My RDWC grow. First grow since early 80's.

[Olddude420]

I am wanting to err on the side of caution and to make sure that I don't have any issues with the plant getting too tall and out of control during the flowering cycle. That said I'm considering flipping my plants to the 12-12 cycle soon. They are still short at about 12-14 inches (growing daily) above the top of the buckets. That seems really short to flip em, but I'm thinking I would rather have them manageable and shorter than too close to the light. I'm growing in a RDWC system so they are really explosive in growth, especially since I will now cease topping them. I have topped all branches after the 4th nodes at supercropping day. Laid the branches 90* and out they stretched. Since then every leaf site has shot up branches that have all been topped after the 4th node. So, these girls are going to have a bunch of buds that I'm hoping will produce a lot of smaller buds and no bud rot. I'm not saying this is "the right way to grow, just that this is the way I decided to grow". What I'm asking all you growers with tons more experience than me is do you think I am flipping them too early? Today is day 38 since my little seedlings went into the net pots and into the tent.

 

[DillyTrying2Learn]

Do you have the extension in your tent for 8ft total height? With that you will have about 60" from top of bucket to the lights. I personally think you're flipping early. I'm using 1/3 of my available height for veg(20"), 1/3 for flower which gives you room for your plants to double in size after flip and leaving the last 1/3 for space between the lights.

 

[Olddude420]

Do you have the extension in your tent for 8ft total height? With that you will have about 60" from top of bucket to the lights. I personally think you're flipping early. I'm using 1/3 of my available height for veg(20"), 1/3 for flower which gives you room for your plants to double in size after flip and leaving the last 1/3 for space between the lights.

@DillyTrying2Learn you are probably right. Actually that was what i was thinking but trying to be proactive and ask more experienced growers like yourself. I do have the 1 foot extension (fan in the way above for installing the 2 foot extension I bought for it). So, it's the regular gorilla grow tent with a 1 foot extension. Last time I measured i think i had about 30 inches from the top of the canopy to the light and around 18 inches between the top of the light to the bottom of the filter.
I am planning to build out a new lung room in a section of my garage this winter that will allow me to gain the extra foot of clearance.

 

[DillyTrying2Learn]

@DillyTrying2Learn you are probably right. Actually that was what i was thinking but trying to be proactive and ask more experienced growers like yourself. I do have the 1 foot extension (fan in the way above for installing the 2 foot extension I bought for it). So, it's the regular gorilla grow tent with a 1 foot extension. Last time I measured i think i had about 30 inches from the top of the canopy to the light and around 18 inches between the top of the light to the bottom of the filter.
I am planning to build out a new lung room in a section of my garage this winter that will allow me to gain the extra foot of clearance.

I'm on my 1st RDWC grow right now and only have 1 other dirt grow like a decade ago under my belt so I wouldn't say I'm experienced at all. My dad and brother both grow in soil so I've had some help there on some stuff, help here as well and spend a lot of time reading and watching videos just trying to learn as much as possible. Just a heads up the hydro community on this site is rather small so sometimes it takes awhile to get an answer and you may only get one reply.

 

[Olddude420]

I'm on my 1st RDWC grow right now and only have 1 other dirt grow like a decade ago under my belt so I wouldn't say I'm experienced at all. My dad and brother both grow in soil so I've had some help there on some stuff, help here as well and spend a lot of time reading and watching videos just trying to learn as much as possible. Just a heads up the hydro community on this site is rather small so sometimes it takes awhile to get an answer and you may only get one reply.

@DillyTrying2Learn ok. I haven't grown since early 80's so I just assume everyone has more experience. Even 1 grow 10 years ago is light years from where I started a month ago. It's all good. I realized that the hydro community is small on this & other forums. That's alright..it only takes one person to give some good advice to make being on these forums worthwhile. I also read a lot and watched hours of grow videos. Still went hydro. I am still in awe of how fast they grow.

 

[DillyTrying2Learn]

@DillyTrying2Learn ok. I haven't grown since early 80's so I just assume everyone has more experience. Even 1 grow 10 years ago is light years from where I started a month ago. It's all good. I realized that the hydro community is small on this & other forums. That's alright..it only takes one person to give some good advice to make being on these forums worthwhile. I also read a lot and watched hours of grow videos. Still went hydro. I am still in awe of how fast they grow.

My reasoning was to greatly reduce my chances of getting any type of pests and to not have to haul dirt into my house. Definitely had a higher start up cost but everything about it is so much cleaner. I went with Athena nutrients because the keep your water nice and clear and clean so your roots stay nice and white too. What nutrients are you using? Are you using RO or tap water?

