Recommended Method for Transplanting Plug Into DWC? (Water height, top feeding, ect)

Hello RUI!

I'm currently starting a second DWC grow (my first one had to be moved ), and I scrapped some clones from what I had and am now attempting this again!

So far my clones are rooted very well, they have about inch long roots out of the plug, and I'd say twenty overall sprouts emerging out of the plugs themselves.

I was just curious as to what the best method is start giving them nutrients without getting root rot or having your plant dry up.

This is what I did in my first grow:
View attachment 1334900

^I had the water sit below the rooter plug itself, and go all the way through the hydroton, just letting the roots flow down into it.

At first, I just left it like that, assuming all the roots would find their way down and the air would break through the hydroton and eventually reach the roots.

It took time for it to get going, so then I started giving it top feedings with some FF Grow Big/Big Bloom/SuperThrive, and my plants grew very fast after that.

However, since I let the water rest in the hydroton, I think some of the roots didn't get enough access to the roots and a rot formed, which eventually screwed me over later when temps became unmanageable in the buckets and the root rot spread.

My question:

Is there a way that I could top feed the plants instead of pushing all the water up through the hydroton? Or is that the only way?

Any info/tips would help a lot! Thanks!

well when i put a baby into my system, i alow the water to reach about 1/2 of an inch into the hydroton, insuring that the roots recieve the goodness, roots will naturaly find the water beieng hydrotropic, but i dont like to risk them not making it to the water so i keep the water lever high when he roots are small, then back off the level when i see decent root growth, about 2-3 inches. make sure you have plenty of air bubbling down there, and go real easy on the nutes, rembering that in DWC your roots are suspended in nutrients all the time....i use 1/4 the doseage, for pretty much my entire grow from seedling to flower.

Alright! I'll just do that then. And yes, I realized how potent nutes can be in a DWC system. I had a plant on about 7th week of veg and still had to give it around a 300ppm mixture or it would get burned by it. Hey cant complain, saves money on nutes!

You can keep the water a inch or so below the hydroton. The bubbles breaking the surface will usually keep it moist enough. Forcing the roots to work their way down into the res. As they grow you can keep lowering the level until you reach the desired volume of water you plan to grow in.

cowboylogic said:

You can keep the water a inch or so below the hydroton. The bubbles breaking the surface will usually keep it moist enough. Forcing the roots to work their way down into the res. As they grow you can keep lowering the level until you reach the desired volume of water you plan to grow in.

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This is what I do for young seedlings... 1/2 '' - 1 '' water underneath the net pots.

BeaverHuntr said:

This is what I do for young seedlings... 1/2 '' - 1 '' water underneath the net pots.

Click to expand...

So the hydroton will not get too dry if no water is splashing up in there? That's good to hear I guess...

I also am going to be giving my plants top feedings 2-3 times a day with a half cup of nutrient solution each feeding, does that sound about right?

cowboylogic said:

You can keep the water a inch or so below the hydroton. The bubbles breaking the surface will usually keep it moist enough. Forcing the roots to work their way down into the res. As they grow you can keep lowering the level until you reach the desired volume of water you plan to grow in.

Click to expand...

ok but whenn and how do you know how much water u willl want to keep in the bucket (or whatever). i understand that u will start the water out high but y wont you keep it that way the entire time.

im thinking as long as the roots don't just "stand" in water they should be fine bc they are being oxygenated from the bubbles .
so if u start to lower the water level what purpose does that serve? is it benitficial?
i have not grown a plant yet but wanting to learn as much as i can b4 i do.
when i do this i want to do this right and get quality with yeild my first time
im only doing bubbleponics

CB7guy said:

ok but whenn and how do you know how much water u willl want to keep in the bucket (or whatever). i understand that u will start the water out high but y wont you keep it that way the entire time.

im thinking as long as the roots don't just "stand" in water they should be fine bc they are being oxygenated from the bubbles .
so if u start to lower the water level what purpose does that serve? is it benitficial?
i have not grown a plant yet but wanting to learn as much as i can b4 i do.
when i do this i want to do this right and get quality with yeild my first time
im only doing bubbleponics

Click to expand...

Once the roots pop out from under the net cup and start to develop lower your reservoir level to 2" below the net cup and keep it there topping off daily with PH'd water to maintain reservoir level. The roots will sit in the water, that is what you want. The air stones & oxygen you will be providing into the reservoir 24/7 will be sufficient for the plant.

Weedler said:

Once the roots pop out from under the net cup and start to develop lower your reservoir level to 2" below the net cup and keep it there topping off daily with PH'd water to maintain reservoir level. The roots will sit in the water, that is what you want. The air stones & oxygen you will be providing into the reservoir 24/7 will be sufficient for the plant.

Click to expand...

ok i was kinda confused when i was reading bc it said desired level i thought it was talking about changing the water level the more the plant grew..thank ya