tacitocastillo
New member
Long time browser, first time poster and first time grower.
I've got some plants hanging out in beer cups full of perlite. They have been vegetating long enough to show preflowers and need to go into DWC and start flowering within the next week, but I'm having trouble locating a suitable potting medium.
I like the perlite, it has treated my plants well so far. I haven't built the DWC system or ever run one before, but I'm assuming that the bubbling water of the DWC reservoir would knock perlite into my reservoir and probably clog my air! I notice most people use hydroton/clay pebbles but I'm unable to find these at regular stores, I refuse to visit hydroponic shops,internet retailers and ebay for security reasons.
I've considered doing the bottom 1/4-1/3 with lava rocks and topping it off with perlite, that would keep the perlite above bubbling water level, but I'm not sure about how they will affect pH, TDS and turbidity in the reservoir. Does this seem like a smart solution? What about small paving stones/pebbles?
Can you think of a better solution?
Should I perhaps go with a different hydro method that will better accommodate my security precautions?
The scale of the grow is relatively small, 252 watts CFL, about 16,000 lumens in a space 15"x22". Looking for about 4-6 plants.
Please discuss freely and I apologize if I have posted too much at once.
-TC
I've got some plants hanging out in beer cups full of perlite. They have been vegetating long enough to show preflowers and need to go into DWC and start flowering within the next week, but I'm having trouble locating a suitable potting medium.
I like the perlite, it has treated my plants well so far. I haven't built the DWC system or ever run one before, but I'm assuming that the bubbling water of the DWC reservoir would knock perlite into my reservoir and probably clog my air! I notice most people use hydroton/clay pebbles but I'm unable to find these at regular stores, I refuse to visit hydroponic shops,internet retailers and ebay for security reasons.
I've considered doing the bottom 1/4-1/3 with lava rocks and topping it off with perlite, that would keep the perlite above bubbling water level, but I'm not sure about how they will affect pH, TDS and turbidity in the reservoir. Does this seem like a smart solution? What about small paving stones/pebbles?
Can you think of a better solution?
Should I perhaps go with a different hydro method that will better accommodate my security precautions?
The scale of the grow is relatively small, 252 watts CFL, about 16,000 lumens in a space 15"x22". Looking for about 4-6 plants.
Please discuss freely and I apologize if I have posted too much at once.
-TC
