HYDRO My first post and my first grow!

[NickyChicks]

Well my DWC solo cup idea sounded good in my head but I definitely overlooked the power and ability of roots to find a way out. I thought panty hose would contain them, I was wrong.

Plan B..... I turned the solo cup into the dwc res. I put a small air stone in the bottom and made drain holes a little above the air stone so I could keep the top feed and just have it drain into the 5gal bucket. My net pot fit nicely inside of the solo cup and I have a small air gap between the bottom of the pot and the water line. I hope it works lol

 

[DingusKhan]

Given your circumstance, trying to grow in minimal time, I would do the least to stress your plant, which temporarily stunts growth, because every stress is a subtraction from yield. So LST should give you better results than any method that requires cutting off the top or "breaking" the stem. Rather, bend your top down to encourage side branch growth, keep your lights bright and not too close so that all the nodes are so tightly bunched that you have to let it grow out bigger and then prune off a bunch so that you just don't have a million popcorn buds, and then selectively and carefully prune your plants early, because all growth that you have to prune is wasted growth.

If you can grow your plant into the colas you want the first time without having to cut much of it away, I think you will get the veg growth set up for max budding without redundant work.

I'm trying to adapt Scott's from WeedSchooling (the Youtube grow Rabbi) method of staking the main stalk to a bamboo stake stuck at 45 degrees, away from the sun, so the side branches would grow out a BIG FAT wide bush rather than a skinny christmas tree, for in the tent. But most people end up using a screen and sewing main stalk and branches out horizontally, each with several colas.

Or at least that's how it's playing out in my head.

 

[NickyChicks]

Thanks, that makes a lot of sense. I guess the next question is when is the right time to start bending over the main stem? Do I want to let it grow out a little taller and then start tying it down?

 

[DingusKhan]

In the spirit of keeping growth-stunting stress to a minimum, I would wait until the main stalk is about 5 or 6 inches tall, but still thin and green, to start leaning it over. You will have to decide whether letting your stalk poke out at 45 degrees, or straight up then bend horizontal into a radial pattern, and then train according to your vision.

You plants looked pretty close in the last pics you posted looked like they were getting tall enough with the side nubs getting big enough to not smoosh when you touch them. Wait until they look like they can handle rough handling.

Your girls are so green and happy!

 

[NickyChicks]

Thanks! I'll keep an eye on them for now. I plan to put them into their own individual buckets soon, probably Sunday or Monday, which should make it easier to start training. Plus of the roots are getting very long and I don't want to make it difficult to move them into their new homes.

 

[NickyChicks]

Well I was so eager and excited to move the plants into their own buckets I decided to do it today, a day earlier than I planned. Definitely took a lot longer than I anticipated but time flies when you're having fun. No more top feed from now on, except for the dwc solo cup 2.0.

Looks like just about all the girls are starting to push out their 5th nodes. I will definitely start some training soon, I might try a couple different methods and see how it turns out. I'm guessing it's going to get pretty crowded come flowering. As long as I can keep them all happy, I'll be happy.

​

 

[NickyChicks]

Just a few more pics as I rearranged the buckets from how I had them last night.

Also, started bending the main stems on the ones that were larger and tying them down.

 

[SoOrbudgal]

NickyChicks I love it go big or ? LOL really think your going for a crowded tent but if your committed it can be done. I just love different strain grows and why not? I just look at the plants health and if they aren't being neglected do to having too many to deal with. So far I think your doing fab and these hydro folks here know their stuff. Great looking grow.

 

[NickyChicks]

SoOrbudgal I'm sure it's going to take quite a bit of tending to but I like to think with the help of the GWE community I can be successful. Looking forward to keep learning more as these girls grow

 

[SoOrbudgal]

I am rooting for you 100% you got this

 

[NickyChicks]

Again I made a separate post but I want to keep it all logged here too.

