Bucket size for LONG dwc grow?

[FreezerBoy]

I'm just starting my first official DWC grow. My buckets are 4 gallons but, with the water level below the net pots, it's closer to 3. NGB was growing 2 plants in about as much water but, he wasn't doing a 160 day grow (supposedly Thai Haze x Skunk has a 130 day flower period, yikes)

Growing from seed, I want to keep roots separate till I know what I have. I hear about plants drinking gallons per day. Am I asking for trouble? Should I be planning for a larger tub?

 

[Guest]

I've been thinking about the same thing.Last summer I used an 8 gallon bucket and vegged a White russian cutting for 30 days, then flowered for sixty.The plant was sucking down a gallon or more per day but was extremely successfull.Now I have 2 double d cuttings ,one in the 8 gal and one in the five gallon.I flowered the 8 gal as soon as roots popped and its cranking, the 5 gallon I vegged 24/7 for about 30 days and the plant is gigantic and I'm worried about the 80 day stretch ahead.The White Russian was soo loaded with roots but what a yield from such a cheap setup.I also have a few other cuts in 2 gal containers just to see how they'll do.So far so good.I think your 4 gal will probably be alright, that really should be enough.PEACE!!!MUCHA!!!

 

[FreezerBoy]

Thanksfor looking. I notice you've actually seen the multi gallon thirst I've heard of. No trips planned at the moment but, business often sees me doing the convention circuit where I'm gone 3-5 days at a time.

My old flood and drain could go two weeks on it's own but, it's buds (I now realize)were sad and puny, unfit for sharing with the IC crowd. I quess everythings a trade off.

 

[Don Cotyle]

My old flood and drain could go two weeks on it's own but, it's buds (I now realize)were sad and puny, unfit for sharing with the IC crowd. I quess everythings a trade off. Freezerboy quote.

It ain't about the size of your grow it's what ya do with it!!! Freezer, you can put a bucket of the same size next to your grow bucket, conect the 2 with a 1" hose and silicon and you now have a 6 gal rez tank!!! Just fill them evenly and use the same nutes. It's a cheap fix, granted not the best but I don't think you'll have room for a float valve once all them roots take over...might get ya thru a 3-5 day getaway.

Good luck with them slender ladys, I'll stick around for the show!!!

 

[Haps]

Your water useage will be room and strain dependent, and will increase from weeks 3-10. The system D mentions above would be a good solution for being away. If you have plenty of air, the girls can handle low water levels, and heat is a bigger problem, the less water you have.
H

 

[tenfeetofganja]

I'm just starting my first official DWC grow. My buckets are 4 gallons but, with the water level below the net pots, it's closer to 3. NGB was growing 2 plants in about as much water but, he wasn't doing a 160 day grow (supposedly Thai Haze x Skunk has a 130 day flower period, yikes)

Growing from seed, I want to keep roots separate till I know what I have. I hear about plants drinking gallons per day. Am I asking for trouble? Should I be planning for a larger tub?

A 130 day sativa...

Either you have incredible patience or some huge cajones...

When I used to bonsai grow, I would do a 4mos veg, trimming roots weekly so they would not overgrow their buckets.

In fact, we are already vegging a new crop to put outdoors come april.

Greenhouse DWC = yields that nature could never produce alone

 

[CarharttKidd]

Ive seen pics of 18 gal. rubbermaids being used for 1 plant. The plants looked VERY happy.

 

[chosen]

130 days.... Dang, that's quite awhile. Hope it works out for you.

 

[FreezerBoy]

Either you have incredible patience or some huge cajones...

More like desperation and madness. The seeds I paid for had a 70 period. They didn't hatch. The THaze were my freebies. Don't know who I'd have given them to. Nobody knows I grow except my brothers and they don't endulge.

carhartt,
My Home Depot had huge stacks of the 18 gal on sale today for $3. I should pick up a couple at that price just in case.

Chosen,
Thanks for the best wishes. Don Coytle says his were advertised as an 80 day period but that he's seen them go 120 plus. I figure I'll plan on 130 and maybe I'll be surprised. Certainly not disapointed.

 

[george j warner]

i did a dwc system in a 5 gal for a clone that vegged for 60 dats after the roots were root bound... i did 10 gallon one outside in a greenhouse vegged for 90 days then flowered for 60 so 150 days that was fine (10 gal)

topping up a 10 gallon was every week
topping up a 5 was every other day

 

[foaf]

depending somewhat on how big you plan to grow it, I think I would set up a recirculating system. You dont really need more room for the roots, but you will need more volume both as a buffer for water loss and for nutrient concentration changes. With a small bucket and a big plant, you get nutrient issues before you run out of water. consider setting up some version of an overflowing dwc kinda like I do, you pump nutrient into the bottom of the bucket, or the top, from your reservior, and have an overflow that leads back. not too hard to setup.

here a bulkhead fitting connects the grow bucket and the reservoir

here an overflow hose leads to the reservoir.

