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New to growing, few questions on this DWC system.
Hello, so I'm going to start out here saying I'm completely green (in the bad way) on cannabis growing, and basically any kind of growing of plants! So that being said please forgive me if I ask silly questions! After all, that's what forums are for.
Anyways, its time I want to grow my first plants. As I've done my weeks of research I started off thinking my first grow to be in dirt. Well as my obsession continued I learned of many different methods and there pros and cons. I've always remembered hearing about hydro being the best and quickest, but when you first look at the system, it seems complicated. Well me being me, I want the best I can get and want it the fastest. So I'm leaning about 99% running a top drip DWC system.
I do have several questions before I get to detailed.
1- We travel alot for work, sometimes for up to a month. A couple days a week or every other week is more the case. But I do want to set something up that can maintain itself for up to 30 days if possible. Is a top drip DWC combo with a big enough resivour capable of keeping my girls happy and healthy? How would I go about keeping my phone good and adding nuts? I've seen a auto ph up and ph down majiggy thingy, but yikes 300 some bucks! But if I need it, then I need it.
2- I bought auto flowering seeds.
- since autos are auto, will this screw me for leaving if they switch from veg to budding?
-when are the most critical times to be home to alter if need be?
-are autos bad to run in a DWC system with little maintenance? When I'm home, i can keep up on maintenance!
3- do I have enough light? (Hope so
Ordered a platnium led p300, my goal is 2 plants up to 4 at the very most.
4- your opinion on 1 pot 1 plant method, or 2 pots big resivour? Is it better for my situation of travel to have say a different strain in 1 pot vs the other. Then I can tweak nuts, ect where as a single resivour I can't fine tune individually. Also I like the DWC systems adding the top drip, kinda like added insurance
5- is DWC all that? if done right can it yield the most, really make the best looking buds? Can plants or strands have a better chance at higher thc with hydro? Or is this all talk, and I should just go grab some dirt?
I have more questions lol, but will start here. Thanks in advance
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Your problem there will be if you get any problems you won't be around to spot and sort them out.
Deficiencies,over or under feed.
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The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to ERBURT For This Useful Post:
British green (09-09-16),
TreeLover (09-09-16)
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You can't leave it for 30 days mate, it's not just the res you have to worry about, you have light heights, trimming and training to do, adjusting feeds ph, taking readings, tailoring to the plants needs, cleaning........
I could go on, I was doing it and going away from Monday to Friday and I felt the girls got neglected, I would say a good serious gardener would be there spending time with the girls everyday.
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The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Hippy Crack For This Useful Post:
British green (09-09-16),
ERBURT (09-09-16),
TreeLover (09-09-16)
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A week is the maximum you can leave the girls and I'm saying a week on a room that's fully dailed in so you know it works well enough . Temp wise and air exchange . I'd really recommend you think this through again . Top fed drippers tend to clog up . Just a large deep bucket would be best .
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The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to British green For This Useful Post:
Bethmeg (13-09-16),
TreeLover (09-09-16)
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Wow, thanks guys. Not the greatest news to wake up to. I have read of plenty of people leaving for vacations, some being only a week. But I did remember reading a guy who stated he left for 30 days and his plants where fine. I too found this fishy, and that's ultimately why I joined the forum to ask you guys. Soooooooo this kinda puts a damper in my thoughts. Releasticly we tend to be gone for 2 days up to 7 mostly. Fall is our busy time of year where I can be gone up to a month. So what's your thoughts on my best case scenario? I've been looking into the auto systemshow for feeding and ph. I know they are pricy, but if it's really my only option... I tried doing a little research last night on auto ph and feeders. Didn't find much ( from what i saw) for reviews or many people that tried a system like this for cannabis.
On the top drip system, I've heard several people recommend it. The roots will still be in the DWC solution, but wouldn't adding the drip system just be added insurance? If my water is clean the drpipers should be fine, right? Not arguing haha, I've just seen alot of pexpletive suggest top drip so wanting to hear more cons and pros.
I know it's alot of money for 2 plants lol, but if I did as much auto as possible is there a way to make this system or any system work for travelers?
Thanks again peeps, hope to hear some better news haha
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I should add, that my space is 3' x8' x8' concrete floor, all new insulation for framing, every seem or cut of a 2x4 got caulked, 8mil vapor barrier all walls ceiling and taped any seems with roof aluminum tape. Also entire interior is covered in reflectix, ceiling has 2" thick foam above the ceiling, and then I layer R38 batting insulation above that. Room is pretty dang sealed and insulated.
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I'd have thought the easiest option would be to grow in a good soil mix . Where no feeding or ph is required and you could just rig up a automatic watering system and have you run off go straight to the drain/waste .
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The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to British green For This Useful Post:
Bethmeg (13-09-16),
dennisk1979 (18-11-16),
ERBURT (09-09-16),
Joe Dirt (09-09-16),
TreeLover (09-09-16)
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Thanks British Green, I too have thought that. Hey its simple, dirt works. Plants do great outside with dramatic changes. Hydro does seem harder to run away from home, but I really like the benefits of hydro....
Bad thing, I can think of with dirt is bugs.
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I agree. For you first time you should go soil or a soiless mix. It is more forgiving. Soil provides a ph buffer. Promix or a soiless mix does as well. Coco allows immediate flushing if needed. My advice is be concerned with quality and not quantity. You are not going to be a master grower on your first grow. I'm not saying you can't grow some killer weed on your first grow, just take it slow is my advice. Start with soil and get a good handle on that then move to dwc. Just my 2 cents. A jogger doesn't run a marathon or even a half marathon without training.
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The Following User Says Thank You to Joe Dirt For This Useful Post:
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Haha, true true! I like the marathon statement. Doesn't mean I wouldn't die trying bahaha. But I do agree, however I do like pushing myself and reaping the benefits from my time, money, sweat and tears. I pick stuff up pretty easy, but I might be getting ahead of myself with jumping into a DWC. Or I might not?
My current thought, what if I set up one with dirt/perlite mixture and the other I do a DWC system. Hell if I loose a plant, I'm out a plant, life goes on. Sucks but that's how I learn. before we had Internet, we tried stuff with out knowing! Now I do use your guys knowledge because you've been there done that. But someone who didn't try a auto system, can't really state that the system won't work, right?!
So lights, training, trimming etc.... these run problems for me, but I don't think it's impossible.
Keep the ideas, thoughts, problems coming. But as of now I wouldn't mind trying a side by side comparison for a traveler. Try one DWC and the other a soiled set up.
Really appreciate the help and info guys!
Thanks again
To me (again I'm a newbie so probably wrong) but if you have everything set up for auto, you take the human error out. Obviously on days I'm home, I'll do all that I can.
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