 

[Olddude420]

My reasoning was to greatly reduce my chances of getting any type of pests and to not have to haul dirt into my house. Definitely had a higher start up cost but everything about it is so much cleaner. I went with Athena nutrients because the keep your water nice and clear and clean so your roots stay nice and white too. What nutrients are you using? Are you using RO or tap water?

Same reasoning as well as just wanted to do it for so many years, so I did it. I'm using GH products. Started with a 3 bottle set of fox farm and have overfed myself out of the grow big. So I bought a 3 gallon set of nutes from GH called flora grow. Started out with tap water and have now switched to a much better source of water from a well.

 

[munchies]

I am wanting to err on the side of caution and to make sure that I don't have any issues with the plant getting too tall and out of control during the flowering cycle. That said I'm considering flipping my plants to the 12-12 cycle soon. They are still short at about 12-14 inches (growing daily) above the top of the buckets. That seems really short to flip em, but I'm thinking I would rather have them manageable and shorter than too close to the light. I'm growing in a RDWC system so they are really explosive in growth, especially since I will now cease topping them. I have topped all branches after the 4th nodes at supercropping day. Laid the branches 90* and out they stretched. Since then every leaf site has shot up branches that have all been topped after the 4th node. So, these girls are going to have a bunch of buds that I'm hoping will produce a lot of smaller buds and no bud rot. I'm not saying this is "the right way to grow, just that this is the way I decided to grow". What I'm asking all you growers with tons more experience than me is do you think I am flipping them too early? Today is day 38 since my little seedlings went into the net pots and into the tent.

Tbh I would be flipping them now unless you have a net and you're wanting to train /spread them out to fill your space .because those are gonna explode in that system .there looking great though good job man

 

[Olddude420]

Tbh I would be flipping them now unless you have a net and you're wanting to train /spread them out to fill your space .because those are gonna explode in that system .there looking great though good job man

I do have a trellis netting that I am planning to put up soon so I can open up the plants and let the light get to the inside of them. It seems they "explode" every day. I have been so busy topping every branch as soon as it goes past the 4th nodes that now it is so thick i couldn't see the inside to remove the training rods. Had to just dive my hands in to the general area and go by feel as I dug the Velcro straps off one by one. Thanks for the kind words. I also think they are looking great except the little bit of burn caused by my lack of knowledge. I'm trying and learning. Figure if this 1st grow survives I should be ok after that. Not experienced, just a little more,,,

 

[jadins_journey]

So, these girls are going to have a bunch of buds that I'm hoping will produce a lot of smaller buds and no bud rot. I'm not saying this is "the right way to grow, just that this is the way I decided to grow". What I'm asking all you growers with tons more experience than me is do you think I am flipping them too early? Today is day 38 since my little seedlings went into the net pots and into the tent.

I'd have already flipped them. Push 'em hard after you've got a couple grows under your belt. What you have now will be a handful to manage. How plants stretch in hydro is something to watch...

 

[Olddude420]

I'd have already flipped them. Push 'em hard after you've got a couple grows under your belt. What you have now will be a handful to manage. How plants stretch in hydro is something to watch...

@jadins_journey man I think you are right. I'm gonna flip the timer tonight when i get home from work. I'm really not about max yield on this grow, if ever. I really just want to make it to the finish line without killing them or getting root rot, or bud rot. Some good bud at the end would be a cherry on the top.
Since i have your ear I have another question for you ( or anyone else who wants to chime in). Trellis netting install. Do you install it right at the top of the canopy? lower than the top and route branches up and around? or do you install it a little above and let the plants grow up to it? I figure i might need to install a second one after the buds stretch out but would like some guidance on the install as i have no clue where to place it. You've heard the term "fake it till you make it"? well, I am 100% FAKING IT on every day and step of the way of this grow. I have read hours and hours of posts and watched hours and hours of videos on every aspect of growing. So I've seen hundreds of different thoughts on almost every aspect. Most say "install the trellis net", assuming you know how to install the trellis net or at what height. I am planning to zip tie the edges of the net to the tent poles btw.
It seems the girls grew 2 inches yesterday, but I'm sure what took place is that now the are free to stand vertical where the original supercropped branches were tied down.

