Indoor FIrst time grower, need help with root space and any other tips that can be given

[spartan81]

I am using an ebb and flow system, my table is 3 feet by 4 feet. I am using 6 florescent grow tubes for the VEG and a 400W HPS for the flowering. I have feminized autoberry seeds that should be short in height and are expected to finish in 60 days or so from seed. I am using hyddro rocks for a medium.

My questions are; how deep does the hydroton need to be, do i need separate pots within the grow table or can I plant everything directly in the table.

Any help on this would be appreciated and any tips you can give would be much appreciated.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Sorry, spartan81, I can't answer your question... soil experience only. But, I do want to welcome you to AFN. You asked very direct questions (that's a good thing). There are folks on here that can help and they will. It probably won't be long.

 

[spartan81]

right in the table

yea I am talking about filling the tray directly, I am not concerned with the drainage as I have precautions in place for that. I planned on giving each plant a square foot each of space, my main question was how deep do I need to allow for the roots to grow. I have allowed about 6.5 to 7 inches for depth. Is this deep enough?

Also should I be concerned with the plant roots attacking each other if I do plant directly in the table.

 

[spartan81]

just out of curiosity can you use the Oregon Breather bag with Hydroton, it looks like all of the pictures they all have soil in them

 

[whatsgoodie]

Those are like air pots if I recall correctly, they're meant for soil to improve aeration. Why would you want to use them with hydroton? Just use net pots. It's better to have individual pots filled up and then put in the table, IMO. Gives you more access to see the roots in case any rot issues or anything pop up. It's also less issue if a plant becomes problematic.

Don't forget to soak the hydroton for 24-36 hours in PH corrected water.

7" is good for depth, the deeper the better is always the case but 7" is just fine for autoflowers IMO.


EDIT: In the words of TBM up there, don't cause paralysis by analysis. Don't over do things you first grow around, it'll just come back to bite you later on!!

Remember, feed lightly!!

 

[TshirtNinja]

You can use the Oregon Breathers with hydroton, but as mentioned already, it's a bit of overkill. Netpots would be cheaper and just as effective or even the plastic grow bags available.
Again my biggest worry is the drain clogging. It sucks to visit your room only to discover it's flooded because the drain clogged but the water pump just kept pumping away.... Unfortunately I learned from first-hand experience.

I've grown in a table before like you have mentioned except it was a soil bed & not soilless like you are proposing. Other than taking extra precautions on the drains - I see no problems with what you want to do.

Good Luck! Look forward to seeing pics & a journal!

this is precisely the reason I want to get into DWC hydro instead of a table system. well that and i just simply do not have the vertical space.

 

[spartan81]

Thanks for the info I ended up getting mesh bottom plastic pots, they basically paid for themselves since they saved me on Hydroton, THanks for the hint about soaking the hydroton thats the first time I have heard that. I am getting ready to transplant in the next couple of days so I update, any suggestions on optimal PH

 

[micro.grower]

I'm no hydro grower, but I wanna say correct hydro Ph is 5.6-6.3 ... hope this helps

 

[spartan81]

leaves turning yellow

My plants are about 6 in tall and started budding already. I went a week my the heat in the room got to like 100-110. I fixed the problem with the heat and got it down to about 85 but my leaves are turning yellow. Are they being overfed?

 

[Muddy]

Can you post a picture? Could be one of several things, under feeding, over feeding, over watering. How often do you water them?