First ever grow, dwc, succeed, fail.. what ever it will entail

[limp biffskit]

So I have just filled up the reservoirs and increased the nutrients very slightly the second time since adding the dehumidifier and at some point I've obviously knocked the air pump dial to around 10% luckily there is not root rot or any bad smells ect especially when I'm over the half way stage haha very close call

 

[limp biffskit]

That's another week of flower complete. Everything seems to be running nicely. Plants are drinking alot now and need topping up 6-8litres every couple of days and are chilling at 1.4 EC. Lights have been maxed out at 400w at 16inch for 2 weeks now giving me a average of 950ppfd with no light stress! Hopefully everything runs smoothly from here on cheers

 

[futurebanjo]

Nice.

Yes they really strart drinking in DWC when flower gets underway.

One thing ive noted in DWC is EC 1.4 is quite a strong feed, but it really depends on the strain/envoronment... I've had one grow cope with EC 2.0, but my current grow, even 1.4 is too strong, I'm running about EC 1.1 in flower on my current lot as they seem pretty sensistive.. just something to be aware of.

But they look good so keep going as you are.

 

[limp biffskit]

Yes they really are drinking alot, I could do with a reservoir haha and yes I have been very careful with the feed I found a graph with every situation on it that I've been following and it's been really useful tbh. But I've been watching the EC falling week by week starting from around 0.8/1ec so I've just been raising it every time I top up and now it is at 1.4 it is stable so I'm guessing that is the sweet spot for the moment. Do add pk13/14 in dwc in the middle stages of flower? Also I've not needed any cal/mag during the entire grow and I was told it was rarely needed so maybe pk13/14 could also not be needed?

 

[futurebanjo]

I'd just keep going as you are at the moment.

Cal/mag suppliments are generally only needed in DWC if you have 'soft' water rather than 'hard' water...and even then depending on the feed you are using, as hydro nutes for 'soft' water generally have a bit of extra cal/mag built in... so it really depends on what feed you are using, and what your tap water quality is like.

Whats the PH and EC of your plain/straight tap water?

 

[limp biffskit]

I'd just keep going as you are at the moment.

Cal/mag suppliments are generally only needed in DWC if you have 'soft' water rather than 'hard' water...and even then depending on the feed you are using, as hydro nutes for 'soft' water generally have a bit of extra cal/mag built in... so it really depends on what feed you are using, and what your tap water quality is like.

Whats the PH and EC of your plain/straight tap water?

My water is very very soft 80ppm roughly? And pH is 7.1 give or take. The nutrients I'm running is the canna aqua line but I have absolutely every nutrient they do how ever I've ditched the rhizotonic and cannazym due to root issues that I have in the first weeks in veg since getting rid of them they have cleared up the issues and grown like a disease

 

[futurebanjo]

If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it, the plants look good.

I've pretty much stopped using 'addetives' in DWC... I just use 'grow' A&B and swap it out to 'bloom' A&B when in flower.

That's it, unless something goes wrong.

Here's to a good harvest!

 

[Delps8]

950µmol? Congrats on feeding your plants well. It shows.

"And pH is 7.1 give or take" - why so high? (or did you already explain it and I didn't catch it 'cause I haven't read the whole thread?)

Even with the discrepancies noted by document at this link, 7.1 is very high for hydro. I've run 5.8 until recently but switched to 6.0 for my most recent grow.

[edit] Doh! You're using tap water. No way I'd run 7.1.

 

[futurebanjo]

I was going to say the PH sounds a little on the high side BUT..

The plants look good... so ...I say, run with it.

 

[Delps8]

I'm with @futurebanjo re. simplicity. I did a few grows with Botanicare and then switched to Jacks 3-2-1 which is a dry fert. That's a Part A + Part B formula, similar to other companies that sell dry ferts, but with Jack's you add Epsom. Simple is nice.

 

[Delps8]

I was going to say the PH sounds a little on the high side BUT..

The plants look good... so ...I say, run with it.

As much as I like to keep everything dress right dress, the reality of the situation is that the grow is doing well. So, yeh, there's that reality thing creeping in.

 

[limp biffskit]

If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it, the plants look good.

I've pretty much stopped using 'addetives' in DWC... I just use 'grow' A&B and swap it out to 'bloom' A&B when in flower.

That's it, unless something goes wrong.

Here's to a good harvest!

Exactly mate that's my thoughts exactly just wasn't 100% sure I'll just keep things how they are because right now they are cruising along. and hopefully mate, 6-9 Oz is my target 10sqf and 400w of light I think It should be achievable for my first attempt but I won't count my blessings until I've rolled one up

 

[Blue_Focus]

I'm on my first DWC. My mistakes so far, Don't let it run out of water even for a day. Also only use nutrients designed for hydroponics.

