Okay, i used a simple flood and drain system for my first grow and everything went absolutely awesome!!! Now, the only problems i had were... A. I used a system with one tupperware container on top of the other with 5 plants in it... it was too small and the bottoms couldnt get enough light. That is obviously easily solved with a bigger container. B. The main problem that i need to solve before i can use this system agian is how to make it perpetual. The problem is that all the roots are all mixed into the hydroton and i can just pull one of the plants out without leaving dead roots in with the living plants and also, when i pull out the plant being harvested it will rip out the roots of the living plants!!! ahhhhhhhhhhhh any ideas?!? I attached a picture of the old system
Get a flood table and grow in individual pots within the flood table. Use a basic Lucas method nutrient and no additives, they are not needed. I would recommend buying a 2lb bag of maxibloom from general hydroponics and its 1 tbsp per gal start to finish. So you don't have to worry about different stage of plants consuming different levels of nutrients as long as you keep up on the res changes once they deplete.
What kind of pots or buckets can i use? wont the roots grow out of the buckets and be subjected to the light? Also, How about the ebb and flow bucket systems with the large res? Are those prone to flooding?
i use 1gal square pots both hydroton and coco. the roots blast out of the bottom. doesnt seem to cause problems wit coco buy hydroton gets brown and dried out. but isnt effecting the plant