So, only grown 2 plants so far. Both very fairly successful. Gearing up for round 3 and thinking hydro. Got a simple Dwc rig from vivosun and successfully growing tomatoes.
So im looking for some guidance as to how best to start a seed specifically for hydro.
I’ll likely be using expanded clay pebbles for medium, unless someone has a compelling reason not to.
Thinking i will build this new rig to recirculate as well, but also plumb it for a chiller just in case.
With the tomato plant I started with a clone, not a seed. I’ve searched online but it doesnt make sense to me given how dwc works. My last grow took me 3 seeds to take. Dont like losing seeds to ignorance at this price! So any insight would be most appreciated.
So how does that work? Just pop the dry seed on there and hydrate? There’s this crazy dance for seedlings in soil that we do to keep from overwatering. Maybe the trauma from that has me confuse about the change of medium and how to nurture a seedling.
what I currently do is soak the seed in distilled water and typically within 12-24 hours I have a small tap root out of the shell…at that time I move the seed directly to a presoaked in distilled water rockwool cube already in the net pot and then that goes into my empty tote/reservoir with a clear cup over the top…then typically within the next 24 hrs the seed cap is above the rockwool cube and then I add my nutrients to the tote/reservoir and turn on the air stones…next day I take the clear dome off…I have attached some pictures and clip of my notes in the first few days
So i guess you slice the rockwool as to not break the taproot?
And you saturate the rockwool and don’t add water until it breaks ground? I also see a very small net pot. How do you finally put it in a bigger net pot? Or is that necessary?
I’m only growing 1 at any given time so the emphasis for me is max yield for one plant.
Thanks for taking the time to help sort through my ignorance
Lol, also I’ve seen that some need chillers to avoid high water temps. Not yet had that issue with tomatoes. Are you finding it necessary in your situation?
I poke a hole all the way thru the cube before I place the seed with tap root pointing down and push it so the cap is just below the surface…
mostly right…once I see it break ground is when I add my nutrients and start the air stones
I stay with 3 inch net pots…I don’t need big pots because of the way I grow…they will support the plant until I put up the trellis at 18 inch
General Hydro…see my chart I attached earlier
for me I don’t need the external stuff…I grow in a bedroom and am able to keep that room cool enough for my tote/reservoir to stay 68-72 F range…
here is what my grow looks like
That last pic looks like a great time! Love me some shrimp and guiness! I assume some sort of omelette? Of course sitting by my plant having a smoke and a beer is a new favorite past time!
So, if i were to choose a bigger net pot i could potentially put the rockwool into clay pebbles, correct? Then everything else could be the same?
In the south, not from the south… tried shrimp and grits a couple years ago and it was amazing. Don’t often see it with the shrimp on the side, or that large lol! But you had me at guiness🤣