I thought I could use any nutrients and about killed it. I switched it to a new tub and used RO with correct nutrients and it came back to life.

Then I didn't catch it running out of water and it died again (so I thought). Some of it came back and now it's growing weird.

I'm letting it finish out and I'll start another.

Left side is almost done and right side has new growth. It's an Autoflower.

 

[limp biffskit]

I'm on my first DWC. My mistakes so far, Don't let it run out of water even for a day. Also only use nutrients designed for hydroponics.

I thought I could use any nutrients and about killed it. I switched it to a new tub and used RO with correct nutrients and it came back to life.

Then I didn't catch it running out of water and it died again (so I thought). Some of it came back and now it's growing weird.

I'm letting it finish out and I'll start another.

Left side is almost done and right side has new growth. It's an Autoflower

That's strange isn't it how it's growing different and I think we've all had a few issues withnfwc is this your first time growing it is mine very steep learning curve I had root rot from light leaks cured that though thankfully... Knocked air pump off aswell by accident lucky must have only been a few hours but I keep my water levels topped up constantly I don't think I'll do dwc again as I don't want to be imprisoned with the watering either rdwc or autopots next run as I have a villa in Spain and Im missing holiday's because of the watering issue haha

 

[Blue_Focus]

That's strange isn't it how it's growing different and I think we've all had a few issues withnfwc is this your first time growing it is mine very steep learning curve I had root rot from light leaks cured that though thankfully... Knocked air pump off aswell by accident lucky must have only been a few hours but I keep my water levels topped up constantly I don't think I'll do dwc again as I don't want to be imprisoned with the watering either rdwc or autopots next run as I have a villa in Spain and Im missing holiday's because of the watering issue haha

I've been growing for a little over a year. I've only grown autoflowers.

But it was getting boring and I thought I'd try DWC.

I've learned quite a bit. Next grow I'll have an external reservoir up midway of my tent. I've already added a RO shutoff float to my growing reservoir.

I'll just have to keep nutrient water in the outside reservoir and have it gravity feed my growing tank.

I'm not running out of water again.

 

[limp biffskit]

I've been growing for a little over a year. I've only grown autoflowers.

But it was getting boring and I thought I'd try DWC.

I've learned quite a bit. Next grow I'll have an external reservoir up midway of my tent. I've already added a RO shutoff float to my growing reservoir.

I'll just have to keep nutrient water in the outside reservoir and have it gravity feed my growing tank.

I'm not running out of water again.

Nice mate, what autos have you grown? Are you just running 1 plant even with the reservoir? How big is the resvervoir you are running now? I thought I would try dwc so I didn't have to water them every few days but it would seem I'm watering more now they're in flower than if I were grow in pots haha! I've really enjoyed the experience though although dwc isn't for me I think rdwc would be best or autopots unless I personally make a extra large reservoir that can survive being left for a week or so during flower I will have to decided.. because the reservoir changes would be and issue aswell. I've made 3 individual scrog nets for my plants so they are fully removable but I could do with another screen on top.

 

[Blue_Focus]

Nice mate, what autos have you grown? Are you just running 1 plant even with the reservoir? How big is the resvervoir you are running now? I thought I would try dwc so I didn't have to water them every few days but it would seem I'm watering more now they're in flower than if I were grow in pots haha! I've really enjoyed the experience though although dwc isn't for me I think rdwc would be best or autopots unless I personally make a extra large reservoir that can survive being left for a week or so during flower I will have to decided.. because the reservoir changes would be and issue aswell. I've made 3 individual scrog nets for my plants so they are fully removable but I could do with another screen on top.

I only grow one at a time as my tent is only 32" x 32".

I've mostly grown RQS seeds and Tasty Terp Seeds.

I don't keep track of how many I grow.

I use a 15 gallon tub with 10 gallons of nutrient solution.

I found out the hard way they drink a lot when starting to flower. It used around 5 gallons in about a week. I had checked it a week before and had half a tank. Then it went dry and she mostly died and dried up.

DWC definitely grows faster and much bigger and the stalks are huge on this grow vs soil.

Forgot to add. This grow since birth is 3 months and 1 day. She popped up December 17th 2024.

RQS Northern lights Autoflower. 4" net cup.

 

[Delps8]

Nice mate, what autos have you grown? Are you just running 1 plant even with the reservoir? How big is the resvervoir you are running now? I thought I would try dwc so I didn't have to water them every few days but it would seem I'm watering more now they're in flower than if I were grow in pots haha! I've really enjoyed the experience though although dwc isn't for me I think rdwc would be best or autopots unless I personally make a extra large reservoir that can survive being left for a week or so during flower I will have to decided.. because the reservoir changes would be and issue aswell. I've made 3 individual scrog nets for my plants so they are fully removable but I could do with another screen on top.

