FIRST TIME HYDRO GROWER - all advice welcome. Started germination last week

[citygrower18]

by the end of my grow, how far am I going to want to have my lights away from the top of my plants?
trying to figure out when to put into flower based on the size of my tent which is about 64' inch, plants are about 7-8 inches high now, may wait for a few more inches, I think I def have 1 indica and the other is probably a hybrid or indicia maybe

 

[AnselAdams]

by the end of my grow, how far am I going to want to have my lights away from the top of my plants?
trying to figure out when to put into flower based on the size of my tent which is about 64' inch, plants are about 7-8 inches high now, may wait for a few more inches, I think I def have 1 indica and the other is probably a hybrid or indicia maybe

I have been told and read many, many threads that you can expect approx. 50 percent increase in height after flip. There are lots of other controlling factors but as a "rule of thumb" i would start my planning there. I am sure that as you describe things like strain and environmental conditions other farmers will be able to provide you with a better idea.

Happy Growing

 

[citygrower18]

I have been told and read many, many threads that you can expect approx. 50 percent increase in height after flip. There are lots of other controlling factors but as a "rule of thumb" i would start my planning there. I am sure that as you describe things like strain and environmental conditions other farmers will be able to provide you with a better idea.

Happy Growing

50% increase in height of the plant? I thought it was more like 100% or 150% for sativas. meaning they double or triple in size when you flip to bloom/flower

My other question is ideally how far do you want lights away from plant during flower/bloom at start and by the finish? need to figure that out so I know how much room I have for my lights at the top of the tent

 

[citygrower18]

Also my water level is going down at a reasonable rate, my EC is going down, my Ph is going up... I read on the chart this is pretty ideal. But my PPM is going down, shouldn't it be rising?

 

[citygrower18]

topped and trained plants

 

[Aqua Man]

I wouldn't feed any heavier right now they seem to be drinking a lot. Nothing wrong with what ya doing

 

[citygrower18]

I wouldn't feed any heavier right now they seem to be drinking a lot. Nothing wrong with what ya doing

Just changed the water 2 or 3 days ago, and seems to have gone down maybe 1/2 inch at most.

 

[citygrower18]

Date	STAGE	Time	Tent Temp	Humid	PPM	Water Temp	EC	PPM	Water Temp	EC	PH	Plant A Water	PLANT B Water	nuits	NOTES
6/19/20	Germ		Germ start			A PLANT			B PLANT
6/24/20	Seedling put in DWC Buckets					AMSTERDAM			BROADWAY			1 light on 24 hr
6/25/20			Plant A/Plant B									both lights on 24 hours
6/26/20	week 2													Added all 3 Flora kit, 2ml per gal each	Added first nutrients, FLORA trio 2ml pg ea
6/27/20	week 2	1130	77.2	49	305	73.4	x	295	73.4	x	6.1
6/28/20	week 2	930	82	50	335	80.6	x	300	80.6	x	6.1
6/29/20	week 2	2330	77.9	44	315	75.2	615/575	300	77	575	6.15
6/30/20	week 2	2330	83.8	45	335	80.6	675/670	344	82	670	6.15				First roots below bucket
7/1/20	week 2	1900/1930*	79.9	45	322/230*	77	624/446*	322/205*	77	662/408*	6.25/5.95*			10ml for 4 gallons	CHANGED WATER FIRST TIME- before going away for 3 day. Measured before and after. Added slightly less Nutr than original and 4 gallons of water and only 10 or 11ml pg.
7/2/20	week 2	1200	79.5	47	245	75.2	500	240	77	488	6.3/6.23				PH down 1ml for each bucket
7/3/20	week 3		AWAY FROM PLANTS		AWAY FROM PLANTS
7/4/20	week 3		AWAY FROM PLANTS		AWAY FROM PLANTS
7/5/20	week 3	2200	82.6	45	258-271	78.8	536	265	80.6	525-535	5.65				Room temp was 75 - Tent was 82.6
7/6/20	week 3	1600	86.7	44	280	84.2	560-574	284	86	542-552	5.66	removed 8 cups	removed 8 cups		FORGOT TO TURN AC BACK ON LAST NIGHT- tent temp was like 89.5 degrees this morning. ALSO leaves starting to curl and weird mark on plant B leaf
7/7/20	week 3	2330	76.5	50	271-274	73.4	542	263	75.2	520	5.85/5.98				LIGHTS ADJUSTED YESTERDAY TO ABOUT 28inch
7/8/20	week 3	1430	76.1	55	274	75.2	545	255-260	75.2	545	5.86/6.08
7/9/20	week 3	1230	75.9	55	271-274	73.4	526	250	73.4	500	5.88/6.13	removed 4 cups	removed 4 cups
7/10/20	week 4		AWAY FROM PLANTS		AWAY FROM PLANTS
7/11/20	week 4		AWAY FROM PLANTS		AWAY FROM PLANTS
7/12/20	week 4		AWAY FROM PLANTS		AWAY FROM PLANTS
7/13/20	week 4	2315	74.3	52	255	73.4	510	228	73.4	456	5.96/5.85
7/14/20	week 4	2345	73.2	57	247	73.4	500	224	73.4	424	5.98/5.87
7/15/20	week 4	skipped	skipped day
7/16/20	week 4	1900	71.4	53	220	69.8	440/446	188	71.6	370	6.00/5.72		removed 2 cups	added 1.5 ml to plant A and 2.5 ml to plant B
7/17/20	week 5	800, 1330	68.7/70.9	58/60	303, 285	68, 69.8	606, 560-610	284, 294	69.8	598, 565	5.99/5.52, 5.43
7/18/20	week 5	1900, 2000*	77	57	322, 400-410*	75.2	634, 800-820*	263, 400-410*	75.2	532, 800-820*	5.94/5.8, 5.8*	3.5 gal	3.5gal	8ml of each for 3.5gal	Need to change water and bump ppm to 400. CHANGE OF WATER -PPM 400, EC 800-820, Ph 5.8
7/19/20	week 5	1745	78.3	65	395	77	790	386-390	77	772-780	6.07/6.03	just above 1inch mark	just above 1 inch
7/20/20	week 5	16:30	81.3	63	410	82.4	820	386-390	82.4	772-780	6.05/6.09	looks like water went down slightly on both plants
7/21/20	week 5	1330	78.6	58/60	370	77.8	740	358	77.8	708					definitely growing and starting to take more water

