Ebb & Flow Flood Schedule
- Thread starter thebAse
- Start date
VictorVIcious
Well-Known Member
Hey base, If you are going to run an ebb and flow, which is a good system, you will want to read AL B Fucts post,"How to get a harvest every two weeks". He floods once a day, I don't remember the height of the flood, I'm sure he tells what it is. VV
potroast
Uses the Rollitup profile
Well, BA, that depends, that depends, and yes. 
Those things depend on the size of your medium, and how much water it holds. Mr. Fuct irrigates once/day because he uses quite a bit of rockwool per plant, and it holds enough water to last. If you use growrocks, you'll want to irrigate every few hours.
The type and timing of irrigation in a hydro system should be determined by the medium used. The denser the medium, the longer it will retain water. But that means less room for air in there. That's why dense media like rockwool and coir fiber are used, because of their good water retention, as well as the ability to maintain sufficient amounts of air even when wet.
For dense media, a drip system is best because of the water column that goes downward in a cone shape. Dripping into looser media like growrocks doesn't work as well because the water column is more like a straight-sided tube.
For growrocks, it's best to flood and drain. That pushes all of the stale air out of the rocks, and sucks fresh air in.
For no media, as in aero or NFT, the roots are bathed constantly.
For each system, you should experiment with the irrigation timing to find the optimal for your medium, so your plants always have everything they want.
HTH
Those things depend on the size of your medium, and how much water it holds. Mr. Fuct irrigates once/day because he uses quite a bit of rockwool per plant, and it holds enough water to last. If you use growrocks, you'll want to irrigate every few hours.
The type and timing of irrigation in a hydro system should be determined by the medium used. The denser the medium, the longer it will retain water. But that means less room for air in there. That's why dense media like rockwool and coir fiber are used, because of their good water retention, as well as the ability to maintain sufficient amounts of air even when wet.
For dense media, a drip system is best because of the water column that goes downward in a cone shape. Dripping into looser media like growrocks doesn't work as well because the water column is more like a straight-sided tube.
For growrocks, it's best to flood and drain. That pushes all of the stale air out of the rocks, and sucks fresh air in.
For no media, as in aero or NFT, the roots are bathed constantly.
For each system, you should experiment with the irrigation timing to find the optimal for your medium, so your plants always have everything they want.
HTH
thebAse
Active Member
Thanks for the info potroast!
I'm currently using 4" rockwool cubes for plants in the vegetative stage. How often would you recommend flooding? Currently I'm flooding 4 times a day... is that too much for this growing medium?
Also, should I flood more or less in the flowering stage?
Thanks!
I'm currently using 4" rockwool cubes for plants in the vegetative stage. How often would you recommend flooding? Currently I'm flooding 4 times a day... is that too much for this growing medium?
Also, should I flood more or less in the flowering stage?
Thanks!
joanathegarner
Member
Depends if the plants are showing signs of too much water i.e. Drooping/coloring then yes
if they are looking healthy and growing good then keep it at your schedule
monitor them until they are probably 4-6" tall, then if they are still healthy you have
a fine schedule
hope that helps
if they are looking healthy and growing good then keep it at your schedule
monitor them until they are probably 4-6" tall, then if they are still healthy you have
a fine schedule
hope that helps