 

[munchies]

The netting you will likely need 2 . Give your plants a trimming and place the net close enough to you plant that you can manipulate the tops to get them where you want them ,you want as much light as possible getting at those babys .. The 2nd net you will need later down the line

 

[jadins_journey]

I'm not a huge fan of the nets they sell, spacing is too large. 3" squares you can train a plant before the stems harden off. So I make mine and so do a large # of folks here. Like you mentioned I use 2 for each grow. The first is placed on the plants the day they go into flower and it's 2 or 3 inches below the tops of the plants. Training begins then, every day it's tucking branches until the sides branches take over. I'll install the 2nd trellis to catch the last week of stretch, here it's more evening out the tops.

jj

 

[munchies]

I'm not a huge fan of the nets they sell, spacing is too large. 3" squares you can train a plant before the stems harden off. So I make mine and so do a large # of folks here. Like you mentioned I use 2 for each grow. The first is placed on the plants the day they go into flower and it's 2 or 3 inches below the tops of the plants. Training begins then, every day it's tucking branches until the sides branches take over. I'll install the 2nd trellis to catch the last week of stretch, here it's more evening out the tops.

jj

Yup I 100% agree . The nets I have are 2"sqs and I dont have a huge grow space I only do 4 at a time and when I use the hydro setup it's 18ltr pots and I can fill the pace well , The key is in the defol tucking and recovery time to get all those sites the max amount of light to fill those spaces and get that even canopy,Then using the 2nd net as you said

 

[Olddude420]

The netting you will likely need 2 . Give your plants a trimming and place the net close enough to you plant that you can manipulate the tops to get them where you want them ,you want as much light as possible getting at those babys .. The 2nd net you will need later down the line

@munchies thanks. about what i thought, but just trying to ask before I screw up instead of after. lol

I'm not a huge fan of the nets they sell, spacing is too large. 3" squares you can train a plant before the stems harden off. So I make mine and so do a large # of folks here. Like you mentioned I use 2 for each grow. The first is placed on the plants the day they go into flower and it's 2 or 3 inches below the tops of the plants. Training begins then, every day it's tucking branches until the sides branches take over. I'll install the 2nd trellis to catch the last week of stretch, here it's more evening out the tops.

jj

@jadins_journey thanks. I'll have to make do with a store bought trellis this grow. This winter i'm planning to frame in a seperate lung room space inside a portion of my garage and then i'll make one. That 2 to 3 inches below the top is what I was after. I wasn't sure.

Yup I 100% agree . The nets I have are 2"sqs and I dont have a huge grow space I only do 4 at a time and when I use the hydro setup it's 18ltr pots and I can fill the pace well , The key is in the defol tucking and recovery time to get all those sites the max amount of light to fill those spaces and get that even canopy,Then using the 2nd net as you said

@munchies thanks again. I flipped the light schedule last night and plan to install the 1st trellis net this weekend.

 

[jadins_journey]

It’s not my style to post unrequited pics but this is on topic. I was putting a girl into flower today, this is my height for the first trellis

 

[Olddude420]

View attachment 2239470It’s not my style to post unrequited pics but this is on topic. I was putting a girl into flower today, this is my height for the first trellis

@jadens_journey I'm glad you added your picture. Thanks. It's definitely requited & appreciated. Our plants look about the same height of 16" above the net pot? I'm afraid mine is going to be a jungle. Once she grows into the net I plan to defoliate the bottom 1/3 but right now some of my main branches are within the 1/3 zone.
I supercropped all the first 5 sets of branches so everything is squat, but now climbing up.

View attachment 2239470It’s not my style to post unrequited pics but this is on topic. I was putting a girl into flower today, this is my height for the first trellis

 

[jadins_journey]

@jadens_journey I'm glad you added your picture. Thanks. It's definitely requited & appreciated. Our plants look about the same height of 16" above the net pot? I'm afraid mine is going to be a jungle. Once she grows into the net I plan to defoliate the bottom 1/3 but right now some of my main branches are within the 1/3 zone.
I supercropped all the first 5 sets of branches so everything is squat, but now climbing up.

Right there with ya on cleaning off the lower 1/3, here it's basically that first trellis is the dividing line. I do wait until after the stretch so all the branches had a chance to get to that first string.

Build ya a room inside in your garage? Make it a detached garage and we'll both be growing "yard barn" style. Hell yea!

 

[Olddude420]

Right there with ya on cleaning off the lower 1/3, here it's basically that first trellis is the dividing line. I do wait until after the stretch so all the branches had a chance to get to that first string.

Build ya a room inside in your garage? Make it a detached garage and we'll both be growing "yard barn" style. Hell yea!

Right there with ya on cleaning off the lower 1/3, here it's basically that first trellis is the dividing line. I do wait until after the stretch so all the branches had a chance to get to that first string.

Build ya a room inside in your garage? Make it a detached garage and we'll both be growing "yard barn" style. Hell yea!

My house in the desert is in an HOA subdivision so I'll have to be more discrete & tuck it inside my 3rd bay.
I have a summer small house I'm finishing up that sits on 7 acres so once I'm retired I could do a detached greenhouse. Gotta be there to tend the garden & right now I still work 4 days a week

 

[Olddude420]

Spent a bit of time this morning pulling plants out, draining water, cleaning buckets, refilling system, cutting off all bottom 1/3 of foliage. Defoliate top so air can get thru..looked great before & like a hurricane hit em afterwards.