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When to add seedlings to RDWC

Discussion in 'Hydroponic Growing' started by ButterDiesel, Jun 30, 2018.

  1. #1 ButterDiesel, Jun 30, 2018
    This is my first grow. Seeds cracked yesterday, plants are about an inch or two tall, first set of true leaves are taking shape. They're planted in Rapid Rooters under a humidity dome with a T5 6500K on top of the dome. When can I add these to my RDWC? They'll be going into a 2'×3'×5' tent with a 400W MH in a cool tube, 3.5 gallon buckets fed from an 18 gallon reservoir. 2 air stone's in reservoir, 1 in each bucket. Is a week long enough in their current state before I add them or should I just check root growth? Oh yeah the strain is AK-48 from Nirvana. Thanks in advance!

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  2. #2 trojangrower, Jun 30, 2018
    snap us a pic would yea?
     
  3. #3 bkarnaze, Jun 30, 2018
    The Rapid Rooter instructions say to put them in their final destination when roots show thru, but it probably doesn't really matter.
    Most important is to avoid too much light, and too much nutes, which can kill seedlings.
    Put the lights very far away, and keep the nutes below 100 ppm for a few days til the plants look vigorous.

    Nirvana AK48 is my favorite strain ever.
     
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  4. #4 ButterDiesel, Jun 30, 2018
    Sorry the first one is upside down, I rarely take pics.[​IMG][​IMG]

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  5. #5 trojangrower, Jul 1, 2018
    They can go longer. There's nothing wrong with where they are at. Let them develop some, I say.
     
  6. #6 ButterDiesel, Jul 1, 2018
    What do you think, another week? That's what I was thinking anyway. I'll take off the humidity dome once they get a little bit taller. Should I keep the light on 24 hrs?

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  7. #7 bkarnaze, Jul 1, 2018
    If you wait too long, and roots start coming out, moving them to the hydro system could injure those exposed roots, and the harder to see micro-roots.
    That might be why the Rapid Rooter instructions say, "When roots appear plugs are ready to be transplanted."
     
  8. #8 ButterDiesel, Jul 1, 2018
    Oh, so pull the plugs out and check for roots? I was thinking I'd have to wait til I see them start filling up the starter tray. Or at least start coming out the drainage hole in the bottom. My thinking was if the roots are visible through the drainage hole, there's less time for them to "find" the bubbling nutrient solution in the RDWC buckets, and less chance of killing them before they get started. But what you're saying is transfer them now, correct?

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  9. #9 ButterDiesel, Jul 2, 2018
    Well there's one main root coming out the bottom of the plug, no others yet.

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  10. #10 trojangrower, Jul 2, 2018
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2018
    quick google search reveals easy examples
    [​IMG]
     
  11. #11 bkarnaze, Jul 2, 2018
    There is no right or wrong when it comes to moving Rapid Rooters to the hydro system.
    I put RRs in small, semi-transparent plastic containers so that the sides are easily visible, and when the roots first show thru the RRs, I move mine to hydro.
     
  12. #12 ButterDiesel, Jul 2, 2018
    Trojangrower that's what I was waiting for, roots like that. I'm nowhere near that right now lol. [​IMG]

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  13. #13 Calyx-o, Jul 2, 2018
    So here is the thing, roots in plugs or soil and roots for water are 2 different types of root systems, as soon as you see roots peep out you should drop them in your dwc, it will take a week or so for roots to transition from a soil like plug to hydroponic system, good luck
     

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  14. #14 trojangrower, Jul 2, 2018
    I agree with Calyx-O, but I also want to make sure that my root system is healthy post-cloning. I don't think it really matters either way. I'm sure it will survive the transition, but what is the rush if its happy? Either way make sure she's getting lots of oxygen.
     
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  15. #15 Calyx-o, Jul 2, 2018
    Nothing wrong with that my friend
     
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  16. #16 ButterDiesel, Jul 2, 2018
    Ok cool I'll throw them in tomorrow then and see how they do. Any special consideration concerning my light? I'm using a 400w MH which is air cooled. Just set height around 12" -24" away? I'm using a dimmable ballast if that helps.

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  17. #17 trojangrower, Jul 2, 2018
    Better off 24" away.If the seedling starts to stretch bring the light closer.
    Make sure your drippers don't drip at all on the seedling.
     
  18. #18 bkarnaze, Jul 2, 2018
    Another way to avoid stretch is to use an oscillating fan to cause the seedlings to sway, which strengthens stems.
     
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  19. #19 ButterDiesel, Jul 2, 2018
    Not using drippers, but thanks for the tip. Have an oscillating fan in place near one of the screened intakes. Won't be blowing directly on them now, will adjust once they're established. I was thinking 18" away for the light to start, but I'll try 24" and see how they respond. Thanks for the help guys! I'll try and remember to post some progress pics in the future.

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