No meduim Ebb and Flow/NFT questions...

First run. No batten.
The Cindy’s were started in LPA 4” pipe 10 spots in RW.

I have crappy water and have had root issues in the past. Ran 1gal pots with hydroton. Roots just totally plugged up pots. Root bound. Which may have been my issues.
I’m thinking media less has less places to harbour pathogens. And if you do have pathogens it doesn’t follow your used hydroton to the next grow.Less cleaning is a bono.
I would say this tech is best suited for running lots of smaller plants. It somewhat restricts the roots to a smaller area/volume.
Don’t see too much lag, maybe a bit if your roots are short to begin with. Little hard to start with seed but doable. You need them roots to hang down 3-4” to start. That’s why the LPA. Clones are easier if you use a cloner or just start your seed in the cloner.
I’m using it to run a bunch of seed this winter pheno hunting. If you want to grow big plants this is probly not the way. If you want to run lots of seed or set up a SOG go for it. Once I find the ones I’ll probly go to 5gal pails hydroton IWS and grow some bigger plants. Keep up posted on what you go with.

Turpman said:

First run. No batten.
The Cindy’s were started in LPA 4” pipe 10 spots in RW.
View attachment 4413199
I have crappy water and have had root issues in the past. Ran 1gal pots with hydroton. Roots just totally plugged up pots. Root bound. Which may have been my issues.
I’m thinking media less has less places to harbour pathogens. And if you do have pathogens it doesn’t follow your used hydroton to the next grow.Less cleaning is a bono.
I would say this tech is best suited for running lots of smaller plants. It somewhat restricts the roots to a smaller area/volume.
Don’t see too much lag, maybe a bit if your roots are short to begin with. Little hard to start with seed but doable. You need them roots to hang down 3-4” to start. That’s why the LPA. Clones are easier if you use a cloner or just start your seed in the cloner.
I’m using it to run a bunch of seed this winter pheno hunting. If you want to grow big plants this is probly not the way. If you want to run lots of seed or set up a SOG go for it. Once I find the ones I’ll probly go to 5gal pails hydroton IWS and grow some bigger plants. Keep up posted on what you go with.

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Turpman,
Thanks for the reply.
Have you seen KLX's thread on his mediumless sog? He runs lots of clones straight to 12/12.

I will have a plant count limitation, so no sog. I'm pretty stuck on a scrog, I just like the idea I guess.
The more I research and read, the more I'm thinking it may be a good idea to start out in the 1 gallon fabric pot full of hydroton for the first go round. I will eventually do the no medium thing, but it may be prudent to get a successful grow under one's belt first.
If you were to do a Ebb and Flow in a one gallon fabric pot filled with hydroton, sitting on a synthetic batten (thanks for the spelling assist), what type of flood schedule would you run? It would seem that the frequency could be much lower. As low as 3-4 15 min floods per light cycle, and 1 flood during lights out?
All input from everyone welcome. Remember, complete NOOB here. I have zero reference to how long the clay balls stay wet. What I read is the more times you can flood the better, of course depending on the type of medium your using, and still not water logging your roots.
So many options, sometimes it feels like I'm over thinking it.

WillieP

Yep,was all over the KLX thread.
I'm currently not flooding during lights off with media less. Most don't With media.
I would cover the table if you are going to encourage the roots to meander, keep the algae from growing.
Once per hr seems to be the norm.
Rinse the hydroton well.

I'm running 2 4x4 tables. 1 plant per s.f. in 2 gallon fabric pots with a 70/30 coco/permits mix. Currently feedimg AN GMB with some MammothP

I currently flood 3 times when lights are on.

RedDirtResin said:

I'm running 2 4x4 tables. 1 plant per s.f. in 2 gallon fabric pots with a 70/30 coco/permits mix. Currently feedimg AN GMB with some MammothP View attachment 4413655View attachment 4413656View attachment 4413657

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RDR,
Thanks for the show and tell. Looks sweet. You don't happen to have a journal of your grow do you?

WillieP

WillieP said:

RDR,
Thanks for the show and tell. Looks sweet. You don't happen to have a journal of your grow do you?

WillieP

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No I dont have a journal here on RIU. I've thought about doing one, just haven't. I typically just lurk. I do have an Instagram page. I post weekly pics and videos. Same name "RedDirtResin"

RedDirtResin said:

No I dont have a journal here on RIU. I've thought about doing one, just haven't. I typically just lurk. I do have an Instagram page. I post weekly pics and videos. Same name "RedDirtResin"

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RDR,
Instagram is one (of several) of the social media type things I don't do. Doesn't mean I couldn't though...
I don't know how much of the thread you've read, but I'm really leaning towards fabric pots with hydroton for this first grow. I will eventually try the no medium, but I want the first one to be a win, and I'm a feeling little chicken shit I guess.
I see from your pics that you don't use any type of cover on the trays, do the fabric pots allow the roots to become exposed? or are they air/light pruned if they grow out the pots? or does the canopy cover them well enough? Showing my NOOBness, huh?
I know that coco and hydroton are different, but I would think the roots in the fabric pot would pretty much act the same.
Thanks for your help,
WillieP

I do get roots that come throught the pot but they air prune themselves. Ive used hydroton in the past but I get better results using Coco/perlite. The hydroton is a pain to clean and is more expensive if you keep buying new. Old coco goes in my compost pile for my raised beds.

RedDirtResin said:

I do get roots that come throught the pot but they air prune themselves. Ive used hydroton in the past but I get better results using Coco/perlite. The hydroton is a pain to clean and is more expensive if you keep buying new. Old coco goes in my compost pile for my raised beds.

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Thanks for the reply.
I’m gonna cover ‘trays’, and let the roots go where they want. I am thinking of it as prep for the try at no medium.
Cheers,
WillieP

@WillieP
Did you ever continue with your plans of starting a mediumles grow?

Keesje said:

@WillieP
Did you ever continue with your plans of starting a mediumles grow?

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I am only on my second grow with the existing system. And will run it as is for a few cycles. (Not true, I’m going to make it separate reservoirs for each tote.)
I would like at some point like to try the no-medium, but I’ll stick with this till I get some more grows under my belt.
Cheers,
WillieP