 

[Aqua Man]

Date	STAGE	Time	Tent Temp	Humid	PPM	Water Temp	EC	PPM	Water Temp	EC	PH	Plant A Water	PLANT B Water	nuits	NOTES
6/19/20	Germ		Germ start			A PLANT			B PLANT
6/24/20	Seedling put in DWC Buckets					AMSTERDAM			BROADWAY			1 light on 24 hr
6/25/20			Plant A/Plant B									both lights on 24 hours
6/26/20	week 2													Added all 3 Flora kit, 2ml per gal each	Added first nutrients, FLORA trio 2ml pg ea
6/27/20	week 2	1130	77.2	49	305	73.4	x	295	73.4	x	6.1
6/28/20	week 2	930	82	50	335	80.6	x	300	80.6	x	6.1
6/29/20	week 2	2330	77.9	44	315	75.2	615/575	300	77	575	6.15
6/30/20	week 2	2330	83.8	45	335	80.6	675/670	344	82	670	6.15				First roots below bucket
7/1/20	week 2	1900/1930*	79.9	45	322/230*	77	624/446*	322/205*	77	662/408*	6.25/5.95*			10ml for 4 gallons	CHANGED WATER FIRST TIME- before going away for 3 day. Measured before and after. Added slightly less Nutr than original and 4 gallons of water and only 10 or 11ml pg.
7/2/20	week 2	1200	79.5	47	245	75.2	500	240	77	488	6.3/6.23				PH down 1ml for each bucket
7/3/20	week 3		AWAY FROM PLANTS		AWAY FROM PLANTS
7/4/20	week 3		AWAY FROM PLANTS		AWAY FROM PLANTS
7/5/20	week 3	2200	82.6	45	258-271	78.8	536	265	80.6	525-535	5.65				Room temp was 75 - Tent was 82.6
7/6/20	week 3	1600	86.7	44	280	84.2	560-574	284	86	542-552	5.66	removed 8 cups	removed 8 cups		FORGOT TO TURN AC BACK ON LAST NIGHT- tent temp was like 89.5 degrees this morning. ALSO leaves starting to curl and weird mark on plant B leaf
7/7/20	week 3	2330	76.5	50	271-274	73.4	542	263	75.2	520	5.85/5.98				LIGHTS ADJUSTED YESTERDAY TO ABOUT 28inch
7/8/20	week 3	1430	76.1	55	274	75.2	545	255-260	75.2	545	5.86/6.08
7/9/20	week 3	1230	75.9	55	271-274	73.4	526	250	73.4	500	5.88/6.13	removed 4 cups	removed 4 cups
7/10/20	week 4		AWAY FROM PLANTS		AWAY FROM PLANTS
7/11/20	week 4		AWAY FROM PLANTS		AWAY FROM PLANTS
7/12/20	week 4		AWAY FROM PLANTS		AWAY FROM PLANTS
7/13/20	week 4	2315	74.3	52	255	73.4	510	228	73.4	456	5.96/5.85
7/14/20	week 4	2345	73.2	57	247	73.4	500	224	73.4	424	5.98/5.87
7/15/20	week 4	skipped	skipped day
7/16/20	week 4	1900	71.4	53	220	69.8	440/446	188	71.6	370	6.00/5.72		removed 2 cups	added 1.5 ml to plant A and 2.5 ml to plant B
7/17/20	week 5	800, 1330	68.7/70.9	58/60	303, 285	68, 69.8	606, 560-610	284, 294	69.8	598, 565	5.99/5.52, 5.43
7/18/20	week 5	1900, 2000*	77	57	322, 400-410*	75.2	634, 800-820*	263, 400-410*	75.2	532, 800-820*	5.94/5.8, 5.8*	3.5 gal	3.5gal	8ml of each for 3.5gal	Need to change water and bump ppm to 400. CHANGE OF WATER -PPM 400, EC 800-820, Ph 5.8
7/19/20	week 5	1745	78.3	65	395	77	790	386-390	77	772-780	6.07/6.03	just above 1inch mark	just above 1 inch
7/20/20	week 5	16:30	81.3	63	410	82.4	820	386-390	82.4	772-780	6.05/6.09	looks like water went down slightly on both plants
7/21/20	week 5	1330	78.6	58/60	370	77.8	740	358	77.8	708					definitely growing and starting to take more water

