T Dub’s Durban Poison Winter Garden

[T_Dub]

That's why I like hydro. No flushing. Just dump the tank and fill it back up. Only bad side of hydro is trying to grow sativas with indicas. The PPM's that a indica crave will fry a sativa. Learned that little lesson on my first indoor grow.

Hi Hippie,
I might have misinterpreted your definition of hydro since you’re talking about growing plants together. Is there another type of system that you are referring to?

I’m looking at these individual buckets (no water lines to leak) with air compressors. That would allow me to customize nutrient feed by plant based on deficiencies noted or anticipated.

I might take advantage of this Black Friday sale too….so I’m 90% sold on trying hydro. I like experimenting so I was leaning towards trying an earthbox. However, I don’t have a yard where I can work with mixing soil. Growing in water might work even easier for my grow environment.

This is what I’m planning to buy unless someone sees a flaw with it. This seems like a reasonable price compared to many others.
https://www.spider-farmer.com/products/dwc-2-buckets/

 

[Hippie420]

Dub, I built mine outta storage totes. For a 2x2, find a size that fits, then find a smaller one that will fit inside. If you flood one (and you will), it'll just go into the larger one. Keep a wet/dry vac on standby.
I only did it once 'cause I was stoned and didn't realize I was putting too much water in it 'cause it wasn't coming back in the reservoir tank due to roots that had grown in and blocked the hose. I had four tanks in a sealed 8x8 room with the rez remotely located outside the room.

 

[Hippie420]

I like hydro indoors. No bugs unless you bring 'em in. Check the grow first thing in the morning in clean clothes and stay out after you've been outside. Bugs are great little hitch-hikers.

 

[Flower]

I also grow in a basement bedroom.
I ripped out the carpet, though.
Run off goes straight to the floor, and evaporates.

 

[KGB]

Hi Hippie,
I might have misinterpreted your definition of hydro since you’re talking about growing plants together. Is there another type of system that you are referring to?

I’m looking at these individual buckets (no water lines to leak) with air compressors. That would allow me to customize nutrient feed by plant based on deficiencies noted or anticipated.

I might take advantage of this Black Friday sale too….so I’m 90% sold on trying hydro. I like experimenting so I was leaning towards trying an earthbox. However, I don’t have a yard where I can work with mixing soil. Growing in water might work even easier for my grow environment.

This is what I’m planning to buy unless someone sees a flaw with it. This seems like a reasonable price compared to many others.
https://www.spider-farmer.com/products/dwc-2-buckets/
View attachment 366300

If I wasn’t doing an EarthBox deep water culture is what I would be doing. These systems are pretty mature I wouldn’t worry about massive leaks as long as you double check all your connections. And if your tent

I also grow in a basement bedroom.
I ripped out the carpet, though.
Run off goes straight to the floor, and evaporates.

i also also grow in a basement bedroom now formally my man cave

My floor is some kind of cheap plank. When I was experimenting with gravity feed I dumped 4 gallons overnight twice. The AC Infinity pan in the tent contained almost all of it and the small amount that got out didn’t spread. Still a valid concern which I share considering I almost drained my 30 gallon trash can full of water by back siphoning. I got lucky

 

[WeedHopper]

I use to grow DWC in 5 gallon buckets. Worked great. Just have to watch your solution temperatures.
Mine were all DIY.

 

[T_Dub]

I use to grow DWC in 5 gallon buckets. Worked great. Just have to watch your solution temperatures.
Mine were all DIY.

Thanks WeedHopper! I might be regretting this decision after watching hours of DWC videos on YouTube yesterday, but I’m willing to try it as long as this current grow survives.

The solution temperatures and water quality issues concern me. (My water is 9.2ph and 285ppm, plus treated with chloramine). I do have a SMALL reverse osmosis system that I can pull 1 gallons from per day, so I’ll blend with RO water 1:1 ratio. This means saving RO water every day for that weekly change if I run two 7-gallon buckets??