I have a chocolate kush plant that I think has a calcium deficiency. It's had these tiny little rusty looking spots showing up on it's leaves since about day 10ish, it's now day 22 and they are showing up on the new growth. Using GH trio 1/2 strength, hydroguard, and tap water. pH is 5.9, 647ppm, tent stays between 75°F-63°. Before Sunday it was sharing a reservoir with 3 green crack seedlings and they look fine, so do the other plants that were in a different reservoir same nutrients and water.
From looking on the GWE site I thought calcium deficiency, just wasn't sure if that made sense since my other plants aren't showing the same symptom. Any advice would be greatly appreciated 🙃

 

[NickyChicks]

I started topping some of the plants tonight. I topped to the 4th and clipped the 1st node, left the 2nd 3rd and 4th nodes and tied down to make a star pattern on 1 green crack and 1 white widow. I topped to the 4th, left everything else and bent the main stems on a 45° angle on 1 green crack, 1 white widow, and 1 northern lights. I have 1 green crack and 1 white widow that I just have bent on a 45° and haven't topped. The Chocolate kush and the other nothern lights I will let them do their thing, NL is a slow grower and the CK is probably unhealthy, didn't seem like a good idea to mess with it.

I didn't want to wait much longer because I'm flipping in 18 days. My thought was that if I wanted to do any topping that if I wait any longer I wouldn't have enough time to let the plants recover and grow bushy. Not sure how much they're going to really grow in the next 2.5 weeks, hopefully enough lol.

Honestly, it was kind of nerve racking to cut my girls but I think they look pretty good.

Let me know what you think! And if there is something I can do better or different I'd love to know.

 

[JohnEmad]

looks great! They should make a nice number of tops.I have always been too nervous to try that many plants at once but will try it sooner then later. SOG or scrog or maybe both back to back.
lol

 

[NickyChicks]

Thanks JohnEmad, Ill probably end up topping the other WW and the other GC today too. I'm sure it's going to become difficult for me to exchange the water in the buckets, and defoliating is going to be a challenge too. With that said, I am happy I chose to keep more than just 4 plants. SCOG is still kinda confusing to me lol

 

[NickyChicks]

One month in from germination and I gotta say I'm pretty pleased. I'm really excited to see the growth over the next 2 weeks before I flip. All the plants seem to be responding well to being topped, lots of growth happening. The only ones I haven't topped are the solo cups and I'm debating on whether or not I will. I might just top the one in coco and see what happens.

 

[NickyChicks]

The plan is to flip to 12/12 in 1 week. I know they aren't large plants and I'm keeping veg time short but should I consider doing ANY defoliating? Wasn't sure if it would benefit me or hurt my yields.

Also, I have been changing the water every week. Is it ok to go 2 weeks before changing? I've been super busy and couldn't make time to do it yesterday or today (my days off). My girlfriend would normally help me but she has the flu, so changing out 30 gallons of water and measuring and adding nutes to 10 different buckets by myself is complete and total time consuming pain in the ass. If I should change it, I will definitely make the time tomorrow to do it.

 

[Farmall]

If you plan on defoliation, wait about 1 week into your flower switch. These plants are quite beautiful but also very bushy. Unless you can absolutely insure you're going to be able to spread the branches apart wide enough to allow good light to reach the center core, you’ll likely need to defoliate. As for waiting on water change, I’ve gone 10-11 days for a similar reason, but I called it laziness, had to carry 35 gallons upstairs...when you defoliate, be prepared to do it again after 3 more weeks... it won’t even look like you did it

‘’your plants will show any great immediacy in need for a water change.... you’ve gotten this far nicely so trying not to stress them now would be a gooder thing. I’d say just watch....it depends on the residual chemistry in your buckets

 

[NickyChicks]

Yeah, I think I'll take the time tonight to change out the water. I had the same thought of I've made it this far, don't start doing things different now.
As for defoliation, I'm sure it's going to be inevitable with my full tent. I'll definitely be asking for some pointers on that in about 2 weeks. Thanks Farmall

 

[Farmall]

Just re-read the GWE tutorail on defoliation a few times.... Then it sinks in...(for me 4 times)

 

[NickyChicks]

Lol yeah I'm sure I've read it a dozen times and I'll probably read it another dozen but nothing beats experience!