Classic Ebb and Flow: why aren't more people doing it?

Billy the Mountain

Billy the Mountain

Well-Known Member
Kratky is really for growing short-duration, light-feeding greens like lettuce.
Not saying it won't work for cannabis, but there are better methods available.

From the source himself:
The suspended net-pot, non-circulating hydroponic growing method is a unique and powerful technique for growing leafy, semi-head and small romaine lettuce cultivars, because the entire crop can be grown with only an initial application of water and nutrients.
 
pegboy

pegboy

Well-Known Member
Billy the Mountain said:
Kratky is really for growing short-duration, light-feeding greens like lettuce.
Not saying it won't work for cannabis, but there are better methods available.

From the source himself:
The suspended net-pot, non-circulating hydroponic growing method is a unique and powerful technique for growing leafy, semi-head and small romaine lettuce cultivars, because the entire crop can be grown with only an initial application of water and nutrients.
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I was just researching this.
 
tyler.durden

tyler.durden

Well-Known Member
The thing I dug most about a perpetual sog F&D in pots was that when I caught a case of mites or thrips, I could just take them all to the bathtub and spray the shit out of each plant. I could also move the plants around the trays so they all received the best light. So easy. I am not looking forward to those battles with my current set up where the plants are stationary. Prevention is more of a focus now with a regular spraying schedule to stop it before it starts. We'll see how it goes.



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B

bloom maker

New Member
pegboy said:
I've heard of it but really know nothing about it. Why don't you get PH swings? What/how much fertilizer to add? So you never have track any of this stuff?

Edit: So after a bit of research this method is NOT ideal for cannabis.

5 gallon bucket would need to be topped off multiple times to accomidate the plants thirst (while trying to maintane correct air layer)

Nutrient imbalances common

PH problems.

It can be done, but at a cost to the plants health.
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I recommend to do some more research around Kratky. There are missing information out there about the method. You should use larger containers +1 main refill container and 1 container with a float valve (since you dont want the float valve to be in the growing container). Also mostly the PH problem is not a problem with Kratky (5.8-6.5 is fine). Run safe nutrients like Masterblend if your unsure, 2parts Masterblend, 2 parts of calcinit, 1 part of epsom salt. You can start off with 800ppm (1.6 ec), then when things are blooming u can just make it about 1200ppm (2.4ec) using the refill container. And its really simple because you can connect several growing containers to your float valve bucket. The float valve setup ensures fresh nutrients coming in all the time, which makes it safe.

The problem with Kratky is usually because people have not used the proper method, which leads to problems.
 
tyler.durden

tyler.durden

Well-Known Member
bloom maker said:
I recommend to do some more research around Kratky. There are missing information out there about the method. You should use larger containers +1 main refill container and 1 container with a float valve (since you dont want the float valve to be in the growing container). Also mostly the PH problem is not a problem with Kratky (5.8-6.5 is fine). Run safe nutrients like Masterblend if your unsure, 2parts Masterblend, 2 parts of calcinit, 1 part of epsom salt. You can start off with 800ppm (1.6 ec), then when things are blooming u can just make it about 1200ppm (2.4ec) using the refill container. And its really simple because you can connect several growing containers to your float valve bucket. The float valve setup ensures fresh nutrients coming in all the time, which makes it safe.

The problem with Kratky is usually because people have not used the proper method, which leads to problems.
Click to expand...

Sounds interesting. Can we get some pics of your room and buds using this method?
 
Kndreyn

Kndreyn

Well-Known Member
This is a timely thread for me. I recently built a new house, and have a designated "special ops" room for my grow. I've been growing in Promix, drain to waste, but really want to keep my new room as clean as possible. So I've decided to try ebb and flow with hydroton. How often are you guys changing your reservoir, and have you had problems with root rot?
 
shnkrmn

shnkrmn

Well-Known Member
Those bucket systems leave standing water in the bottoms of the buckets and in the supply lines. Not ideal for preventing rot or maximizing dissolved oxygen. Also flood and drain is inherently less stable in terms of pH and ec because it's recirculating. Your parameters will change slightly with every flood as your plants feed and you have to adjust to maintain. Not nearly so much the case with a dtw res.
 
