Ebb and flow questions

Hey guys, after completing two successful soil grows (one indoor and one outdoor) Ives decided to give hydroponics a go. I've chosen the ebba and flow (flood and drain) method as the set up appeals to me and looks really fun. I'm going to be growing 16 plants at a time and I was just wondering about where the roots are gonna go?

The problem I see is on e the roots grow out of the rockwool blocks and into the clay pellets than where do they travel? Do they travel through out the tray between the pellets or do they kinda get restricted causing slower and smaller growth? And alos won't all the roots get tangelled together? If so than isn't this a problem or not?

Thanx in advance guys and +rep to those who can help

Hiya Lukey. I actually worried a bit about my plants getting root bound for a while since I had pretty much started them in 5 x 5 rockwool slabs. I've learned since then that with hydroponics there isn't really an issue with this common soil problem. My plants are still in the same 5 x 5 x 6 inch pots with no sign of growth problems (into day 26 of flower).

You still don't want your roots to sit in standing water either way so make sure you grow trays drain properly.

Encomium said:

Hiya Lukey. I actually worried a bit about my plants getting root bound for a while since I had pretty much started them in 5 x 5 rockwool slabs. I've learned since then that with hydroponics there isn't really an issue with this common soil problem. My plants are still in the same 5 x 5 x 6 inch pots with no sign of growth problems (into day 26 of flower).

You still don't want your roots to sit in standing water either way so make sure you grow trays drain properly.

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Cheers man I'm a little less stressed now:/ doesn't the water just drain back down the pump? Providing that you have connect it correctly and level

lukey boii said:

Cheers man I'm a little less stressed now:/ doesn't the water just drain back down the pump? Providing that you have connect it correctly and level

Click to expand...

Yea most of it does and shouldn't be a problem with a proper grow tray. You'll still have small pools of water around after a feeding (at least I do) but not where my plants roots are. I just measured one of my girls and she's at 3 feet now with no problems and still in the 5x5x6 white pots (in a rockwool slab) I started her with. Since I do not have firsthand experience with root bound plants (but have researched it) I cannot say for sure but I'd bet that a soil bound plant would most likely be root bound in the same size container. I've seen a few grows that start and end in the same 6 inch rockwool slabs (with no hydroton underneath!).