[BigToke]

Hydro Systems That Reduces Stretching???


For the last three years I have been reading the on line grow forms on the internet, looking at the varies and different Hydroponics Systems out there. I have noticed some conmen denominators that produces what appears to be more or less stretching in certain types of system.

Let’s start with what I would call some Hydroponics Systems that cause more stretching than others, btw all of these is just what I’ve personally observed and is imo only.

1. All of the hydro systems that mach these descriptions imo produces more stretching than others and they are: All systems that the roots are completely submerged in water/solution, and are receiving high amounts of dissolved oxygen it would seem to me that the plants stretch more than the others.
   
2. All of the hydro systems that mach these descriptions imo produces less stretching than others and they are: All systems that are of a flood and drain or ether NFT types of system, imo would seem to me that they produces less stretching, I think that it has something to do with how that the roots absorb DO.

And yes I no, before any one say a word about it’s all about the type of strain you grow, will I have seen a lot of different strains grew in both system and that is just imo.

[So Quick]

hmmmm...anybody has anything else to add that would support BT's theory?? I do know for a fact, as a long time rockwool user, that using hydroton as a medium, my plants finishes shorter compared to rockwool...when using wool, I ran my feeding 2-3 times a day, but wit hydroton, I feed every 30 min @ 30 sec intervals....

SQ

Well I'm new to hydro but not growing. I'm doing my 1st hydro now, i'd thought i'd vegg in DWC tubbler bubbler then transplant to buckets. I have lost complete control of my plants, they are stretching at a rate of 3 inches per day. Topping them made no differance they are stretching between nodes. They were topped about a week ago and were 8 inches tall, today they are 24.

From the ebb and flow grows i've seen, I believe they have allot less stretching and more control over ther plants. If I had unlimited ceiling height it woudnt matter, but I dont.

70s

[buzzerd]

hmm...maybe,maybe not we'll keep strains as a non issue

If i remember right you use a Krusty bucket sys which is basically a re-circulating DWC correct. I’ve seen your posts at OG

i would have to say depending on type of lights used and the height they are set at would be a factor
Lighting cycle that is used 24-0 versus 18-6 or which ever cycle you use would be another factor
training would have to come in i've seen some pretty solid micro grows that just blow you away in both hydro and soil

i use dwc 10 gal rubbermaids and the growth is fantastic and i can keep my plants to a height of around 24 inches plus or minus i do top and lightly train i have also not topped and have had plants as tall as 3 ft + or - .

Depending on the light cycles that are used play a big part in your plants lives, I have noticed that by being on a 24-0 light schedule that there are really no extra benefits that the plant gets in fact i would say just the opposite happens when on a 24 hr light cycle there is a period of time that the plant shuts down and takes a break the leaves actually droop down as if the plant has been over watered we know this not true because the plant lives in water so what causes the plant to do this? It’s telling you that at some time or another that the light cycle has to be changed so i can develop so when you do flip them over to 12-12 they stretch a bit more because they have never had to deal with darkness before and need to adjust their growing schedule at the onset of flower you may have had very tight nodes but with in 1 week the node spacing has become quite far apart as from what you were getting in veg
Where as on an 18-6 or other cycle your giving the plant a dark time to be able to replenish it's resources and to pace out it's growth in node spacing and under growth that's why you see the branching on the first node or 2 develop so quickly.

Ok so what about light size and height...
i use a 400 air cooled and with the glass shield so i can have my light just about right on top of the canopy but i set it roughly about 10 -12 inches above so that they are not completely washed out with light there only so much light that the plant can process. So in theory i can have a plant top out at say 24 inches and the light at 10 inches above and the light has 24 inches of penetration the node spacing will stay much tighter and the stretching is less prevalent
now comes strains there's no way not to say anything about that.is it a cross or is it a very stable strain these are all a factor

IMHO it's not the system that is used but the knowledge that the grower has and how he puts it to use

Good stuff Buzz

I agree with your primus that it is the light cycle, light height, nute regime, talent of the grower and of course strain. The duration of the veg cycle can also have alot to do with finished height.

I lean toward nutes and lights and not the media as having more impact on plant height.

And you can not just put aside the strain, it is a big part of the equation.

Tex

Ok then can you guys take a look at this my grow thread and tell me why my LSD are out of control, nutes GH 3 part, last rez change 6 days ago 1350ppm, this morning 500ppm, currently 800watts hps, 18/6 light cycle, DWC tub

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=6894

thanks in advance

70s

[buzzerd]

hey pothead(allways wanted to say that) to some one LOL

well i,ve been through your post for a few days crazy i think that what your seeing is that the sativa side of the plant has now taken over, the 18-6 light 12-12 works just fine for an indica dominant plant where as a sativa dominant plant your looking at around 13-11 light cycle to mimic the equatorial light periods
so i would imagine that by giving a sativa dominant plant that many hrs of light they are going to go through the roof where as the indica trait would bring the finish time down quite a bit also this could be why you have not seen any sign of sex because of the sativa dominance.
I too try to read up and plan out a grow but there are alot of factors come into play no matter how much you prepare genetics being a big part of the whole plan where i grow now i flip them at 30 days no matter what right now i have some of JLP's Ultimate Moonshine growing now my last post was last sun and they are 25 days old from seed and there is a big difference in growth you can check it out here https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=6857 i also use GH 3 part

if i were you i would clone and the change the light cycle now,what i would be afraid of will be the STRETCH they are going to go through the roof if you don't train now

thats amazing buzzard, the differance between yours at 25 days and mine are about 26 I believe.
Also you mentioned the light cycle, the 18/6 i mentioned above was for vegg, I've been 12/12 for 5 days now, are you saying I should switch to 13/11?? I've also got 100 watts per sq ft, do you think thats giving them too much energy this early in life.

70s

[So Quick]

Yea, I agree...nicely laid out buzz! Hey TK...I'm not sure about all that other stuff...but I do know from experience that hydroton vs wool produces a more compact plant...I always had an issue wit my plants fallin over a couple of weeks before harvest, even if I go right into flowering wit no veg, usually finishes upper 30", but now that I use the hydroton...I'm right around upper 20 inches...same technique, but different feeding times because of the 2 different water retentions...and now no more collapsed crops! If you have the time or space...give the 2 a whirl...or anybody else for that matter...I'm not sure how all the other mediums compare to each other, but definately wet to dry type of mediums differ...

SQ