If you've been following my thread on "simple hydroponics", you have seen the amazing results with a very basic top feed rockwool grow cubes setup.
In case you haven't read that thread, here's the simple set up: a top fed 5.8 gal container of rock wool grow cubes with 10 gallon reservoir. Immune to power outages, less prone to pythium, can leave your grow for a week at a time, inexpensive, easy to set up, the list goes on...
System A
And here's the results, 6th week of flower. This is a 4' x 4' SCROG. When complete, will average 12oz of finished product. Why does it work so well? We are flooding the root zone with nutrients every 6 hours, and the grow cubes allow plenty of oxygen inside the container. Simple and effective.
In that thread, you also saw a couple twists on the set up. Those two go beyond the scope of "simple hydroponics" a bit, because they allow roots to dangle down into the nutrient solution, which makes this a hybrid, Top Feed and "Deep water culture" grow method.
Still using the 5.8 gal container, set on top of a $10 storage 27 gal "tough tote". Home depot and Lowes both have a version of this box. System B
And using a larger, 10 gal media container, inside a 28 gallon garbage can. System C
These two were set up a few weeks after system A.
Here is system B and C, three weeks onto flower. I am having to make "double decker" SCROG screens for them, as they are now 20" above the original screen.
What's different about these other two methods? As I said above, they are DWC / top feed - hybrid systems. Deep water culture, refers to the growing method where roots are growing right in highly oxygenated water, in no growing medium. Let's take a peek under these girl's skirts:
We must add large amounts of air into the reservoirs, in order to keep the roots (dangling in water) oxygenated. This adds some complications to the "simple" method A:
1. DWC is more prone to root rot or pythium. Aerobic bacteria will grow in a low oxygen environment. If this happens, it may attack your roots. Turning them from white to a dark brown mess in no time at all. Once this happens, forget about a remedy.
2. We now have to add a high volume air pump, and air stones. In these systems, I am running a dedicated Gen Hydro, $65 air pump for each system, and, 3, $4 air stones in each one. Air pumps are LOUD.
3. If the power goes out, the water quickly becomes depleted of oxygen.
4. More chance for human error. If your power goes out, your air lines can back syphon (if you don't elevate your pumps or use check valves) and flood your room. If one air line comes unhooked, all the air will take that path, and your plant will get no air. Let's say you TEMPORARILY unplug an air pump, in order to plug in something else, then forget about it... come back a couple days later to a pythium outbreak.
That said, it is no secret, DWC produces amazing growth rates. Roots dangle in oxygenated water, taking in as much as they need. If done correctly, plants grow faster, stems grow stronger, colas grow fatter, average yields are bigger. If you're willing to take the extra step to a DWC / top feed system, read on. In my next post, I'll show you how to make one of these kick a$$ hybrid systems for under $70, (not including air pump). "one pounders" are no problem in this system.
In case you haven't read that thread, here's the simple set up: a top fed 5.8 gal container of rock wool grow cubes with 10 gallon reservoir. Immune to power outages, less prone to pythium, can leave your grow for a week at a time, inexpensive, easy to set up, the list goes on...
System A
And here's the results, 6th week of flower. This is a 4' x 4' SCROG. When complete, will average 12oz of finished product. Why does it work so well? We are flooding the root zone with nutrients every 6 hours, and the grow cubes allow plenty of oxygen inside the container. Simple and effective.
In that thread, you also saw a couple twists on the set up. Those two go beyond the scope of "simple hydroponics" a bit, because they allow roots to dangle down into the nutrient solution, which makes this a hybrid, Top Feed and "Deep water culture" grow method.
Still using the 5.8 gal container, set on top of a $10 storage 27 gal "tough tote". Home depot and Lowes both have a version of this box. System B
And using a larger, 10 gal media container, inside a 28 gallon garbage can. System C
These two were set up a few weeks after system A.
Here is system B and C, three weeks onto flower. I am having to make "double decker" SCROG screens for them, as they are now 20" above the original screen.
What's different about these other two methods? As I said above, they are DWC / top feed - hybrid systems. Deep water culture, refers to the growing method where roots are growing right in highly oxygenated water, in no growing medium. Let's take a peek under these girl's skirts:
We must add large amounts of air into the reservoirs, in order to keep the roots (dangling in water) oxygenated. This adds some complications to the "simple" method A:
1. DWC is more prone to root rot or pythium. Aerobic bacteria will grow in a low oxygen environment. If this happens, it may attack your roots. Turning them from white to a dark brown mess in no time at all. Once this happens, forget about a remedy.
2. We now have to add a high volume air pump, and air stones. In these systems, I am running a dedicated Gen Hydro, $65 air pump for each system, and, 3, $4 air stones in each one. Air pumps are LOUD.
3. If the power goes out, the water quickly becomes depleted of oxygen.
4. More chance for human error. If your power goes out, your air lines can back syphon (if you don't elevate your pumps or use check valves) and flood your room. If one air line comes unhooked, all the air will take that path, and your plant will get no air. Let's say you TEMPORARILY unplug an air pump, in order to plug in something else, then forget about it... come back a couple days later to a pythium outbreak.
That said, it is no secret, DWC produces amazing growth rates. Roots dangle in oxygenated water, taking in as much as they need. If done correctly, plants grow faster, stems grow stronger, colas grow fatter, average yields are bigger. If you're willing to take the extra step to a DWC / top feed system, read on. In my next post, I'll show you how to make one of these kick a$$ hybrid systems for under $70, (not including air pump). "one pounders" are no problem in this system.
in such a small amount of time.
