Ive got a a problem with my air conditioner in one of my grow rooms. We have 24 lights. lots of fans and the air handler fan running still. How long do I got without cooling before the plants are destroyed?
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Temp is at 85f. One room is veg and one room is flower. Both hybrid strainsComment
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I’m wondering how (if) you will be mixing nutrients for bottom feeding (PPM / EC). Will you keep the bases filled with a full amount of nutrients every day, or dilute the mix and spread it over 7 days, or use 1/2 strength every 3-4 days and just pH water between feedings?
This grow I’ve been mixing the weekly amount, every 7 days (full mixture once per week) with enough to fill the base (5.5L), and using water, plus one additive in between feedings, like Cal-Mag during veg, or a different additive from the recommended nutrients, for that stage of growth. I refill the base daily with pH adjusted water (pH down).
This is the best my plants have ever looked - although I did overfeed at one point as evidenced by the burnt tips.
I started bottom feeding with ACI self watering bases, on my last grow - and it’s a game changer! I grow in 5 gal fabric pots and use Roots Organic 70/30 coco mix. I also have the full lineup of Advanced Nutrients - and follow their ‘Bud Labs’ app for the formula / feeding schedule.
The last grow I kept the bases full of each weeks nutrient mixture, so the plants were being fed daily… and I went through a lot of nutrients, and the plants were over-fed - but I still got a good harvest.
Since I started growing 2 years ago I’ve always had nutrient deficiencies or toxicity… except for this grow!
I was using RO water, but this time I’m using well water (straight from my well, before it is treated wby the water softener). My well water averages 330 PPM.
down to the last 2-3 weeks before harvest on the current grow.
Since my well water provides a low amount of PPM/EC in between feedings, it seems to be working pretty good. But I wonder if I shouldn’t give 1/2 strength every 3-4 days instead?
I also doubled up on the ACI self-watering wicks… I run one end of all of the wicks into the center, and fill all of the holes with the other ends… so the wicks are doubled up and have both short and long wicks side-by-side. My thought is that there’s better coverage and provides more uptake. So instead of just four wicks I have 8 total. It works great!
I clean the bases weekly, because the Advanced Nutrients have some kelp based nutrients that leave residue in the bases and the wicks get kind of dirty - so I scrub those too.
I never top water / feed once I start bottom feeding. My ‘flush’ consists of the just water for 7 days after the last full feeding, then 7-10 days of Flawless Finish, before harvest.
This is Green Gelato from RQS @ day 84.
PS: I’ve been getting your newsletters since 2013 - 10 years before it was legal in my state. 2 years ago it became legal and I started using all of that information (and your site) to grow some really good herb! Thank you - thank you - thank you!!!Attached FilesComment
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Well done.
Its a good idea to allow them to feed at all lights on time in hydro. Your well water contains essential elements and this may have helped. Also topping up cal/mag between changing out the nute solution helps right up to flower as they are typically the first elements to run out before the solution change.
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When is the optimal time to harvest?Comment
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I have a question. I am a long member of the community and new to DWC. I am having great success as I learn to transition from soil less.
I have recently invested in a better nutrient system.
The only part I have not ordered is the silica. It's the most expensive part of the system.
I see many of you use it. Do you recommend I invest or is it just a luxury?
Currently feeding npk, calmag, have pk boosters for flower,
carbohydrates and beneficial bacteria.( 2 types of bacillus)
BTW. I learned all those fancy words here lol.
golfnrl I'm starting to really dial in my 8 square feet. Yes.
All the effort and years are adding up. My weed is good. But I'm a perfectionist by nature. But man that stuff is expensive. I also understand silica can be used as a foliar and I use foliar calmag daily.
golfnrl after researching the feed program for the silica with my line, I did see it asks for a tiny amount which obviously balances the cost over time. I think I'll go for it.
Geeza yes it has been a learning curve but very successful so far. I did get root rot once but introduced beneficials and watch my water Temps now.
My new nutrients are actually shining and the support has been phenomenal.
I do run automation now and the results are clear. I'm like anyone lol. Impatient and stretching rather than letting it fall in to place lol. I too have learned to dial it back. I let the plants speak.
I am using a full program but my dosage is a fair bit lower than recommended. I am going to add the silica. It's a $60 bottle but they call for a very small dose.i will let you know if I see a noteworthy result.
Kind of reminds me of using vitamin B back in the day.
Geeza for me it's not finding perlite all over my house lol. I like the water system lol. I swear that stuff is haunted lol. And yes of course no soil cost.
I'm now able to invest in better quality nutes.Last edited by FurnaceBoi; Today, 01:30 PM.Comment
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Hi FurnaceBoi I laughed when I read your comment about fancy words. I do not grow in DWC but you raise a good question. What is really necessary to grow great weed. Is adding silica essential to growing great weed? Probably not based on my limited understanding of DWC, but it will help your plants with stress and increases stem strength. If you are chasing phat buds it might be the final piece to get you there. -
Hi FurnaceBoi,
I've been doing DWC for several years now, and it's great not to have to worry about the pests that come with soil and coco, not to have to find somewhere to dispose of used soil or coco, and not to have to purchase it either. When root problems arise in soil or coco, it takes time to fix. In DWC, you can dump out your rez and replace it with new stuff instantly. The growth seems to be so much more vigorous and faster, too. My experience with trying silica in DWC was not good. After a big spiel from a sales guy in our local grow shop, I was keen to give it a try, so I bought a very expensive bottle and gave it a go, as per instructions. My plants rapidly declined in health, and I thought maybe something else could have been the cause, so I tried it again on one plant only, same result. I was extremely pissed and haven't done it again. This experience, along with years of experimenting with additives/extras etc have led me to believe that a lot of the "extra" stuff that they promote in our local grow shops here is all about their sales. For the last few years, I've simplified things by only using a base nutrient, calmag, and one PK booster. I always grow massive colas, and always top-quality weed. The only concern I have with growing huge colas is that, as they grow, they can become very susceptible to bud mould, and then dehumidifiers become a necessity. Another thing I will add about pests, yes, at times, I have had some "unknown" flying critters enter my tents and get into the root ball to lay their larvae, but this rarely happens.
If you do end up trying the silica, I would like to know how it went. Go well and best of luck.
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