nOOb building hydro cabinet with specific questions

[dragit]

I started a thread in advanced growing techniques because i figured with what questions I had, and the fact im doing a hydro setup, it would have been better suited in that area. But im getting no response.

http://forum.grasscity.com/advanced-...rst-timer.html

in the link above I covered my build plans for my indoor growing cabinet. Most the questions I have I asked in that thread were regarding the design of the cabinet.


Below the main growing area I want to setup a cloning spot. Now I have read as much as i can find, but i have a couple specific questions.

Now withs seeds and hydro, what is the best procedure to do between the germination, and getting them into the hydro system. Most of what i read says seeds are not suited so well for hydro systems and clones are the way to go. This is not an option for me at the moment (at least untill after i get a first grow going).

If someone can provide me a link to something on the process of cloning from clipping all the way to getting them into the hydro system that would be great. I know how to read so just lead me to the info =].

Then for amount of plants in that size of cabinet. of course Im going for the most yield and it seems doing many smaller sized plants would be best for this. I have been reading into scrog and once i have one grow under my belt and a cabinet full of female clones I will give it a try.

Also in the thread i posted there are some questions regarding watering. More along the lines of how much and how often. This is something I just can't seem to find in my searchs. Sounds like im looking at a trial an error thing. Info on nutes is everywhere tho.

There is so much to this and i think it is so damn interesting... I am trying to get everything right the first time and grow bud the best of my ability the first go around.

Thanks for anyones help. I feel like i have been spamming the forum, but when im not posting asking questions im searching and reading.

Thanks again.

[hashaman]

Here's a nice overview of the cloning process.

As for hydro with seeds... just sprout them in rockwool and water the rockwool in the grow medium until the plant's roots can reach the nutrient solution.

You mention you have a couple of questions, but there's not a single question mark in your post so I'm not sure exactly what information you're looking for.

[dragit]

Originally Posted by hashaman

Here's a nice overview of the cloning process.

As for hydro with seeds... just sprout them in rockwool and water the rockwool in the grow medium until the plant's roots can reach the nutrient solution.

You mention you have a couple of questions, but there's not a single question mark in your post so I'm not sure exactly what information you're looking for.

what im going to run is a drip system. Most my questions revolve around watering... GPH of the drippers... how often and for how long to water during stages of growth.

I have lighting down pretty well and i figure a 400w HPS/MH lamp will be a good all around for me.

Other questions have to do with how many plants to grow in for best yield in this size of an area.

My questions are in my original thread in the link i posted in my first post.

I appreciate your help! This is a interesting hobby.

[dragit]

well still not many replies so I jsut started buying things. Bought a pond pump that will put out 60gph, a manifold with 8 outputs and you can adjust pressure on each output, 1/2" line to go from pump to manifold, 1/4" ling to go from manifold output to my 2 gph drippers (pressure compensating).

I figure 2gph is a bit much; but I can run them as long or short as i wish to get the watering effect i want/need.

here area couple pics of what i grabbed... no pick of the pump or nothing... just all standard shit found everywhere...

still looking for watering information.. something along the lines of the plant needing this many gallons in this many days at this stage of growth. That would bring it down to set it on a simple timer, supplying nutrients, adjusting pH, and watching the plant and signs for what it needs.

Thanks again to anyone who wants to help...

[mike827]

I'm not trying to be a dick, but the reason your not receiving any answers is because your questions are much to vague/impossible to answer.

For example, the GPH for a drip system is not a set number. You have to watch the plant, determine how quickly your growing medium drains water, (this will change as the roots expand), determine how much water the plant is drinking, (I've seen plants drink over 1 gallon a day during flowering), along with many other variables.

Your best bet would be to look at other grows using similar systems, as that will provide the most information that you are looking for. (Which you said was a general description of how many GPH for how many days at what stage of growth.)

Also, I'm just curious, what made you decide to go with a drip system rather than Deep Water Culture for example. Because I always found drip to have too many variables, whereas in a DWC setup you essentially just watch TDS and PH. (Plus plants grow way faster in a soil-less medium!) I actually started my grow as a drip, and it was such a huge pain in the ass that I switched it to DWC, and I must say, I'm much happier!

I would really like to help you out, so ask me some more questions and I'll see if I can help. Please keep us posted!

