Water Level to the Net Pot for DWC’..??

It seems the plants will just die and dry up if I keep the water level low like how a lot of people are saying.. almost all the plants I’ve ever grown are like 90% submerged in water.. Do I have to like lower the water and just let them get adjusted and acclimated to it and then keep them on that route..?
 

Failmore

Well-Known Member
You keep the water level hi at the start. Cause there are no roots in the water. When the roots drop down you lower the water so there is an air gap. You need a balance between wet and dry. If all the roots are wet all the time you will have issues.

Need it so the air bubbles are not splashing enough to get the rocks drenching wet.
 

Arkarius

Active Member
I'm a noob so take this fwiw, but what I did was keep the water level 2" below the netpot and use a top feed on a timer for 1 min 3 times a day until the roots hit the water. I also have quite a lot of bubbling action keeping the hydroton moist, so you could look into that.
 

OldMedUser

Well-Known Member
Do not submerge the net pot at the beginning. Just use a turkey baster or large syringe to suck up some nutes and top feed twice a day until tiny root tips can be seed emerging from the pots. Usually 2 or 3 days. Start with the level an inch below the bottom of the net pots and top up when it gets down to 3 or 4" below once roots are in the water. Using RubberMaid tubs I'd have to top up every 3 days or so with a dozen plants in one tub. Lot longer intervals with small plants or just one or two big plants.

I've only done about 50 grows like that in the last 20 years so there may be better ways but they won't be much easier if at all. Once you know what you're doing you can go the whole grow without ever changing nutes or checking pH. Lazy mans paradise. :)

:peace:
 

MustGro

Well-Known Member
I like @OldMedUser 's way but I've got to change my reservoir once a week; I just have to....
I keep my fluid levels high at the start when I transplant the clones into the hydroclay. It keeps them from wilting until the roots set up in their new home. After they're ok I drop the fluid levels to expose more of the root mass to the atmosphere.
Water only has so much oxygen in it; around 8-10 PPMs between 25 and 15C. The atmosphere has almost 21% oxygen and that's the reason aeroponics works so well. Air to the roots; cannabis loves it.
 

HydoDan

Well-Known Member
In the start I always have my solution at the bottom of the net pot so it keeps the hydroton wet..
This also encourages root growth from the sides.. Been doin it this way forever..
 

namusae

Member
I just water rodi water a bit with syringe directly onto the netpot until roots are down.. usually the roots form and dip down into the reservoire within a week or so if the gap is within a couple centimeters. I would think it is not a good practice to keep the netpot and medium wet with nutes.
 

Peyote alexia

Well-Known Member
The level I've found doesn't matter if your bubbles are splashing enough. I just set and forget to start for about 3 weeks. I find water parameter fluctuations cause me problems. So the less I mess with it the better.

They will go along for 3 weeks or so then start drinking and vegging (seeds) from there I top up when needed.
 
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