Dusted’s Traditional Hydroponic Grows

[Dusted]

I don't know if it's not exciting taking down a crop or starting a new one.

Taking down a crop and cleaning up is a lot of work, so I think in this case I am more excited to put my new knowledge and LED to work. Speaking of which, I got it hung this morning. It is weird going into the room full of light but no noise from ballasts. I still need to reposition the buckets under the light. Hopefully I can get four buckets equidistant from each other with the fifth bucket out of service, but still hooked up, under the light properly.

 

[Dusted]

Well, I have an empty grow room waiting for seedlings. Everything has been cleaned up and the system has fresh water circulating. I did inoculate with with hydrated spores to get things rotting. Now the decision about what to grow next. I usually only grow a single strain at a time but I’m thinking of a variety this time. Hopfully they all grow in a similar manner and mature at the same time. I think I will start five seeds, plant them all and see if there is a runt that can be pulled. I do hate wasting a $10 seed though. Oh wait, two of my choices are freebies.

3 Strawberry Banana fem (Canuk seeds)
1 Cream Caramel fem (can’t read the breeders name in fine print)
1 Monster Zkittles fem

Now I need to figure out how to keep them all segregated and identified during germination and planting.

 

[InTheShed]

Masking tape labels!

 

[Dusted]

Masking tape labels!

My germination system is an inclined plane into a basin of water. The paper towel soaks up water keeping the seeds at the top moist but never too wet. I need big tap roots to feed into the rocks without losing the seedlings deep into the grow media. 3-3.5 days germination is usually perfect. Maybe I should just mix them all up and see if I can figure out which is which as they grow. Chaos is always entertaining.

 

[MrSauga]

My germination system is an inclined plane into a basin of water. The paper towel soaks up water keeping the seeds at the top moist but never too wet. I need big tap roots to feed into the rocks without losing the seedlings deep into the grow media.

I'd love to see pics. I like different methods and I haven't seen this one yet.

 

[Dusted]

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• Dusted
• Jan 1, 2020

Seedsman germanation

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• Dusted
• Jan 1, 2020

Seedsman germanation

 

[StRoostifer]

That’s clever dusted! Never thought of using the paper towel like that as a wick to keep the seeds moist.

 

[Kodiak420]

IMG_1321.jpeg

• Dusted
• Jan 1, 2020

Seedsman germanation

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• Dusted
• Jan 1, 2020

Seedsman germanation

Thats a great idea Dusted... I might have to try it next spring.

 

[Dusted]

Welcome @Kodiak420 to my little adventure.

 

[Kodiak420]

Welcome @Kodiak420 to my little adventure.

Its a setup you have going, and the ladies are to say the least. Nice work.
Ive never grown in hydro type of setup, its interesting to watch.

 

[MrSauga]

Thanks Dusted! Makes a lot more sense now with the visual. Great idea and it looks like it works well.

 

[oldsmokey]

Hi Dusted do you put the germinated seed straight into the Hydroton or into rockwool or peat pellets first?

 

[Dusted]

Straight into the rocks. It’s a bit tricky getting the placement right.

 

[oldsmokey]

Straight into the rocks. It’s a bit tricky getting the placement right.

That's about the only thing I left to figure out for my next grow switching to hydro. I have always used clones when growing hydro and planted them into the Hydroton. So was thinking of putting germinated seed into a different medium for a week or two then into the gravel. Going to have to give it some thought.

 

[Dusted]

You could probably use peat pots for germination and then into the rocks. I wouldn’t want any loose organic material added to the system. Mind you there is already lots of organics in my rocks from dead rootlets. I tried germinating in peat pots once but got zero germination so went back to paper towel

 

[Dusted]

A couple of fuzzy shots of the hanging branches. I do have a few more in a different closet since I ran out of room there.

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• Dusted
• Aug 27, 2020

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• Dusted
• Aug 27, 2020
• 1

 

[oldsmokey]

I will either use rockwool but most likely I will germinate in paper towel then into clone tray with vermiculite. Then 1 or 2 weeks and into the hydro system.

 

[oldsmokey]

Nice display

 

[Dusted]

I will either use rockwool but most likely I will germinate in paper towel then into clone tray with vermiculite. Then 1 or 2 weeks and into the hydro system.

I guess you have experience handling the clones with developed roots. I have enough trouble getting a single tap root into the rocks, let alone a developed root system.

 

[oldsmokey]

I guess you have experience handling the clones with developed roots. I have enough trouble getting a single tap root into the rocks, let alone a developed root system.

I just fill the pot about half full of washed Hydroton pull the seedling out of the tray dip it once or twice in water to remove the vermiculite. Put in the pot and gently top off with Hydroton. Then I use a low flow dripper usually .5 gal/hr on the side of the pot not directly on the seedling to keep it moist. Once the roots hit the water I take the dripper off the top. I have damaged tap roots before so I am not keen on trying put directly in the gravel. I am a bit clumsy.