How much to use drippers in DWC?

[phattybudz]

So I'm running a 6 bucket dwc, with rockwool/hydroton. Somebody advised me against watering new babies 15 mins. every 3 hours, which is what I had previously been told to do.

So how should I set the drippers timer for new clones/veg/flower?

TIA!

 

[cgns]

I'm feeding my babies 20 minutes every 3 hours at each phase veg/flo. Everything works perfectly and after 8 weeks my planst are over 1,5 meter high and they look healthy.

 

[DIGITALHIPPY]

WAIT YOU JUST SAID YOUR RUNNING DWC.....
you apperantly dont even know that mean DEEP WATER CULTURE.... water to the top...

sounds like you could be doing NFT...
Nutrient film technique....

rockwool blocks/slabs? with black hose and a res...
24/7 is best... keep a big airstone in your res.
whatever schedual you want, but dont let the roots dry, 24/7 is best.

 

[Wait...What?]

He is, in all likelihood, running a recirculating DWC where the feed line is used as a dripper.

While a drip system is usually very tunable between feed frequency, duration, and nutrient strength, your nutrient strength limit is already fixed with the DWC part of this method. Run the feed pump 24/7.

 

[phattybudz]

yep recirculating dwc with airstones in each bucket, feed pump going 24/7, drippers on top going every 3 hours like cgns...guess ive got it right, thanks guys.

 

[Miko]

Why would you want drip system in a bubler?

 

[phattybudz]

Ahhh... I'm not exactly sure, somebody told me to set it up that way. You're saying I don't even need those huh??

 

[ItsGrowTime]

Why would you want drip system in a bubler?

It will help the roots get going if they arent touching the water yet but once the roots are in the DWC solution you should turn the drippers off. And to answer the original question, you can leave the drippers running 24/7 if you want, it shouldnt hurt anything.

 

[Delta Force]

Im about to use my homemade DWC buckets I ran 2 yrs ago with some GDP and others very soon. I could really use some basic pointers from you guys if yoy dont mind see you prob know way more. Im a soil guy pretty much but I ran some DWC buckets when I had no truncheon or real understanding of the lower PH and nuances of dro. Got decent results although buds could have swelled up more and less buckets..............they get BIG dayum. I think I am making a big switch to hydro soon with few organic soil just for kick. Eventually E&F tables prob with coco but DWC is easy and has great results.

I plan on keepin the water level high until I know the roots are long enough to suspend in the solution at its 2.5-3 gal level in my buckets. Basically just enough to tease the roots down. I have my clones in the EX machine now gettin long roots to aid in this process. I'll pour some over once in awhile too if I see wilting or stress. Should this be okay? Also what temps am I shooting for in my solution? Are open air lines with no stones okay? I like the big bubbles I get with 2 of per bucket.
Im using PBP for now maybe FN soon with some sweet and Koolbloom lata on.........maybe some cal mag? Plan on putitin the rooted GDP in today with a solution of about 500ppms with soem grow and bcuzz root too and of course hygrozyme......or not? is it okay in dro?

If you feel I jacked ur thread homie let me know I just figured this could be a good thread to help out newbs like me and learn from some experienced guys. let me know i can delete it and move it to my own thread bro.

i got the hydro itch.............................hey I got a water farm too..........for my moms usuallly.............is that a drip? its got that donut thing. I feel dumb now

Any help is appreciated

 

[DIGITALHIPPY]

DWC implies the plant is up to the stalk in freaking water... your going to drip more water on that?


just make sure you have an airstone, forget the drippers.

 

[Miko]

Well, I know i never had to use drippers. Even on unrooted cuttings. And the stalk don't even have to be in water. Drippers in a bubbler.. makes no sense to me.

 

[phattybudz]

Hmmmm ok, well I've got a 6'' airstone in each bucket... I've got plenty enough air pumps to put another airstone in each bucket if I'm not using drippers.

Should I add another one to each bucket? And in the Rez maybe?

Thanks!!!

 

[Miko]

It depends on airstones and bucket size but one is usually enough.

 

[jtk707]

I like to run a dwc sytem with drippers also . They come in handy when your plants are not able to reach the nutrients , when roots are small . also I run them randomly (whenever I think they need it) during the bloom cycle but 24 / 7 during bloom .

 

[HydroCulture]

I think using drippers in DWC in nonsense....If you use a rockwool cube it will ensure that the roots will grow into the solution...Drippers in DWC can only contribute to Algae ...Really pointless.

 

[ItsGrowTime]

I think using drippers in DWC in nonsense....If you use a rockwool cube it will ensure that the roots will grow into the solution...Drippers in DWC can only contribute to Algae ...Really pointless.

That would be true if everyone used rockwool. They don't. My clones go straight into hydroton so top feeding is a necessity.

ETA: Im not referring to DWC tho. Forget this was a DWC thread
In recirc. bucket DWCs, top feed is pretty much the accepted way to start roots until they grow down into the bucket. I agree that drippers are unnecessary in a stand-alone DWC tub tho.

 

[FreezerBoy]

My Rockwool is hand cut 3/4 inch cubes then placed in 5 inch net pot. The stalk has long since shredded the cube. What remains of it is bone dry. My air gap ranges from 1-6 inches. I have no top feeder. I submerge half the netpot till sufficient roots appear. When the roots can clear the gap, I lower the water.

I don't have any ammo to suggest top feed is bad in established plants. I do know mine grow luxuriously without it. Given the point of DWC is to deliver massive amounts of oxygen, I'd at least try with top feed off. Just make sure you got LotsO'Bubbles.