As far as solution temperatures, my current small reservoirs are sitting at 67.8 degrees after 12 hours of lights out. I’ll measure again tonight after 12 hours at 80 degree air temp. Here’s my tentative plan 1.). Move the air pump outside of the tent to feed cooler air into the nutrient solution and 2 Toss a frozen 1L bottle of water into the reservoir each morning when possible. If needed, move the ballast?/transformer from the LED to outside the tent. However, I like the heat from the lamps in winter for the plants’ benefit.

Thanks again! I’ll definitely plan to document when I start that DWC grow and reach out the MP community if I run into major issues.

I initially researched DIY too except I liked the leakproof design of the Spiderfarmer which includes a top access panel so that you don’t have to lift the plant to check ph or add water. I liked the 7 gallon capacity, the bubbling feeder, the back flow device, the ease of a “complete kit”, and the Black Friday pricing. I didn’t think I could build a leak-proof system for less. I only found one review online so far since it’s a new item and it wasn’t very complementary (that’s only one person).

 

[T_Dub]

Exciting progress. The budlets are showing up today. A few small signs of nutrient burn, so I won’t push them any harder from a ppm standpoint. I should flush and replace the nutrients tomorrow, but it will have to wait for Friday due to the holiday.

Today marks day 11 since the flip. I believe now is supposed to be the last time to weave branches for the scrog, so I added a second scrog screen and wove some branches for a more even canopy. I’ll look for a few more opportunities to expose bud sites to the light for more colas. I hope I get some decent stretch now in the last days (10-21) of the flip to flower.

I see a lot of bud sites, but the density per square doesn’t look up to many other scrogs I see yet. I’ll do a little more weaving today.

Daily Light Integral at 35.

 

[greenmobster440]

Exciting progress. The budlets are showing up today. A few small signs of nutrient burn, so I won’t push them any harder from a ppm standpoint. I should flush and replace the nutrients tomorrow, but it will have to wait for Friday due to the holiday.
View attachment 366323
View attachment 366325
View attachment 366327

Today marks day 11 since the flip. I believe now is supposed to be the last time to weave branches for the scrog, so I added a second scrog screen and wove some branches for a more even canopy. I’ll look for a few more opportunities to expose bud sites to the light for more colas. I hope I get some decent stretch now in the last days (10-21) of the flip to flower.
View attachment 366326
I see a lot of bud sites, but the density per square doesn’t look up to many other scrogs I see yet. I’ll do a little more weaving today.

Daily Light Integral at 35.

That 7-10days of screen training is just a guideline really some plants stretch more some don't.

I've found most strains respond well to 10days or so. Ya may find raising the second net a little more useful soon. Put you a gap in there you can work with and taller buds will have support.

Timing is key with set framed scrogs. I think your doing a great job. Your definitely going to have more control than you did with that monster Godfather OG ya grew..lol.

 

[T_Dub]

That 7-10days of screen training is just a guideline really some plants stretch more some don't.

I've found most strains respond well to 10days or so. Ya may find raising the second net a little more useful soon. Put you a gap in there you can work with and taller buds will have support.

Timing is key with set framed scrogs. I think you’re doing a great job. You’re definitely going to have more control than you did with that monster Godfather OG ya grew..lol.

Thanks Greenmobster! Hopefully my timing was ok and I didn’t wait too long. I like the scrog technique and plan to use it again next time. It’s so nice maintaining an ideal distance from the LED for most of the canopy with this technique.

Yes, my grow last year truly proved that excessive infrared light increases stretch and reduces yield. Here’s what I was fighting last year at this time. I definitely prefer the scrog approach.


When I grow only two plants in DWC, I’m considering testing your floating scrog on the DWC containers.

 

[Hippie420]

I only changed my rez once every two weeks. I'd put the water and whatever I was using in, check the PPM's, and check 'em again the next week. I'd add my goodies and water if needed. Second week, I'd dump everything and start over. Worked for me, but I was running a R-DWC system. Water was constantly moving and being aerated in the rez tank.
I started out with a aquarium heater in the rez tank but found out it wasn't needed.

