I currenty have my plants vegging in 1.5" rockwall cubes in a bubbler system. When I get ready to move them to flowering, should I put them into 4" cubes before putting them into the clayrocks of an ebb& flow system? Or is the combination of 1.5" cube and clayrocks enough to keep a plant of several feet high firmly planted? The 4" cubes have a 1/5" hole to insert the existing cubes into.
Putting them into 4" cubes will give your plants more support obviously. Take into account how large you want to grow your plants and the type of system you are using. If you don't wanna use the 4" cubes, you will probibly end up using stakes to prop up your plants earlier than if you had. Not using them wont affect your plants, although the larger cubes provide a nice base, it's all about stability.
This is just my personal opinion. Not trying to say the senior members are wrong...they aren't. I would watch using 4" cubes, especially if you're new to it. They often hold a lot of water and nutes. I personnally found it very hard to grow in larger cubes, and ended up rooting in the 1" cubes, and transfering to the clay bed. To support them, I either string up chicken wire above them, so they grow through it, or set a few pots on the table filled with dirt, to stake them to. I was never able to figure it out. Still open to suggestions! lol
Thats why we are senior/professional members and your not . I have never run into that problem using 4x4 cubes. I start my clones in GH rapid rooters, after they take root. Then they go directly into 4x4 cubes and are given their proper diet. You gotta be doing something wrong like feeding to frequently for example..
It was never my intention to question your methods! I was simply stating that as a new grower he may run into some of the problems I mentioned, and this could cost him time and money. I didn't want the guy beating his head against the wall wondering wtf is going on! Your right I must have been doing something wrong, but it wasn't the nute or PH levels I was giving them, it may have been a build-up in the cube itself. either way, a problem you wouldn't have in hydroton! You have to admit that there are problems assossiated with growing in rockwool! I have grown in soil for years, but when I decided to switch to either Rockwool or hydroton, it took me several attempts to get it right. I probably spent a year fiddling around with different methods, before it all came together. If you want to be helpful, and you are as skilled as you say, instead of trying to make me look stupid, why don't you spell it out for the guy? How often should he water, and what the EC & PH levels should be, at what stage. What to watch out for. That, in my opinion, is what a Senior member should be doing!
Jesus H Christ dont get your panties in a bunch. That statement about senior professional growers was me being sarcastic. Or so I thought.. A fucking joke dude. you can relax now... As for your growing in rockwool problems. Its kinda hard telling not knowing. Me myself, I dont have any... Also If it helps any I use both 4x4 cubes along with the hydroton rocks and still don't have any problems.. PS thanks for making me aware of what the senior members role and job discription is.. If you only knew how many PM's that I answer jerk off.
Speaking of PH... I use General Hydroponics PH up/down and have a hard time getting it to 5.8. I have 6 gallons of water in my bubbler resevoir, but the bottle does not say how much to add to get a desired change. I guess I understand why since PH is different with each batch of water. Should I be using an eyedropper for this? Seems like when I use my smallest measuring spoon (1/8 tsp) it changes the PH too much. Maybe I just answered my own question Also, has anyone had luck using water from one of those purifiers that connects to your tap (Purr, Brita, etc.)? I've been using distilled bottled water, but would like an easier, less expensive solution to my water needs.
Fastcompany makes a valid point. Greenthumbdanny you are an assclown. HappyHighGuy you will be growing ebb and flow, and if you want you can transplant them into the 4x4 rockwool inside the rocks and youll do fine. but in my experience ebb&flo works better when the roots are allowed to dry out faster, more frequently. i personally would not use 4x4 cubes for ebb&flow. they will be fine without the added support. if you really need to you can always tie them later or something. it is a minor problem. you answered your own question. eye dropper. yes you can use the ones that attach to your sink if you are on a budget. they provide good water quality. if you ahve more money you might as well buy a ReverseOsmosis system that will attach to your plumbing. it is a better choice for the longrun.
Ghostdog, I think your are douche as well. I will be sure to look out for your retarded posts in the future to comment on.. HappyHigh this is my what I do to prepare my 4x4 cubes and my water so my ph and ec are easily maintained threw out my grow. I use regular tap water and the cap of my GH ph up and down to add. No measuring spoon or eye dropper. Being that I have a 55 gal res and you have a 6 gal res a eyedropper is a good idea for you. Starting with my cubes I prepare them by letting them sit in tap water with a mild solution of Formulex (seaweed solution) with a ph of 5.8-6.0, EC is 1.0 for 24 hours or more. You have to do this because the rockwool cubes have a high ph as it is at 7.5 and your tap water can be shitty so you can see where that can be a prob. Now you are ready to place your rooted clones in your 4x4 cubes.. Do this and your life will be eaisier and you wont be saying wtf.. For my 55 gal res, I let ph balanced tap water sit for 24 hours or more. Then I go ahead and mix up my nutrients. All nutrients vary and have different recomended ppm's, EC, TDS etc etc. So pay attention to your lable. I use pure blend pro veg and bloom along with other important supplement solutions. This is what works for me. Early veg 500-600ppm's EC 1.0 Peak veg 800-900ppm's EC 1.5-2.0 During early flowering I increase to 1000-1200ppm's EC 2.0 Peak flowering 1200-1300ppm's EC 2.0 Then I flush for a week or more depending on my lazyness. Your ph can flux strongly depending on your system so its important to get that dialed in along with what your strain likes and can handle.. Its not good to just keep dumping in chemicals to maintaine your ph at 5.8 let it drift as low as 5.2 - 6.0 that way your plants can get everything available to it. When I see my shit fluxuate low then high I know my ladies are absorbing nutrients properly. Make sure your nutrient temp is around 68-72 deg this is important as well.. I use a tri-meter by nutradrip. Its a bit pricey but worth every penny. I believe this is the most acurate tool out there on the market. It measures everything you need to acurately maintain your tds(ppm's)/temp/ec shit without costly error's. Hope this helps dude.. I would really read up on some grow guides which could answer a lot of your question. PS.. I forgot to add your hydrotron rocks need to be washed and rised very well before use. You do not want any of that red residue in your mix. Rinse untill you see clear water coming out..
Good advice... Yeah there is a lot of dust with the Hydroton and is a pain in the arse to clean, but it's a great medium.
RW bad??? I love RW for my ebb flow table...I root cuttings in a bubbler, then theyre placed into 1'' RW cubes..Once theyre BUSTING out of it, I place them into the 4'' RW cubes on the table..The 4'' cubes sit on a coco mat, which sits on a thin bed of hydroton..Flood once daily and after the first week, the root system is large enough to quick suck that water out of the cubes
how often do you water them in the first week after transplanting the into the 4" cubes? Every 2 or 3 days, or not at all? I find that during the first week, they just don't dry out.
They dont, youre right..My temps stay higher, so that helps..The first 2 days, I water just once..Just check the cube and once it starts drying, water...Youre right though, the first week you have to feel it out...After that, they just take off and I water once daily..Hope that helps