Numbers all look good.

 

[citygrower18]

I wouldn't feed any heavier right now they seem to be drinking a lot. Nothing wrong with what ya doing

SO it seems like the drank 1/2 a gallon in the last 20-40 hours, so I need to top feed for the first time. I haven't had to do so yet, bc they weren't consuming much water so Ive only changed res completely twice.

7/20/20	week 5	16:30	81.3	63	410	82.4	820	386-390	82.4	772-780	6.05/6.09	looks like water went down slightly on both plants			TOPPED AND TRAINED
7/21/20	week 5	1330	78.6	58/60	370	77.8	740	358	77.8	708	x				definitely growing and starting to take more water
7/22/20	week 5	17:20	81	69	377-386	80.6	754-770	358	80.6	716-726	6.06/6.16

So I am think I will top feed .5gallon each, and try to get PPM around 400-450, and ph to 5.8, and mix before feeding. Still with 1-1-1 ratio for nutrients.... any other recommendations to this?
Or I have a feeling I am maybe supposed to just top feed water without nutrients?

 

[Aqua Man]

SO it seems like the drank 1/2 a gallon in the last 20-40 hours, so I need to top feed for the first time. I haven't had to do so yet, bc they weren't consuming much water so Ive only changed res completely twice.

7/20/20	week 5	16:30	81.3	63	410	82.4	820	386-390	82.4	772-780	6.05/6.09	looks like water went down slightly on both plants			TOPPED AND TRAINED
7/21/20	week 5	1330	78.6	58/60	370	77.8	740	358	77.8	708	x				definitely growing and starting to take more water
7/22/20	week 5	17:20	81	69	377-386	80.6	754-770	358	80.6	716-726	6.06/6.16

So I am think I will top feed .5gallon each, and try to get PPM around 400-450, and ph to 5.8, and mix before feeding. Still with 1-1-1 ratio for nutrients.... any other recommendations to this?
Or I have a feeling I am maybe supposed to just top feed water without nutrients?

No need to top feed but 1 time a week now, just to clear and buildup. Your gonna need to do res changes more often now. By the end maybe every 2-3 days. They can end up drinking a bit over a gal a day. Change the res once the water added back is equal to the volume in it.

 

[citygrower18]

No need to top feed but 1 time a week now, just to clear and buildup. Your gonna need to do res changes more often now. By the end maybe every 2-3 days. They can end up drinking a bit over a gal a day. Change the res once the water added back is equal to the volume in it.