 

[T_Dub]

I only changed my rez once every two weeks. I'd put the water and whatever I was using in, check the PPM's, and check 'em again the next week. If needed, I'd add my goodies and water if needed. Second week, I'd dump everything and start over. Worked for me, but I was running a R-DWC system. Water was constantly moving and being aerated in the rez tank.
I started out with an aquarium heater in the rez tank but found out it wasn't needed.

Thanks Hippie! I finally figured out what a R-DWC was after watching more videos yesterday. Now I understand your concern with mixing Sativas and indicas in the same system.

That’s great news about changing res every two weeks. That cuts my workload in half.

Thanks again for the idea. I’m excited to start my first DWC.

 

[T_Dub]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Busy day prepping to host dinner, but I decided that I needed an hour in the garden to relax.

I don’t recall who posted this, but it sure represents my house.

Yesterday was the beginning of week 3 of flower. Nutrient solution has been topped and filled. Reading 6.0ph and 900ppm in the three reservoirs. My current nutrient GH Flora schedule is attached too. The plants are under a new light spectrum with a lot more red which is supposed to help with flowering. My colas don’t stack nicely, so I’m hoping for a little more stretch. I should probably experiment with lamp height more to encourage stretch too. This is the new SE4500 from Spider Farmer. The new one has less wattage and fewer LED bars than the old SE4500. Shrinkflation? Haha. Regardless, this looks like a good size for my 2x4 tent.

The left side of the tent is looking pretty good with the distribution of bud sites. The right hand side is really weak. I’m suspecting that the oscillating fan was blocking the light from the cob and shading some of the canopy, but that doesn’t explain all of it. This plant is just smaller and slower to grow than the other two even under similar conditions.

Bud sites are forming nicely but I am hoping for large colas on this. Maybe I don’t have the right strain (Durban Poison x Skunk) for large colas, but they’re not developing vertically as much as I’d like to see.

Seeing a small discoloration on a few leaves and red stems……looks like a call for more CalMag and a little more phosphorous. I’ve been backing off CalMag due to the ppm content down to 2ml/g. Added a little extra CalMag and Liquid KoolBloom (0-10-10) to the reservoirs this morning.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

 

[greenmobster440]

At 3wks your stretch is near end. You'll gain a few inches more. Looks about 8"+ above the bottom net. That's pretty good. Once they get set and ya remove some leaf you should end up with many nice colas. Looks nice n healthy.

 

[Hippie420]

Thanks Hippie! I finally figured out what a R-DWC was after watching more videos yesterday. Now I understand your concern with mixing Sativas and indicas in the same system.

That’s great news about changing res every two weeks. That cuts my workload in half.

Thanks again for the idea. I’m excited to start my first DWC.

Just remember to check your PH on pretty much a daily basis. I never went more than two days, tops. 5.8 is what your shooting for.
If you check and it's 6.0, add about half of what you think you'll need of PH down. Wait a couple of hours and check it again. Keep records of everything you do. That way, you've got a reference as to how much of anything you need to add.
If you get nuts and get the PH too low, add a tiny amount of baking soda. Again, use about half of what you think you'll need and wait a couple of hours.
In R-DWC, you'll get results pretty quick. I think my tanks and rez held 15-20 gallons or so, and the recirc pump was putting out 450 GPH. Didn't take long to get stuff mixed in the system.

 

[T_Dub]

At 3wks your stretch is near end. You'll gain a few inches more. Looks about 8"+ above the bottom net. That's pretty good. Once they get set and ya remove some leaf you should end up with many nice colas. Looks nice n

Thanks Greenmobster! Wow….not near as much stretch as I had expected. I’m just curious…..would you leave the second scrog net on at this point? I’m thinking that harvest will be easier without it and I could defoliate the leafy colas easier. Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for sharing your scrog knowledge on this grow.