Kndreyn

Kndreyn

Well-Known Member
shnkrmn said:
Those bucket systems leave standing water in the bottoms of the buckets and in the supply lines. Not ideal for preventing rot or maximizing dissolved oxygen. Also flood and drain is inherently less stable in terms of pH and ec because it's recirculating. Your parameters will change slightly with every flood as your plants feed and you have to adjust to maintain. Not nearly so much the case with a dtw res.
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I'm using one with a flood table. I think the table is 24" x 36" and the reservoir is around 30 gallons.
 
tree beard

tree beard

Well-Known Member
Kndreyn said:
This is a timely thread for me. I recently built a new house, and have a designated "special ops" room for my grow. I've been growing in Promix, drain to waste, but really want to keep my new room as clean as possible. So I've decided to try ebb and flow with hydroton. How often are you guys changing your reservoir, and have you had problems with root rot?
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I use the aircube set up from grow ace, using hydroton as medium. I guess that would be rdwc? I've never changed the resevoir, the plants pretty much drink up the entire contents then I simply refill the resevoir when needed. In flower they drink roughly 5 gallons per day. Never had root rot or any other major issues..20231107_195109.jpg20231222_171451.jpg
 
shnkrmn

shnkrmn

Well-Known Member
I see how those buckets are raised and filled from the bottom which would address my criticism about standing water. The system I tried 12 years ago, branded ebb and gro from cap industries, the buckets sat on the floor and flooded from the side. I still have the controller, 60 gal res and buckets although I drilled all the bottoms of those to use in a flood tray instead.
 
pegboy

pegboy

Well-Known Member
Kndreyn said:
This is a timely thread for me. I recently built a new house, and have a designated "special ops" room for my grow. I've been growing in Promix, drain to waste, but really want to keep my new room as clean as possible. So I've decided to try ebb and flow with hydroton. How often are you guys changing your reservoir, and have you had problems with root rot?
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I'm running a tiny system obviously but I'm changin my res weekly +/- depending on where I am with the grow. It would be virtually impossible to get root rot in Hydroton or rockwool. You'd have to really screw up.
 
tyler.durden

tyler.durden

Well-Known Member
Kndreyn said:
I'm using one with a flood table. I think the table is 24" x 36" and the reservoir is around 30 gallons.
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I had the same set up (see above pics) except for the hydroton. Since I couldn't find 3'x2' trays, I had to convert cement mixing tubs with those measurements (the room was only 8'x6.5'). All my tables, trays, and tents were DIY back then. Not sure where I got that energy. F&D is unlikely to get root rot, as the roots usually aren't sitting in water for any length of time. Best of luck with the new set up.
 
tkufoS

tkufoS

Well-Known Member
shnkrmn said:
Automated drain to waste. I rocked botanicare turbogardens for flood and drain for a few years, this is slightly less work. I use my 20 gallons a week but I use it up completely not discard and start fresh. It's not entirely different, maybe easier to pick up and move. Definitely grows plants. These are in 2 gallon pots of promix.View attachment 5360751
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What are those green inserts at the top of the pots..please.
 
tkufoS

tkufoS

Well-Known Member
jcdws602 said:
Life has treated me well. Still growing my small batches and now focusing on small batch single source solvent less. How you been bro? You started back up yet?
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Right on ! Im better than I have been. Collected a new setup. Seeds popped 12/5. Had a rough start. But today is actually first day of 12's. You still rockin the fritter ?
 
jcdws602

jcdws602

Well-Known Member
tkufoS said:
Right on ! Im better than I have been. Collected a new setup. Seeds popped 12/5. Had a rough start. But today is actually first day of 12's. You still rockin the fritter ?
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That’s awesome to hear bro! Nah I ended up getting hlvd from auntie jane and had to shut it down for 7 months and trash everything I had. Im hunting beans now and been having pretty good results doing that.
 
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