First attempt, not so good.

Long time smoker, first time grower. Built a grow cabinet, researched the crap out of growing, and unfortunately it didn't turn out to well. After two weeks in my cab with 8 42w 200w equivalent CLF bulb's and a PH of 5.8, and PPM at 400, this is what my plant look like.
Where did I go wrong? Too much light, nute, what? BTW I tried the bubbleponic method. Would it be better to grow in soil the first time? Just looking for some advice for a first time grower. Thanks.

I think soil is much more forgiving and less expensive, so those are the main reasons why I go with it.

I am not very experienced in non soil, bit it looks like one of your issues looks to be to much moisture.

Could you explain too much moisture? In Rosemann's bubbleponic tutorial, he has a tube feeding water into the grow cup. That's what I thought I was doing. But the too much moisture, kind of makes since, because even after two weeks only one plant grow a root that stuck out of the rockwool. Would that be a too much moisture problem?

The medium you have it in looks like rockwool or um that other stuff...(I forget the name of it)...on that medium I see algae growth, (all that greenness) that algae is due to to much water/moisture.

The level of to much moisture depends on the medium...basicly the medium needs to become dry or near dry.

Most any "non-soil" grow like this involves watering, but not to keep the medium moist. ...for example bubblers constantly run and can spray water from the bubbles that are produced, but those bubbles only splash the roots...the medium is not permitted to sit in water, or to be splashed by it constantly.

yes if its your first grow im sure soil would be much easier for you

looks like too much water and exposed soggy rockwool to light, not a good thing..... dont give up on hydroponics, keep reading, then read some more... 400ppm is high for such a small fry...was it r/o water? distilled?

The algae is caused by light hitting the nutrient rich rockwool. Soil is easier to get the basics down with. Hydro isn't too hard if you have the time to put into it.

...your rockwool is green because it's being exposed to light, while constantly moist. The actual plants look to be overfertilized. What's your method for reading your ppm? Wonder if you had adequate bubbles?

yeah...in dwc..light penetration is your worst enemy...find something to use as a cover that will block all light from getting into your res and net cups...just big enough for your stem to fit through...this is how i do it using the mylar hood i used inside the grow box

It looks as though your rockwool cubes were submitted to far too much moisture. Were they submerged? I like to have the water level in my container to be just below the net cup.

yeah...gotta let the rockwool dry out... never let the res water get close enough to soak the rockwool..it should be just below the net cup till the roots start shooting out...then try and keep it about 1-2" from the bottom of the net cup..the whole point is to get the roots to search for water....which is what makes them grow..if the rockwool stays wet..it drowns it.you want the water from the bubbles popping to be all the water that hits the net cups...i lightly mist my rockwool while its still a young sprout..only if i start seeing a slight droop

As people said, you should have waited till the plants were a little more established, with roots breaking out all over the rockwool before transplanting them into your systems.

The water was distilled, I used a PPM meter to mesure the PPM. I don't think it's algea on the rock wool. It's not slimy or anything like that. I had the water feeding tube right against the rockwool, was this the problem? The water line was 2 inchs below the grow cups, I did notice with all the bubbles, the water would rise into the cups.

if it's green and doesn't croak it's algae. The problem once again is that you drowned your plants. Let the rockwool become moist and don't feed them anything till they look like they have real leafs, think 3rd node.

...you don't think that, that green slime is algae on your rookwool?......really? ...I assure you it IS algae.

trichlone fiend said:

...you don't think that, that green slime is algae on your rookwool?......really? ...I assure you it IS algae.

Click to expand...

especially when its spreading to your growing medium around it! If you do plan on trying again i recommend sterilizing your grow stuff.

I would try raising the pH to 6.3 I have had great success using that level. Also did you presoak your rockwool in 5.5 Because you should have. When you take them out of the rooting tray and into the system set pH around 6.1 and as the get stronger and the roots are into the rock let it rise to 6.3 and maintain it there. Each time you change nutrients set it at 6.2 for a few days then adjust to 6.3 and maintain. They will catch on. Good Luck.

I presoaked the rockwool and the rocks. So did I place the water tube to close to the rockwool? I defiantly want to try again, next time should I have the tube shorter, delivering water to the rocks?

delivering water to the roots!

Hi dude, I can 'save the day' for you I have been growing in Hydro DWC for ages and personally recommend growing in this manner!! If you want I could break it down so you get everything Perfect! Hydro is in no way more difficult than soil, its just a different style/method

You'll need to: PH balance your water res at 6.5 (Piss Yellow) + ADD DILUTED 1st NUIT'S
Make sure your air diffusers are working fine and creating a lot of bubbles
Make sure your water level is sitting 0.5cm under your net pots (pot not in water)
Fill only 1cm of the bottom of the net pot with Hydro Clay Balls
Then insert your Seedling (sprouted) in a Rockwool cube
Dip the Pot in the PH balanced Res and pre soak the Rockwool cube so the seedling gets used to the nuits supply
fill the rest of the net pot with hydro clay balls to support the cube (the top of the Rockwool cube should be level with top of the net pot, and Hydro Clay Ball's)

THAT'S ALL AS FAR AS THE DWC BIT GOES.....

Now make sure you have good air flow (an air intake and an air outtake)
(This will supply your plant with fresh air as well as helping to maintain an ambient temp of around 26oC in your grow room)

Put your lights and fans on a timer together, SO (lights on - fans on, lights off fans off) this will keep your night temps higher, If they drop too much, growth rate will be slowed and bigger leaves on the lower section will be the result aka longer to grow too.

Keep your lighting as close to your plant/s as possible 1ft/12" is good until the seedling has produced a couple of true leaves, then you can bring it slightly closer BUT!!! Not to close - if you place your hand at the top of the canopy (top of the plant/s) and the lights are to warm against the back of your hands...chances are the lights will be to hot (too close) to your plant/s and they will not thrive but most likely dry up n burn. So bare that in mind

Light cycle should be VEG 18/6 ....*18 HOURS LIGHTS ON, 6 HOURS LIGHTS OFF

FLOWER 12/12..... *12 HOURS LIGHTS ON, 12 HOURS LIGHTS OFF

* The fans should run at these times to to maintain temps.

You probably know most of this, but as I say if you want Perfect results I can help you achieve them Hope this helps you a bit...You'll be so much happier with your bud quality and quantity from Hydro... Soil is ok but I'd use it as a last resort - STELTHY