Hello GC. I bring fourth a simple question. Before I lay it on the table, let me say one thing. I've grown one successful grow through soil and thought it was relatively easy. Of course, when researching I thought it would be hard with temps, correct growing medium (perlite, etc), nutrients / Fertilizers. When I started growing I thought it was pretty easy and pretty much till the finish. My question (which is why I'm posting it on this section) is; how easy is hydroponics compared to soil? Easier? Harder? Should I just stick to what I know and grow soil or venture out into hydroponic land? I have all the equipment, just deciding to return it out not. Thoughts? Also, I have a lingering question and tried to seek help. When you put a seed in rockwool, the seed expands and roots form in the bottom, what promotes the roots to leave the rockwool? Is your waterline in your hydro setup touching the water thus the roots fall down naturally? Do the roots have to be touching the water in order for this to happen, thus you maintain a steady water level which sounds hard to do? Sorry for the bombardment of questions. Thanks a lot guys! bonus rep to whoever tackles this mess of Q's.
Hydro can be as easy or as hard as you yourself set it up. Think simple. Don't go nuts. I'd say hydro is just as simple as soil when you get it right. It may require a few more steps in the development and implementation stage, but after that it's smooth sailing. If you already have the gear, I say go for it. Or do both. Have a guaranteed soil harvest and experiment with hydro, it's up to you. Roots leave rock wool in search of water. Water in a hydro bucket shouldn't be all the way touching the rock wool. Water level should be at the bottom of your netpot, allowing bubbles from your air stone to kinda tease the roots, making the roots try to reach for it. After the roots have made contact with water. Lower the water level to an inch or so below the bottom of the netpot. Leave the water at the level throughout the grow. Maintain your ph and ppm with a decent brand of food and it's smooth sailing from then! Don't be scared really. Hydro is too easy. Nothing to worry about.
Well, as said above difficulty varies. Exactly what type oh hydro were you thinking? I am just starting out and have been playing around with different methods. One of is using coco coir and hydroton mix as a medium, which is very similar to a soil grow but without the soil as a buffer. When you make changes (good or bad) you see them very quickly, if you screw upo the PH,m PPM, etc you will know very soon. Some say this makes it much easier to screw up but I find it pretty darn easy, similar methods to a soil grow but with amazing results. So far I love the simplicity and results of this method. Now that they are growing fast I have to water every day but I can handle that. Other than the occasional flush taht's all there is to it. I also have a hybrid aero/DWC setup it is great but more work and more to worry about. misting system, air pump/air stone, reservoir chiller, etc. I also have to PH it every day but that's no worse than mixing nutriends every day for the coco. Once you get it dialed in iot's not taht much more work, but I think getting everything set up and running the way you want is more difficult. More up front work but worth it in the long run.
soil is easy, u mix nutrients, pH adjust then water. water a couple times a week, hydroponics (depending on set up) u have to deal with constant pH adjustments, EC monitoring, and adjusting. water changes, possible floods, rez temps. root rot, etc. i know soil has its problems, but hydroponics can be a headache
I've found hydro simple and a lot easier than my soil garden that's for sure! Until you learn you plants/nutes/system, it's going to require daily maintenemce. Check ph, ppm, temps, water level. After you see how things are going, it gets pretty easy. I don't check mine everyday anymore. I know my nutes will ph balance around 5.5 and slowly lower. Every few days add a little ph up, fresh water, and nutes as applicable
You haven't joined the Hydro "club" until you have flooded your closet or grow area at least once. The first thing I read about hydro was that a lot of people quit because of the amount of attention it requires. All things considered, it works very well.
I'll be growing in DWC. My setup is as follows Air pump with 2 black plastic hoses, going into two 3 gallon tall buckets (black for root protection), 2 air stones connected to the air pump hoses (that lay inside the water) and hydroton, net baskets and rockwool. Basically, the the most simplistic from what I've been reading. I'm on a timeline because my seeds are going to be at my house today or tomorrow. I have 6 female seeds, I think I'll do 2 in hydro (the two free seeds ) and the other 4 in soil. I was the same way when I started soil. I was afraid everything would go wrong and it never did. Also, one more question, with my setup, how is flooding even possible? I think I'll just have to deal with filling up the water that evaporates. Thanks for the input bro's
Flooding will happen when you least suspect it. I had a funky water pump seal. Here is a link to my DWC. http://forum.grasscity.com/do-yourself/733863-dwc-foggers-updated-rig.html
I flooded my area when I accidentally unplugged a recirc line and was just pumping water on the floor for about 3 solid minutes I find hydro to be easier than soil personally. It's all in the user. More work, but easier if that makes any sense.
Research Hempy Buckets. It's the growth of hydro, with the simplicity of soil. No moving parts or pumps. Just a bucket with one hole, Perlite (with vermiculite if you wish), and nutrients. I have a hempy grow going on right now, check my signature.