Your grow looks excellent.

Lots of light? Check.

Even canopy? Check.

Fills the grow area? Check

Unless you step on your d*ck really badly between now and harvest, your crop should be in the 500gm range. Though is used in jest, RIU has a tradition that, when a grower asks "How much do you think this will yield" the chorus chimes in with "About a pound." In this case, I think that's correct.

It's quite possible (likely?) that your plants in this grow actually do need more water but that's not because the plant is in hydro.

The amount of water a plant takes up is a function of transpiration and transpiration is driven by many factors, including VPD and mass and surface area of the plant.

Even if the environmental conditions of this grow are the same as in previous grows, the fact that you're in hydro (vs soil) means that your plant is probably bigger in this grow and has more leaves. A larger, leafier plant will throw off more water and will, therefore, take up more water.

One way to deal with the greater uptake is to get a bigger res.

Per the attached document (which has some good insights on res management), their recommended res size is 3 gallons per square foot of canopy/grow space.

The res in the picture below holds 28 gallons of nutes which, in a 2' x 4' tent, is just over that mark. There's a lot of nutes in there but it is a joy to work with because the large mass of nutrient water gives me an incredibly stable root zone that's very low maintenance.

In flower, the res drops about 1.2 GPD so I there's no reason to even open the tent for days at a time. And, in terms of pH, it is absolutely predictable.



Given that you've tackled the hard part (initial learning curve) and seeing that your first grow is going so well, it might be best to just get a slightly bigger res and keep growing in hydro.

 

[limp biffskit]

I only grow one at a time as my tent is only 32" x 32".

I've mostly grown RQS seeds and Tasty Terp Seeds.

I don't keep track of how many I grow.

I use a 15 gallon tub with 10 gallons of nutrient solution.

I found out the hard way they drink a lot when starting to flower. It used around 5 gallons in about a week. I had checked it a week before and had half a tank. Then it went dry and she mostly died and dried up.

DWC definitely grows faster and much bigger and the stalks are huge on this grow vs soil.

Forgot to add. This grow since birth is 3 months and 1 day. She popped up December 17th 2024.

RQS Northern lights Autoflower. 4" net cup.

Nice I think I will have to invest in some larger reservoirs because mine are only 5 gallons and I keep having to top them up every couple of days if I left them for a week they would definitely have dried out also my plants are very similar age to yours they sprouted on the 6th December and my stems are also huge I will have to cut them with a ripsaw I think

 

[limp biffskit]

Your grow looks excellent.

Lots of light? Check.

Even canopy? Check.

Fills the grow area? Check

Unless you step on your d*ck really badly between now and harvest, your crop should be in the 500gm range. Though is used in jest, RIU has a tradition that, when a grower asks "How much do you think this will yield" the chorus chimes in with "About a pound." In this case, I think that's correct.

It's quite possible (likely?) that your plants in this grow actually do need more water but that's not because the plant is in hydro.

The amount of water a plant takes up is a function of transpiration and transpiration is driven by many factors, including VPD and mass and surface area of the plant.

Even if the environmental conditions of this grow are the same as in previous grows, the fact that you're in hydro (vs soil) means that your plant is probably bigger in this grow and has more leaves. A larger, leafier plant will throw off more water and will, therefore, take up more water.

One way to deal with the greater uptake is to get a bigger res.

Per the attached document (which has some good insights on res management), their recommended res size is 3 gallons per square foot of canopy/grow space.

The res in the picture below holds 28 gallons of nutes which, in a 2' x 4' tent, is just over that mark. There's a lot of nutes in there but it is a joy to work with because the large mass of nutrient water gives me an incredibly stable root zone that's very low maintenance.

In flower, the res drops about 1.2 GPD so I there's no reason to even open the tent for days at a time. And, in terms of pH, it is absolutely predictable.

View attachment 5457178

Given that you've tackled the hard part (initial learning curve) and seeing that your first grow is going so well, it might be best to just get a slightly bigger res and keep growing in hydro.

Holy shit thanks mate really? I didn't even consider 500g or 1lb. And after the hurdles I've over come they only issue I am having is topping up the reservoirs constantly I think you're right getting an extra large reservoir that holds lots of water is probably my best option because apart from topping the water up I've basically had to do nothing the entire grow which has been great. What do you do about reservoir changes or is it ok to just top it up for the whole grow with such a large reservoir?