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

[AnselAdams]

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

A 3/4" or 1" bulkhead fitting into the lid will work just fine. Use proper screwon pvc cap to cover when not in use. 1" holds a funnel quite well.
Follow your feeding schedule. If your ppm are a little short or a little high don't stress. The PPM charts are guides like everything else we do while farming. As long as your plants are green and healthy leave them be! Tis better to be short rather than over though

Happy Growing

 

[citygrower18]

when checking water accidentally put a couple cups of water back into the wrong plant, assuming it really doesn't matter unless someone says so...

 

[JadedMarxist]

I'd chime in buy aquaman is a much more knowledgeable grower and seems he's got you settled out.

Your doing good dont over think it.

Don't worry about the watermix up

 

[Aqua Man]

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

Once you clean the plants up you should be able to top feed. By top feed I mean pour a cup or two over the hydroton. The only reason to do this once a week is to prevent and remove any salt deposits.
Igenerally I lollipop the plants a week before flower. Lots of guides out on there but it's pretty simple. This will also make it easier to top feed once a week

 

[citygrower18]

Once you clean the plants up you should be able to top feed. By top feed I mean pour a cup or two over the hydroton. The only reason to do this once a week is to prevent and remove any salt deposits.
Igenerally I lollipop the plants a week before flower. Lots of guides out on there but it's pretty simple. This will also make it easier to top feed once a week

Lollipop?

 

[Aqua Man]

Lollipop?

How To Lollipop Cannabis - Zamnesia

Everything you need to know about lollipopping marijuana plants. Use this step by step grow guide to pump-up the buds in your cannabis grow-op.

www.zamnesia.com

 

[citygrower18]

 

[citygrower18]

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
7/25/20	week 6	1700,21:45	77	64	335-340, 379*	75.2	634-652, 758*	220, 340*	75.2	475, 680*	6.12/5.59, 6*/5.75*	added 1 gal w/ 3ml pg	added 1 gal w/ 2.5 ml pg	added 3 and 2.5 ml pg	fucked up ph balancing and had to add up to correct down
7/26/20	week 6	15:30	77	66	344-349	77	708-716	372	77	744	6.076.07				FUCKED UP ^ put plant A water back in plant B about 1-2 cups of water - just hope it doesn’t transfer anything bad

Thoughts on bumping PPM up closer to 450-500?
Plants are getting bushy and I want to pull the trigger on some defoliation but haven't gotten the confidence yet to hack off some leaves

 

[Aqua Man]

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
7/25/20	week 6	1700,21:45	77	64	335-340, 379*	75.2	634-652, 758*	220, 340*	75.2	475, 680*	6.12/5.59, 6*/5.75*	added 1 gal w/ 3ml pg	added 1 gal w/ 2.5 ml pg	added 3 and 2.5 ml pg	fucked up ph balancing and had to add up to correct down
7/26/20	week 6	15:30	77	66	344-349	77	708-716	372	77	744	6.076.07				FUCKED UP ^ put plant A water back in plant B about 1-2 cups of water - just hope it doesn’t transfer anything bad

Thoughts on bumping PPM up closer to 450-500?
Plants are getting bushy and I want to pull the trigger on some defoliation but haven't gotten the confidence yet to hack off some leaves

I don't think they need more yet. Just my opinion

 

[citygrower18]

I don't think they need more yet. Just my opinion

IYO... would you recommend a little trimming of fan leaves... defoliation if so any tips?
would probably try to trim at most 3-4 big leaves

 

[Aqua Man]

IYO... would you recommend a little trimming of fan leaves... defoliation if so any tips?
would probably try to trim at most 3-4 big leaves

I would lollipop it

 

[citygrower18]

Updated pics, thinking to put into flower in the next 10-14 days, but open to suggestions
The one close up pic shows the branch and 99% broke off and has now mended it self back up in a about 10/11 days with tape around it

 

[JadedMarxist]

Yeah I would flip soon as they can easily get out of hand in dwc. I get my single blue berry go to long then I was forced to super crop it twice. So it would not outgrow my tent.

The suoercripping has made my canipy pretty much even

 

[citygrower18]

I am expecting them to multiply 2x3 times the size they are now.
My tent is 64 inches- how far do I want my lights from the plants by the end of flowering?

 

[citygrower18]

A week before flip increase the bloom.

Keep water levels 1-2" below the net pot

will probably double florabloom this week as I hope to flip to flower next week some time

 

[JadedMarxist]

I use s cool tube 1000w hps. And my plants were touching the tube not good now there about 16 inches.

What kind of light you using Leds can get closer in my experience .

What I do is start at 2 feet then every half day lower an inch until you start to see stress then heighten it back an inch or two.

 

[JadedMarxist]

I had you exact set up with a 1000w led equivalent (sic) and I would put the Leds 6 inched from the canopy. Buy if it's working good for you the way it is don't change it

 

[Aqua Man]

Yep I would be flipping soon

 

[JadedMarxist]

Are your plants in 5gal buckets?

Them buckets are great for a
,quick start up but they actually limit your height a lot plus when the plants get into heavy budding the roots will displace so much water you will be watering everyday.

What I did is get a 70liter plastic tote theta much shallower almost 8 inches but holds 50 liters of water. Easier to control temps and water less. Rdwc for me next time.I'll post a pic in few min

 

[JadedMarxist]

Here my set up with a pic of the difference in height of the tote and bucket and a pic of one branch where I bent it twice