Is Hydro Really Better Than Soil?

[steeler9786]

I am thinking of getting a hydro system I currently have a 600watt light and ballast with soil setup and my plants are huge but I am curious about hydro id like to have about 10 plants with hydroif you could also suggest a hydro system to buy please.
thank for the help!

 

[koulajitong]

Don't buy a pre-fabricated system. They are way too pricey and you get sub-standard results.

Look up do it yourself systems here on rollitup. There are probably hundreds of threads regarding this issue. Use the search function and choose one that is best tailored for your particular circumstances.

Peace,

K

 

[cruzer101]

Na man, Hydro is not better then soil.
Its faster vegging yea so you get bigger plants faster but it takes the same amount of time to flower. In my experiences the buds have more air in them and dont weigh out in the end. I started growing in hydro, made several different systems. Check out my cab journals (links in sig) for some small setups.

 

[hammer21]

My buds are hard as a rock and i do hydro. Best system to build is high pressure hydro with 0.12 nozzles @ 100 psi you will blow dirt growers in the ground..... Maybe a rockwell test is in order hydro vs dirt???????????

 

[woodsmaneh!]

I have done both and there are differences in both ways of growing. IF all you want is the biggest plants you can grow indoors HYDRO is the way to grow. My last hydro grow I had 1/2 pound plants, never had a 1/2 plant inside in dirt.

 

[cruzer101]

My largest soil plant I got 2.7 lbs but that was in a greenhouse where I had some headroom, most were about a pound.
Like I said all my hydro grows were small, under 400w so it could be I need more lighting but I still prefer buds grown in soil.

 

[dam612]

I have done both and there are differences in both ways of growing. IF all you want is the biggest plants you can grow indoors HYDRO is the way to grow. My last hydro grow I had 1/2 pound plants, never had a 1/2 plant inside in dirt.

8oz plants from indoor hydro? can i see a pic of those beasts?

 

[NEVER OUTGUNNED]

hydro is better in the sense that nutrient control, and direct environment is way easier to manipulate. dirt takes too long for the plants to react, and watering the dirt all the time sucks ass!

 

[BigFatFatty]

Yea one of my guerilla grows is kickin my ass just now goin into flower and blowing $100 easy on gas a week getting out there and wettin em up... First time I ever had all females with not a one male and even tho they are flowering late it puts a smile on my face knowing they all females

 

[steeler9786]

Thanks guys like I said I am currently using soil on 18 plants 2 were male lol but they are currently around 6.5 feet they are monsters I didn't thjnk they would really triple size during flowering So I'm thinking hydro next grow if I can build a cheaper one cause the prefabricated models are extremely expensive haha

 

[PetFlora]

The beauty of HPA is that it provides the ability to monitor what is happening below the plant (you simply lift the bonnet. When you understand what healthy/unhealthy roots look like, you can make rapid adjustments before the plant suffers. That said, if you are not well versed in pH, ppms, Relative Humidity, ambient temp control... then 'hydro' can be disastrous.

I suggest you add a small system and use bag seed for a few grows. Once you get a handle on it, there's no turning back.

hth

 

[boodadood]

i use a recirculating DWC/areo system...my friend uses coco and hand feeds his plants...my plants have consistently out vegged his and always have more weight on them...i get centimeters on my node lengths while he gets inches on his scrawny dirt plants...lol...the real difference is the end product tho...his grass always tastes way better than mine..go figure...i just switched to a new nute formula so we'll see but we both flush for 2 weeks...you could always do a side by side of your own of one plant each and see the difference for yourself too

 

[cruzer101]

In hydro the nutes make all the difference in the world.
About a year ago I was part of a nutrient challenge where several people all grew the same strain in hydro but with different nutrients.
You would be amazed the difference in taste.

 

[knight156]

@cruzer101, what nutes would you recommend?

 

[BeaverHuntr]

Soil is easier and for the lazy grower
Hydro can give you some huge veg growth but requires a lot more maintenance.

 

[Dankster4Life]

In hydro the nutes make all the difference in the world.
About a year ago I was part of a nutrient challenge where several people all grew the same strain in hydro but with different nutrients.
You would be amazed the difference in taste.

So what nutes had the best out come?

Taste is the hard thing to get down in hydro if ya ask me.To compare to soil atleast.

 

[cruzer101]

Actually the smoked tasted like completely different strains.
The dutch masters stuff had more of a chemical taste to it but was the most potent, Hard to say but I think the plants grown with flora nova veg and fox farms bloom nutrients tasted closest to plants grown in soil.

 

[woodsmaneh!]

8oz plants from indoor hydro? can i see a pic of those beasts?

Just check out my signature

 

[cruzer101]

WOW, that's a hell of a setup woodsman, What kind of lighting are you using?
I gotta check out your journal.

I read you are into the grow for over $7100 and using 7000 watts? is that right?

 

[BeaverHuntr]

Yeah those root balls have to be the size of a beach ball by now. I had trouble in my 5 gallon once the balls became as big as basketball I had crazy PH swings. Those reservoirs have to be huge.