DWC root mass question

willydriller

willydriller

Member
I am scheming up a DWC system and wondered if anyone with experience in this area could furnish me the approximate size of the root mass under the net pot in comparison to the top / weeks of growth. (5ft @ 12 weeks = 600 ci ) I realize there is no way to accurately quantify this but an approximate guesstimate is all I am really looking for. Additional information on the behavior of root growth in restricted space once the plant has found a constant supply of nutrients would be greatly appreciated as well. Thanks.
 
I have a couple Autoflowers @ about 8 weeks and their roots were filling up a 5 gal bucket 80% or so with roots, I transferred them to 10 gal dwc and the roots are getting huge on one of them, i'd say half the 10 gal bucket.. Like you said it's going to be hard to get an accurate number..some people grow big plants in a 3 gal dwc. Roots will keep growing till they fill their environment..so container size dictates root size.
 
Thanks weedfreak
so container size dictates root size
Click to expand...
That's what I was wondering. If the plant has substantial root footing and nutes on tap, why would it continue to expend energy to grow the root system. I am contemplating a different approach to DWC container by making it long and cylindrical. Concerns are root mass blocking recirculation. Also, is the root pattern long and narrow or short and broad?
 
willydriller said:
I am scheming up a DWC system and wondered if anyone with experience in this area could furnish me the approximate size of the root mass under the net pot in comparison to the top / weeks of growth. (5ft @ 12 weeks = 600 ci ) I realize there is no way to accurately quantify this but an approximate guesstimate is all I am really looking for. Additional information on the behavior of root growth in restricted space once the plant has found a constant supply of nutrients would be greatly appreciated as well. Thanks.
Click to expand...
 
I'd go to a 73 qt/70 liter Sterilite Tupperware Square container you can pick up @ Walmart. You roots can grow dowward & outward.
 
willydriller said:
I am scheming up a DWC system and wondered if anyone with experience in this area could furnish me the approximate size of the root mass under the net pot in comparison to the top / weeks of growth. (5ft @ 12 weeks = 600 ci ) I realize there is no way to accurately quantify this but an approximate guesstimate is all I am really looking for. Additional information on the behavior of root growth in restricted space once the plant has found a constant supply of nutrients would be greatly appreciated as well. Thanks.
Click to expand...
 
Ime with dwc, the roots will tend to fill up whatever space you have them in. I have some month old plants i just threw into flower that are in 3 gallons and already fill up the entire bucket with roots.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
kmog33 said:
Ime with dwc, the roots will tend to fill up whatever space you have them in. I have some month old plants i just threw into flower that are in 3 gallons and already fill up the entire bucket with roots.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
 
With RDWC the roots will always take up space.Sometimes u can actually hear the suction of the roots when you pull the lady out of the bucket.you gotta have a good pump,good circulation in your buckets top & bottom.I go with 1" tubing on bottom & 1/2" on top all buckets linked up & it's like a JACUZZI of bubbles & Nutes.
 
willydriller said:
Thanks weedfreak
That's what I was wondering. If the plant has substantial root footing and nutes on tap, why would it continue to expend energy to grow the root system. I am contemplating a different approach to DWC container by making it long and cylindrical. Concerns are root mass blocking recirculation. Also, is the root pattern long and narrow or short and broad?
Click to expand...
I've seen big plants grown in 1 gal containers in DWC as long as the roots are kept in a nutrient solution they will uptake what they need, smaller containers will just need more maintenance and attention. It's not optimal though, big roots make big trees..faster. I'd seriously be looking at 10 gals of solution min per plant, if you're growing big single plants. I'm running around 8 gals/per and it's sucking almost a gal every day or so. When i was in only 3 gals( 5 gal bucket) of solution it sucked topping it off twice a day. As for container shape/size..I've always been under the impression that photoperiod plants prefer deeper than wide containers and autoflowers prefer more square, to shallower and wide, mainly due to the ruderalis influence on the roots, they tend to spread more laterally than down. If i was building a RDWC I'd be incorporating some baffles and screening to stop roots from clogging anything.
 
WeedFreak78 said:
I've seen big plants grown in 1 gal containers in DWC as long as the roots are kept in a nutrient solution they will uptake what they need, smaller containers will just need more maintenance and attention. It's not optimal though, big roots make big trees..faster. I'd seriously be looking at 10 gals of solution min per plant, if you're growing big single plants. I'm running around 8 gals/per and it's sucking almost a gal every day or so. When i was in only 3 gals( 5 gal bucket) of solution it sucked topping it off twice a day. As for container shape/size..I've always been under the impression that photoperiod plants prefer deeper than wide containers and autoflowers prefer more square, to shallower and wide, mainly due to the ruderalis influence on the roots, they tend to spread more laterally than down. If i was building a RDWC I'd be incorporating some baffles and screening to stop roots from clogging anything.
Click to expand...
 
Yes,when joining buckets you should Screen the couplings,or pipe going bucket to bucket & wrap run & inline pump instead of a submersible so you don't have to worry about any broken root pieces getting sucked in the pump & gunking up the impeller.Also a good investment in a RDWC system is a small fish net for aquariums,use it to skim your res & buckets for any root debris.it dies & causes Pithium It's how Root Rot begins especially if your not running a chiller.
 
WeedFreak78 said:
I've seen big plants grown in 1 gal containers in DWC as long as the roots are kept in a nutrient solution they will uptake what they need, smaller containers will just need more maintenance and attention. It's not optimal though, big roots make big trees..faster. I'd seriously be looking at 10 gals of solution min per plant, if you're growing big single plants. I'm running around 8 gals/per and it's sucking almost a gal every day or so. When i was in only 3 gals( 5 gal bucket) of solution it sucked topping it off twice a day. As for container shape/size..I've always been under the impression that photoperiod plants prefer deeper than wide containers and autoflowers prefer more square, to shallower and wide, mainly due to the ruderalis influence on the roots, they tend to spread more laterally than down. If i was building a RDWC I'd be incorporating some baffles and screening to stop roots from clogging anything.
Click to expand...

True but it looks like a cluster fuck with strings tied everywhere holding plant up
when using them big totes you need to build PVC braise inside the tote, to help support plant .
You get bowing, with most totes cause of the water in it, this can lead to possible leaks.
There are some pretty good deals on craigs list or other places ,, or you can do some googling shopping around and find some really good modules i lucked out got 32 site Under current 13 gallon modules for free that was just collecting dust ,,,
just modules now ordering other parts from the site mostly UC's locking seals i will purchase piping local.. pumps etc..
I really think anyone looking at building there own to start out with 2 - 3 - 6 site set up and do there home work spend money once this is why i think 13 gallon is perfect it will grow you anything from small to trees
IMO i like a plant to support it self problem with going like tubing like op mentions is you really cannot grow big plants and you lose over head height cause strings are everywhere supporting plants
 
Lots of Oxygen making lots of bubbles big Airstones big air pump,I'm running a 15 gal res & 4 buckets with an 1121 GPH AIr pump,it's like a jacuzzi in each bucket + it's recirculating!
 
well there is a fine line between making lots of bubbles and possibly damaging the root zone from to much turbulence and also a fine line with excessive as to where it possibly Changes from DWC to Aeroponics
 
kmog33 said:
Ime with dwc, the roots will tend to fill up whatever space you have them in. I have some month old plants i just threw into flower that are in 3 gallons and already fill up the entire bucket with roots.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
 
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