankful for any advise.
 

oscarmiya

Drugs Taught Me Metric!
LOL, LOL, LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yeah you seen it correct...the old fish tank and styrofoam setup. first let me says i am glad you like what you see and thanks for the rep! Ok my setup is like this...a 10 gallon fish tank, a piece of styrofoam cut to the inside size of the fish tank, a air stone in the bottom of the nutes, brown paper wrapped around the fish tank to block light from the nutes, air pump hooked to hose which is then caulked to a corner of the fish tank in the back and then hook to the air stone, 4 foot fluors with a 6500K color bulb, rockwool as the medium, 3" net pos, and a fan. i change the nutes out every 14 days and for the first 14 days i used 1/4th nutes then i went to 1/2 strength nutes and now i am at 3/4th nute next week i will go upto full strength nutes. i dont test the ph because i tested it out the tap and it was like 5.8 so with me changing the nutes every 14 days and inbetween i top off with tap water i dont test it. as far as ppm i have never tested that and to be honest i dont know how? please tell me how to do so. thanks and i hope i answered all of your questions if not please ask me anything nd i will try to answer you questions. if you have any other advise please give it to me i will be thankful.
I said "Holy Shit" because I read you didn't PH or Test the PPM in one of your last posts before the above quote lol.

You sound like you put some time into your setup and as funny as it is, that your using the foam thing, it is working for you. Not too much different from the bucket/net pot setup, just.. unique. You test the PPM with a meter you can buy off ebay.. like 20 - 25 bucks for a digital one.

In my setup I use '3.5 - 5 gallon buckets from lowes, with like 2 1/2" net pots, 100 gph air pump and air stone per plant' I just drill a hole up by my lid, so water wont leak, and run the hose for the air stone through that. I honestly don't know how you've done as well as you have without PHing or testing the PPM. If you want to ensure your success in flowering as well, you may want to spend 40$ tops on a PPM from ebay and a Pool PH drop kit thing from lowes or wherever. Without its like driving a car with no steering wheel.

I test my PH every day because from day to day, it will change. Evaporation and nutrient uptake play main roles in why your PH changes constantly. My tap water comes out high-say 11, but depending on what Nutes I put in and how much, my PH will go higher or lower. PH up and PH down can and should be purchased as well if you haven't already. The PPM is telling you exactly how much food your plants are getting. This helps you dial in perfectly / consistently how much your plant can handle before it burns or runs into problems. If your PPM stays the same from day to day then your plant is uptaking about as much water as nutrients... which is what you want.. if your PPM Goes UP that means your plant is trying to drink more water...You've got too many nutes in.. if your PPM Goes DOWN, that is a damn good sign that you need to add more nutes because your plant is using more nutrients than it is water. You want to keep the PPM the same. This also helps you determine if you need more or less N-P-K. That is the main point of hydro, to dial in and optimize the specifics for best results. Without those two tools, the chances of getting a decent harvest is slim.

I also change my nutes out every week, but my res is about half yours so. Me n Rockwool don't get along, shit is always getting nasty on me and kills my growth rate.. I use them to pop seeds in now- work good for that. What line of nutes are you using? For some reason I have a feeling your going to say something like "All Purpose Miracle Grow" or something lol.
 

SuthernKumfert

Well-Known Member
I said "Holy Shit" because I read you didn't PH or Test the PPM in one of your last posts before the above quote lol.

You sound like you put some time into your setup and as funny as it is, that your using the foam thing, it is working for you. Not too much different from the bucket/net pot setup, just.. unique. You test the PPM with a meter you can buy off ebay.. like 20 - 25 bucks for a digital one.

In my setup I use '3.5 - 5 gallon buckets from lowes, with like 2 1/2" net pots, 100 gph air pump and air stone per plant' I just drill a hole up by my lid, so water wont leak, and run the hose for the air stone through that. I honestly don't know how you've done as well as you have without PHing or testing the PPM. If you want to ensure your success in flowering as well, you may want to spend 40$ tops on a PPM from ebay and a Pool PH drop kit thing from lowes or wherever. Without its like driving a car with no steering wheel.

I test my PH every day because from day to day, it will change. Evaporation and nutrient uptake play main roles in why your PH changes constantly. My tap water comes out high-say 11, but depending on what Nutes I put in and how much, my PH will go higher or lower. PH up and PH down can and should be purchased as well if you haven't already. The PPM is telling you exactly how much food your plants are getting. This helps you dial in perfectly / consistently how much your plant can handle before it burns or runs into problems. If your PPM stays the same from day to day then your plant is uptaking about as much water as nutrients... which is what you want.. if your PPM Goes UP that means your plant is trying to drink more water...You've got too many nutes in.. if your PPM Goes DOWN, that is a damn good sign that you need to add more nutes because your plant is using more nutrients than it is water. You want to keep the PPM the same. This also helps you determine if you need more or less N-P-K. That is the main point of hydro, to dial in and optimize the specifics for best results. Without those two tools, the chances of getting a decent harvest is slim.

I also change my nutes out every week, but my res is about half yours so. Me n Rockwool don't get along, shit is always getting nasty on me and kills my growth rate.. I use them to pop seeds in now- work good for that. What line of nutes are you using? For some reason I have a feeling your going to say something like "All Purpose Miracle Grow" or something lol.

no not miracle grow lol, i am using Dyna grow and then i will go to Dyna bloom. i will have to invest in a ph and ppm testing system. thanks for the input got any other advise?????????thanks and stay tunned for what will come from the plants!
 

oscarmiya

Drugs Taught Me Metric!
no not miracle grow lol, i am using Dyna grow and then i will go to Dyna bloom. i will have to invest in a ph and ppm testing system. thanks for the input got any other advise?????????thanks and stay tunned for what will come from the plants!
Right on, I am glad to hear you got some nutes. Other than what I've mentioned man- your doing a great job... with or without the meters n shit. I'm not saying you HAVE to go buy those things, because obviously you have done this well without, but it will be the best $40 investment you can make for your setup.
 

SuthernKumfert

Well-Known Member
Right on, I am glad to hear you got some nutes. Other than what I've mentioned man- your doing a great job... with or without the meters n shit. I'm not saying you HAVE to go buy those things, because obviously you have done this well without, but it will be the best $40 investment you can make for your setup.

yeah i plan on looking today or with in the next few days at the meters. is there a brand or any features i need to look for when i buy the meters?
 

JonKollar

Well-Known Member
I have a similar question the lowest 2 fan leaves on my plant turned yellow so i pruned them off is this alright i think it was cuz i went 4 days without water.....???
 

SuthernKumfert

Well-Known Member
I have a similar question the lowest 2 fan leaves on my plant turned yellow so i pruned them off is this alright i think it was cuz i went 4 days without water.....???

i think you should be fine. they may have hurt the grow if you would have left them.
 

lowryders

Well-Known Member
I have a similar question the lowest 2 fan leaves on my plant turned yellow so i pruned them off is this alright i think it was cuz i went 4 days without water.....???
Dont worry at all mine always come off, depends on size age etc the bigger they get those will come off as well as some other few bottom fans.
 

SuthernKumfert

Well-Known Member
Dont worry at all mine always come off, depends on size age etc the bigger they get those will come off as well as some other few bottom fans.

yeah as a matter of fact all 7 of my plants lower two leaves got yellow and i clipped them off. dont worry about it at all.
 
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