I've got a DWC/Bubbler with hydroton for the medium. The problem is that I just can't bring out the massive roots that I see in other peoples DWC pics. Only a few roots will poke out through the mesh pots and these will become thick roots. I want lots of roots to poke out and become thick roots. Check out my little paint illustration to get a better idea: View attachment Eli's roots.bmp I've read posts, and watched videos, that describe how to use hydroton, but I just can't nail down the technique. Here's what I do: germ seed in rockwool. after seed sprouts, put into hydroton. Water level in DWC bucket set to reach bottom inch of mesh pot after first roots start to poke out bottom of mesh pot, water level dropped to a couple of inches below the mesh pot. What am I doing wrong?
The plants I've got going right now are at 18 days since sprouting. I don't know the exact strain; they are a pack of mixed seeds. They have big fat indica leaves. I'm using the GH Flora series at half strenght. I've had this same problem with other crops, sativas and indicas. The plants are healthy and beautiful as they always are. The problem is they just don't develop massive roots, and subsequently, they don't develop massive buds I'm usually quick to develop competency in all endeavors, but my inability to grow huge buds in DWC is really pissing me off.
I've never used GH's three part, but love the 2 part. When some strains give me this problem I add 1ml of Floralicious Plus for about three weeks straight and have split pots with roots in the past.
What kind of airstone and airpump are you using? Here is an example of my roots when I used a cheap dual diaphragm air pump and two double micro pore airstones.
I noticed that you run the level at the bottom of the net-pot. When I see the roots hit the water I drop the level to about an inch below the bottom of the net-pot. Don't know if that's enough to make the difference .. Rumple and Budslinger are the BB pros around here - you might drop a note in their DIY stickies (under Grow Room -> DIY)
As I understand it the larger the air gap between the water level and the roots the more likely the plant will be to develop cord roots. I always keep my water level very near the bottom of the net pot--haven't had a problem.
Stoneth, thanks. I'm not much into additives because I'm a cheap skate, but maybe that's the problem. Johncain 1, your roots are much more impressive than what I got. I'm using an Elite 801 (or is it the 802-I'll have to check later; no internet at home). Its smallest elite air pump with two outlets, and I've tried various combos of run-of-the-mill air stones, four 2 inchers, two 4 inchers, one and two 6 inchers. I've never seen a "micropore" air stone, but the local pet store does have these "air diffusers" that I'm considering trying. Raoul, do you drop the nute level when you see one root hitting the water, or lots of roots? That's what I don't get. Should I wait until roots are busting out all over the mesh pot and then drop the level, or should the level drop when that first little root peeks out from the bottome of the pot?
Alot of people are growing from clone and not seed, when growing from clone you dont really get a tap root as you do by seed, the whole stem will cover with roots and shoot out. I dont know if thats the problem just a thought. Also the size of your root mass will greatly depend on how much light you are using and how long you are vegging for.
Interesting, EJ75. What size bucket or container are you using for growing? Do the roots have ample space in which to grow/expand once they've grown past the net buckets? I grow using, I think, a drip/dwc method in ten-inch netbaskets inside of 5-gallon buckets. The plants' roots usually fill up the entire bucket. I bet if I moved to 7-gallon buckets, the roots would be even bigger, but so would the plant, and I just don't have the space to grow larger plants.
@kindone- had the same issue with clones. I'm small scale: 150w hps in flower, 42 CFLs in veg. Since I'm small timer, I usually only veg for about 15-20 days; just until I can get a couple of clones. This time around I used the 150w hps two days after the plants spouted, growth on top was better than with the CFLs, but the same root prob. @m love- This time around its a 5 gallon pail, got it from behind the local burger joint, was used for relish. When I start the pack of seeds, I'll use six 2 gallon containers to find my mother. When I've got the mom, I use clones in the 5 gallon with four 2.5 inch net pots. I've also used a single 6inch net pot in the five gallon pail. This time I went straight to the 5 gallon pail because I only germed 5 seeds, two seeds cracked open, I accidently killed one, so this crop (if it is even female) will be a lone survivor. Under my 150w hps, my biggest yeild was about 3 oz dry. It sounds impressive to non-growers, but someday, I really wanna put a gram-per-watt grow journal. I'm still only half way there. I just know that when I get those big roots bustin' out all over the net pot, I'm gonna hit my target. I don't know if I still got time to fix the problem, but even if I don't, I'm glad y'all took the time to share experience. Gotta love grasscity, not for grasscity itself, but for the users.
Light leaking into the root area was my problem with first dwc. even if u taped it up good or whatever add a few more layers or ph.... ph is usually the issue... lol
3 days after germination. i use gh rapid rooter plugs. germ the seed in em for a couple days, rappid rooters are hydro safe, so i drop em in about one layer of hydroton and fill up the cup around it. i kept water level with no nutes an inch below the cup, and top watered them with a voodoo juice solution. next week the feeding begins with the gh flora series. i have all three parts but im debating using the lucas formula...and as far as pump i want a bigger one but its just the walmart pump and 2 6'' stones. thinking about getting a 4 outlet pump and lining my res with 6-8 wands. should do the trick.
you could also try to use some root enhancers like hormex its just a hormone the stimulates gowth in roots
@ Doja Monkey: Light leaks? never thought that could be a problem. Even though there are many resources that suggest light leaks are an insignificant problem, there seems to be more that say absolute darkness is the way to go. Next crop, I'll go with the majority and plug up even the tiniest light leaks @highambitions: your roots are making me jealous @ lilnick: As I mentioned before, I'm too cheap to buy additives, but I'm willing to change if that's what needs to be done get the big roots, and the corresponding big buds.
well cheap or not somethings are just important. Also if you use hormex you can make clones with it too. just put it in a shot glass take cut than let it soak in the hormex for around a minute or so than place your cutting in whatever medium your using. when adding it to your res use about 1/2 teaspoon per gallon