New Indoor Grower Needs Advice Please

[Inquisitive Rec]

Hi All!

I am a newbie and would greatly appreciate some advice please. I vow to spread and give back all the knowledge and experience I gain!

As per pictures attached my nephew transplanted two small plants that were initially started in soil (as per some advice from the hydroponics store where we bought our small setup) told him that to introduce these two small plants into our new indoor hydro setup he should transplant them directly into Hydroton pebbles which he did but instead of putting them into a pot filled with Hydroton pebbles he filled one of the rather shallow hydro trays with hydroton pebbles and transplanted them into the tray (as per pictures attached).

The plants look healthy but are not really growing upwards. They are slowly getting bushier and greener. I took a quick look at the root structure and they are definitely growing but obviously sideways along the floor of the tray. The bigger plants root has grown around 15cm.

I was wondering if I should just give up these plants although they are from a really good strain. Should I give them some time as to possibly take clones or to see if they start getting bigger?

I have started with Ph'd water and small quantities of nutrients through the hydro system and reservoir and have the lights obviously on 18 6.

Please could I have some advice. Would be appreciated!

 

[blooper]

looks like they are under fed or not at the right pH. if you can get the environment dialed in you might as well see what happens. no point bailing unless you just can't get it figured

 

[PetFlora]

Carefully remove them from the sea of hydroton and place each seedling into their own ~ 6" net pot

I would not use hydroton, but since you have it, infill the net pots with it, or...

I use polished ornamental stone from The Dollar Store. No sloughing, and cleans easily for future grows

Put the net pots in the bottom of your flood tray and monitor flood time so that nutes get no farther up the np than ~ half way- not critical as long as drain hole is big enough to drain in ~ < 2 minutes

Because the rocks do not hold much water, I 'flood' very 30 minutes- one hour

I will be starting a new grow thread using this technique

Simple, cheap, and highly effective

 

[Inquisitive Rec]

NFT System New Seedlings

NFT System New Seedlings

Hey guys.

Thanks for the advice!

I have attached a few pics of my seedlings that are starting to come along. (I've lost 2 seedlings though, one while germinating and one while in the small rockwool cubes.) The other seedlings roots though started coming through the small rockwool cubes besides one that I have left in the small rockwool cube. I am hoping the roots will start coming through and then I'll move it into the bigger cubes as I have with the other seedlings.

I would really like to know when to start giving them nutrients though?

They have been in the rockwool now for about 6 days after germination. I would also appreciate some advice as how they are looking for the period of time?

I have not started with the NFT watering yet and would like to know when to start the system including nutrients?

 

[Inquisitive Rec]

Hi There!

Thanks for the advice.

We were advised by the hydro store to use the pebbles in conjunction with the rockwool. I have no idea if this is correct but would really appreciate to know why you say not to use the pebbles?

Thanks man and regards.

 

[Reinks]

Hi,I want to now how much time in the hours roots to be sprayed with water? sorry my english is bad

 

[PetFlora]

Im guessing both of these questions are for me

Once you use either rock wool or hydroton, you will see its' limitations. If you don't know there are much better options, you will put up with it- not me!

I replaced hydroton with lava rock, better but LR still sloughed off grit, and is also a PITA to clean after a harvest

Once you go black (polished ornamental stone) you'll never go back!

How much time between feedings depends on the substrate's ability to hold water

What you don't want is roots soaking in nutrients.

About the only thing good about either hydroton or lava rock is- they both some moisture keeping roots damp, but not soaking, between feedings

Subscribe to my newest grow thread to follow along

hth