Hydroponics newbie question

thetester

thetester

Active Member
Until recently I've been too intimidated by hydroponics to give it a try. But I learned about deep water culture and that seems approachable so I gave it a shot. I'm using this 5 gallon bucket that is rigged up for DWC, so far I've been having fantastic results. I haven't bothered checking the PH all the time because the tap water in my area is pretty much perfect. Once a week I've been completely replacing the water and mixing in more nutrients based upon the plant's current stage and during the week I've just been adding tap water to maintain the right level. My question is this: does all the water need to be swapped out or can I just mix in the correct nutrients and maintain the water level?
 
mmjmon

mmjmon

Well-Known Member
thetester said:
Until recently I've been too intimidated by hydroponics to give it a try. But I learned about deep water culture and that seems approachable so I gave it a shot. I'm using this 5 gallon bucket that is rigged up for DWC, so far I've been having fantastic results. I haven't bothered checking the PH all the time because the tap water in my area is pretty much perfect. Once a week I've been completely replacing the water and mixing in more nutrients based upon the plant's current stage and during the week I've just been adding tap water to maintain the right level. My question is this: does all the water need to be swapped out or can I just mix in the correct nutrients and maintain the water level?
Click to expand...
Yea... uh... what's your PH?
 
rob333

rob333

Well-Known Member
thetester said:
Until recently I've been too intimidated by hydroponics to give it a try. But I learned about deep water culture and that seems approachable so I gave it a shot. I'm using this 5 gallon bucket that is rigged up for DWC, so far I've been having fantastic results. I haven't bothered checking the PH all the time because the tap water in my area is pretty much perfect. Once a week I've been completely replacing the water and mixing in more nutrients based upon the plant's current stage and during the week I've just been adding tap water to maintain the right level. My question is this: does all the water need to be swapped out or can I just mix in the correct nutrients and maintain the water level?
Click to expand...
flush ur rez every 6 days with fresh water
 
GrowerGoneWild

GrowerGoneWild

Well-Known Member
The solution starts getting wierd on me if I dont do a complete dump. Especially if its a big plant.
I'll start getting lockout issues.
 
mmjmon

mmjmon

Well-Known Member
Heh. Well, as you may or may not know, your ph will change as you add different nutes, If you can't check PH, then I'd continue changing out your rez and hope for no lockouts.
 
viper264

viper264

Well-Known Member
your having great luck. you should go get a $15 ph test kit. when the roots get big it will swing so you will want to maintain that.
 
viper264

viper264

Well-Known Member
there are short cuts but not changing water and not ph ing are short cuts that will devastate your plants health and yeild
 
viper264

viper264

Well-Known Member
it may seem like more work now, but the switch from soil to hydro freed up so much time for me. no more maintaining separate plants just 2 rezs in flower room.
 
viper264

viper264

Well-Known Member
let me explain it this way, lets say i have a 50 gal rez for 11 plants thats 4.5 gallons a plant so id change that every 2 weeks. lets say i have 15 plants and 15 gallons of water id change the water every 3 days.
 
GrowerGoneWild

GrowerGoneWild

Well-Known Member
viper264 said:
dont go with a small rez its living in hell keeping everything happy.
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Agreed, bigger rez mean you can do other garden duties..

Its not hard if you have a pump to dump and a shop vac to get the crumbs outta there, changing a 50 gal res is cake.

I got more important things to do in the garden.. Like tuning in the radio so me and ladies can jam.. :)
 
Flagg420

Flagg420

Well-Known Member
GrowerGoneWild said:
The solution starts getting wierd on me if I dont do a complete dump. Especially if its a big plant.
I'll start getting lockout issues.
Click to expand...

And that is WHY you check Ph...

Its not only about the Ph when you start, as the nutes are added, and used, the Ph changes.... its your job as the grower to maintain the proper level so the plant can eat...

Be a better parent to your plants. Check Ph often. No. More often than that.
 
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