[mike827]

As for seedling to hydro goes, the method that I have found works the best is using the "paper towel method" (check the "germination 420" sticky), where, essentially, you place the seed in a moist paper towel and seal it in a zip lock bag. Then put it in a warm dark place and check them once a day. Checking them serves a dual purpose, to see when they have cracked open, and to give them vital CO2, O2, etc. Once the seeds have cracked open and a small white taproot has emerged, transplant them into your rock wool, and put them straight in your system with NO NUTRIENTS. I made the mistake. Even a low PPM will FUCK your plants (in my case anyway). I waited until at least the 4th leaf-set to apply even 1/4 strength nutrients.

Cloning is simple, cut off a trimming with a leaf-set on it, and build an ultrasonic fogging cloner. Check out MordGrow's ultrasonic fogger cloner machine. I've also heard mixed results with using rooting gel. (stick the cutting in this gel shit that supposedly stimulates root growth, while simultaneously supporting the plant upright.)

As for putting the clone and main chamber in the same unit, the only thing I would worry about is light leaks. If you have a 24/0 schedule in the clone area, and a 12/12 in the flowering main box, if light leaks into your flowering chamber, It'll fuck with the plant and at worst stop it from flowering, but it could also stress the plant into producing lower yields, or worse, going hermie.

[dragit]

I went with the drip system manily because of my better understanding of what im doing (i do sprinkler systems for side jobs). Never read a lot on the DWC except a year ago or so when i started reading. Tho the most attractive setup to me is some sort of aeroponics.

next week im going to go buy all my rubbermaid containers. One for the nutes, one for run off, and a larger one that will house the net pots and plants.

I may buy to small floor cabinets and have a grow chamber and a clone chamber, but i would like to have the larger grow area for veg/flower and below that have cloning area.

these are the cabinets i was looking at.

http://www.stanleytools.com/default....%5FDEEP%5FDOOR

also I was wondering if a 400w hps (and a MH conversion bulb for veg?) is too much for this area. Eventualy I plan on many short plants. I was thinking about trying a scrog on second grow, but I think i would have to do fewer plants to accomplish this is that size of an area.

Well i have to run back to work. Will be back on after.
Thanks so much for your input. Glad to be getting a little attention.

[dragit]

Originally Posted by mike827

As for seedling to hydro goes, the method that I have found works the best is using the "paper towel method" (check the "germination 420" sticky), where, essentially, you place the seed in a moist paper towel and seal it in a zip lock bag. Then put it in a warm dark place and check them once a day. Checking them serves a dual purpose, to see when they have cracked open, and to give them vital CO2, O2, etc. Once the seeds have cracked open and a small white taproot has emerged, transplant them into your rock wool, and put them straight in your system with NO NUTRIENTS. I made the mistake. Even a low PPM will FUCK your plants (in my case anyway). I waited until at least the 4th leaf-set to apply even 1/4 strength nutrients.

Cloning is simple, cut off a trimming with a leaf-set on it, and build an ultrasonic fogging cloner. Check out MordGrow's ultrasonic fogger cloner machine. I've also heard mixed results with using rooting gel. (stick the cutting in this gel shit that supposedly stimulates root growth, while simultaneously supporting the plant upright.)

As for putting the clone and main chamber in the same unit, the only thing I would worry about is light leaks. If you have a 24/0 schedule in the clone area, and a 12/12 in the flowering main box, if light leaks into your flowering chamber, It'll fuck with the plant and at worst stop it from flowering, but it could also stress the plant into producing lower yields, or worse, going hermie.

Well you got me interested in the DWC and i read some and a few grow journals... changed my plans for this. I went and bought a 10 gallon rubbermaid container to hold two plants in my grow cabinet for a DWC type setup...

Im still wondering if a cheapy 400w HPS/MH is too much in that area. Besides that im
feeling pretty confident. =]

[mike827]

Glad I converted you to full blown hydro! :-D

No such thing as too much light , and a 400w hps shouldn't put out THAT much heat, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't ventilate it. A cooltube would work fine. Theres even a thread somewhere about how to build your own easily.

BTW with a DWC setup in such a small cab (width wise anyway), I think your best bet would be a ScrOG grow. Check out august west's scrog for great examples. (he used soil, but its easily adaptable to hydro.

Also, whats the lumen output on your 400w hps? Personally, i'm a huge fan of 4', 54W, T5 High Output fluorescent tubes. (T5HO).
One 4' tube outputs 5,000 lumens. With a readily available 5 bulb fixture, thats 25,000 lumens. Also, you can put them vertically, and even in the center for under and side growth lighting. The best part though, is the cool temp of the fluoros. You can put them about 1" away from the plant with no adverse affects, therefore increasing the available amount of lighting. (each time you double the distance between the plant and light source, the lumen output halves.)