 

[Guest]

Bummer about the hard to pop ones.

Don't take this wrong, but a 4+ month flowering plant isn't quite as much fun as it sounds. Hey - if ya have a few strains going in a kinda continual harvest - that is one thing - if you have a room full of plants that need to be kept healthy - AND HAPPY,,, (that's the hard part) - it's a rough and long four plus months.

You would be harvesting a "faster strain" MONTHS before that Haze is near done - and probaly get more bud quantity from something quicker - PLUS nearly 2 harvests while the haze is - burning up your lights, money and nutes.


It's a lot easier for me to be paitent - if there is a sack - of buds (even mediocre grade) to share with friends.



If I were you,,, I'd order up a 4 pack of Nirvana's gear that sounds tasty and start from scratch. Sounds like you have some potential growing issues in your learning curve also. It's not as easy as it looks, but it's not as hard as some make it either. Oh ,,, almost forgot - that haze will prolly wana be about 12 feet tall - that should prove to be LOTS of fun.
Good luck!

 

[FreezerBoy]

topping up a 10 gallon was every week
topping up a 5 was every other day

Thanks, George. That's exactly the kind of info I was looking for.

 

[FreezerBoy]

I think I would set up a recirculating system.

I don't think I can this time for space reasons. I'm trying to keep everything inside the box (check my grow diary link for more pics if interested)



The only place for a rez is underneath the buckets. They take up 16" of height and the lamp hood takes up another 8" which only leaves me 30" of vertical grow space.

Future grows from female clones would allow me to swap out a bucket for a rez. These are from seed so I don't know what they are yet.

 

[FreezerBoy]

Don't take this wrong, but a 4+ month flowering plant isn't quite as much fun as it sounds.

It wasn't what I had in mind but as Dear Abby once said, The best things happen to those who make the best out of what happens to them."

It's time to set up another grow chamber. I have an old C13 that's practically empty. That way I could stagger grows as you mention. I'm trying to leave Indica behind. If waiting a few more weeks is the price, so be it.

Thanks for the warnings and lack of sugar coating

 

[Red Eye]

I am using a 5 gallon bucket for my DWC. Im growing 2 Cindy Princess(Spice Brothers) plants from seed. I let them veg about 6 1/2 weeks. They are now almost 4 weeks into flower. These plants were heavily LSTed so they are now aproximately 3.5x3.5 feet and about 3.5 feet tall.

A five gallon bucket is too small. They go through about 80-90% of the water in four days. Another problem is the plants are so huge, the root system so large and heavy, its a real headache to even change the water out. If your gonna do this you need a Res. Or at least a large bucket, the larger the bucket the more need for a way to change the water out with having to lift the whole plant and roots out of the water the way i have to. Especially with larger buckets, you need a easy way to change out your water, someway that doesnt involve moving around 5+ gallons of water and a huge rootball.

Im happy with the growth, but DAMN its fsking heavy!

 

[Don Cotyle]

Well your getting lots of good advice, here's another one!

You might want to go with a tubbler, a Rubbermaid tub of say 18-20 gals. It will take up about the same height and you can put 5 stations to grow your 5 freebees so you'r garanteed(?) your 2 females from seed. If you use the Lucas Formula you'll only have to addback to the used nuted water. This will save you from doing rez changes and you'll have the extra capicity of rez size. You can go longer between addback times for weekends away and you can control rez temps by adding a frozen 2 liter pop bottle of water. Just a thought...you can get your demintions and see if you can find a tub to fit your space.

When you decide and get your grow going please PM me with your grow thread..I'd like to follow your progress

Thanks Don...Keep on Keeping on!!!

 

[FreezerBoy]

Redeye

Nothing you said is what I WANTED to hear but, it's exactly what I NEEDED to hear. Thank you.

 

[FreezerBoy]

Don,

I think you're right about a tub. I'll stick to individual buckets until sexing. I've officially given up on getting any more seeds to sprout. I've thrown them in the dirt out back and it they want to sprout, I'll deal with them then.

Meanwhile, two plants is all I have. Ordering seeds was a major freak out for me but, I guess it's time to do it again. For all I know Betty and Wilma could be males and then where would I be?

Not much to see yet but, my sig link will take you to my diary. This is where I'm at at the moment.

Betty is in blue. Wilma's the readhead.







EVERYBODY, thank you so much

 

[Red Eye]

EVERYBODY, thank you so much

Awww... they look so cute when their young :kitty:.

Wait till they look like this:


<---Thats the way i feel when i have to change out the buckets.

Redeye

Nothing you said is what I WANTED to hear but, it's exactly what I NEEDED to hear. Thank you.

Np man, glad i could help. If it hasnt been mentioned, you should throw it into flower as soon as possible. Sativas can handle it, usually. Alot of breeders suggest 12/12 from seed for their indoor sats.

Good luck on the grow