Ok - so am I top feeding regular water or nutrient water?

also if I am trying to keep the water level 1-2" inch below the net, thats only about 1/2 gallon... which has now gone down in 2 days, so I thought I would need to top up to keep the water level where you recommended

3.5 gallons = 1 inch below net, 3 gallons = 2 inches below net

I am also not using a separate res just FYI, only water is water in the buckets which I will change once I top feed an additional 3.5 gallons

 

[Aqua Man]

Ok - so am I top feeding regular water or nutrient water?

also if I am trying to keep the water level 1-2" inch below the net, thats only about 1/2 gallon... which has now gone down in 2 days, so I thought I would need to top up to keep the water level where you recommended

3.5 gallons = 1 inch below net, 3 gallons = 2 inches below net

I am also not using a separate res just FYI, only water is water in the buckets which I will change once I top feed an additional 3.5 gallons

just a cup or 2 of nutrient solution once a week. its just to clear any salt build up. Top up daily if needed. I mean within reason, but its most ideal to top up and check ph ppm daily for information on what the plants doing. You can skip a day or 2 if you like thats up to you but the more water drank can change nutrient concentrations so more often is better if they are drinking a lot. Sounds like every 2-3 days now would be good. Change the res when you add back 3.5 gal

 

[citygrower18]

just a cup or 2 of nutrient solution once a week. its just to clear any salt build up. Top up daily if needed. I mean within reason, but its most ideal to top up and check ph ppm daily for information on what the plants doing. You can skip a day or 2 if you like thats up to you but the more water drank can change nutrient concentrations so more often is better if they are drinking a lot. Sounds like every 2-3 days now would be good. Change the res when you add back 3.5 gal

great, that clears it up for me thanks

 

[citygrower18]

one other thing... been reading about flushing. Necessary to do with Hyrdo consistently or just before harvest?

 

[Aqua Man]

one other thing... been reading about flushing. Necessary to do with Hyrdo consistently or just before harvest?

Nope just drop the PPM to like 200-300 for the last week.

 

[citygrower18]

SPAM ABOVE^^

going to try to top feed plants today, have been curious if it matters how I get the water into the buckets. 1- pour on peddles (somewhat difficult with bushy plant) 2- remove lid and pour straight into water (also somewhat difficult with training ties, but going to duct tape chop stix to top of lid and secure there, or 3- pour with a funnel down the side tubes (seems easiest bc nothing has to be touched or adjusted, but not sure if its the best method also not exactly top feeding then)... again my first time trying to feed without doing an all out water change

Also should I add extra nutrients to try and bring PPM back up to around 400 or just add a level of 400ppm nutrient water to the bucket e.g. plant B now has a ppm of about 275, should the gallon of water I am adding to the 2.5 in the bucket try to bring this 275 up to 400, or should my nutrient water just be 400 going in.... assuming I should try to make it a little higher and bring the 275 up to 400 as close as a I can

 

[citygrower18]

Plant B- my bigger and bushier one, also the one I broke a branch on 2 days ago really dropped a lot in PPM, EC, and Ph in last 24 hours

7/20/20	week 5	16:30	81.3	63	410	82.4	820	386-390	82.4	772-780	6.05/6.09	looks like water went down slightly on both plants			TOPPED AND TRAINED
7/21/20	week 5	1330	78.6	58/60	370	77.8	740	358	77.8	708	x				definitely growing and starting to take more water
7/22/20	week 5	17:20	81	69	377-386	80.6	754-770	358	80.6	716-726	6.06/6.16				Fucked up and broke a branch training it down, tried to mend
7/23/20	week 5	1540	76.1	69	377	77	754	331	77	662	6.14/6.12		water below 2 inch line
7/24/20	week 6	1700	72.5	69	349	73	680	276	73.4	552	6.15/5.94	about 2.5 gal- will top up

Date

STAGE

Time

Tent Temp

Humid

PPM

Water Temp

EC

PPM -B

Water Temp - B

EC- B

PH - A/B

Plant A Water

PLANT B Water

nuits

 

[citygrower18]

Nope just drop the PPM to like 200-300 for the last week.

need a little advice on top feeding... see my previous post

also my plant seems very bushy and I am thinking some defoliation might be good for it

 

[citygrower18]

Also been using 50-50 RO water and tap since the beginning, should I added anything besides flora series like CalMag or Calimagic (possibly same thing as calmag but idk)