 

[T_Dub]

Just remember to check your PH on pretty much a daily basis. I never went more than two days, tops. 5.8 is what your shooting for.
If you check and it's 6.0, add about half of what you think you'll need of PH down. Wait a couple of hours and check it again. Keep records of everything you do. That way, you've got a reference as to how much of anything you need to add.
If you get nuts and get the PH too low, add a tiny amount of baking soda. Again, use about half of what you think you'll need and wait a couple of hours.
In R-DWC, you'll get results pretty quick. I think my tanks and rez held 15-20 gallons or so, and the recirc pump was putting out 450 GPH. Didn't take long to get stuff mixed in the system.

Thank you Hippie. I’m going with the simple individual buckets for this test but I will definitely take your advice. If I end up enjoying this style of growing, I’ll consider the R-DWC. I suspect I will have temperature issues….my current reservoirs in the tent fluctuate from 68-70 degrees daily.

This will be fun…..

 

[T_Dub]

I tried cloning twice just for fun and it failed both times. I didn’t use the right equipment or any supplies. However, if I’m going to attempt DWC it would be nice to have a few clones available as emergency spares. I have never grown DWC or with clones so I’ll probably kill a few.

My wife brought up the idea that I might enjoy an indoor hydroponic gardening machines as a winter hobby. She pointed out that Aerogarden is going out of business and selling their units at 50% off this Black Friday. I immediately saw the opportunity to play around and try to clone some plants. There’s no real benefit to it for me given that I’m only growing two plants. So next steps I’m going to try cloning 6 plants in case I kill the clones.

After that, I’ll be trying my hand at Tiny Tim tomatoes, dwarf peppers and maybe lettuce and herbs.

Anyway….one of these Black Friday sales is now my wife’s early gift to me for Christmas. This is the dumb Spider Farmer model (no smart phone app) which makes it $55 cheaper.

Anyway….cloning and DWC up next. Maybe December cloning and January DWC.

 

[KGB]

I tried cloning twice just for fun and it failed both times. I didn’t use the right equipment or any supplies. However, if I’m going to attempt DWC it would be nice to have a few clones available as emergency spares. I have never grown DWC or with clones so I’ll probably kill a few.

My wife brought up the idea that I might enjoy an indoor hydroponic gardening machines as a winter hobby. She pointed out that Aerogarden is going out of business and selling their units at 50% off this Black Friday. I immediately saw the opportunity to play around and try to clone some plants. There’s no real benefit to it for me given that I’m only growing two plants. So next steps I’m going to try cloning 6 plants in case I kill the clones.

After that, I’ll be trying my hand at Tiny Tim tomatoes, dwarf peppers and maybe lettuce and herbs.

Anyway….one of these Black Friday sales is now my wife’s early gift to me for Christmas. This is the dumb Spider Farmer model (no smart phone app) which makes it $55 cheaper.

Anyway….cloning and DWC up next. Maybe December cloning and January DWC.

View attachment 366433

LOL great minds

I earlier planned on taking cuttings and putting them in one then kick it to flower and spray it to make feminized pollen. Something happened and I didn’t get to try it but I will next time. I would really like to watch the process unfold so I can study it

 

[T_Dub]

LOL great minds

I earlier planned on taking cuttings and putting them in one then kick it to flower and spray it to make feminized pollen. Something happened and I didn’t get to try it but I will next time. I would really like to watch the process unfold so I can study it

Wow KGB, you are getting into that advanced stuff! I would enjoy following along with your experiment. I was watching Marijan create seeds with some supplements. I could see trying that someday when I’m a more advanced grower. Let me read up on it because I’d love to save some money on seeds and I could experiment with the “mother” once I get my clones. I hadn’t even thought of using the hydroponic unit for that purpose…..very creative idea! It’s really all in the name of fun for me because saving the cost of 2-3 seeds per year doesn’t really justify the time and expense to make seeds.

Now I just need to pick a good feminized seed strain to grow. I misplaced my Godfather OG seeds (that was my first choice) but I have a Seedsman Purple Ghost Candy that I can grow!

I’m just planning to grow one plant in the small hydro garden and then source 5 clones from it. I’ll keep those alive and put two into the DWC buckets.