Rainbow Melon – My First Manifold
Hydro
Custom-Built DWC System
Main
Indoor
Room Type
Start at 2 Week
G
Germination18d ago
420B3ardman A New Strain, a New Technique
This grow will be a new experiment for me in more than one way. Rainbow Melon will be my first real attempt at manifolding, and I also decided to try a different nutrient line for this run.
But the first experiment started before the seedling even saw its growing medium.
In my previous grows, the young taproots often emerged short, curved and twisted. This time I wanted to see if I could use gravity to my advantage.
After pre-soaking the seed, I placed it inside a moistened coffee filter. The filter was then placed inside a small aluminium pouch and hung vertically inside the grow tent, above the light. The idea was simple: instead of allowing the root to curl around between horizontal layers of paper, gravity would encourage it to grow in one direction — straight down.
And it worked.
The result was the longest and straightest taproot I had ever produced during germination. A very simple experiment, but definitely one I will remember for future grows.
Since I had never tried this type of training before, I also decided to make another change and test a completely different nutrient line.
This is not a sponsored grow and I have no connection to the manufacturer. I bought the products myself, so later in the diary I will share my honest experience — the good, the bad, and whatever happens in between.
New strain.
New nutrients.
My first manifold.
Let’s see where this one goes. 🌈🍉
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Used method
Paper Towel
Germination Method
1
Week 1. Vegetation11d ago
3 cm
Height
18 hrs
Light Schedule
23 °C
Day Air Temp
5.8
pH
No Smell
Smell
80 %
Air Humidity
50 cm
Lamp Distance
420B3ardman 🌱 Week 1 – A Small Start Before the Real DWC
After germination, I decided not to place the Rainbow Melon directly into the main DWC system.
At this stage, the seedling was still tiny, and using 5–10 litres of RO water for such a small plant felt unnecessary. So for the first few days, I kept it in a very simple temporary setup with only a small amount of water.
The solution was kept strictly at pH 5.8, with just a few drops of T.A. Root Booster added to support early root development. Unfortunately, I did not record the exact EC or PPFD at this stage, so rather than inventing numbers, I will simply leave them undocumented.
Nothing complicated yet — just giving the young seedling a gentle start without wasting a reservoir full of RO water.
Next week, the real project begins: the Rainbow Melon moves into my own custom-designed DWC system. 🌱💧
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2
Week 2. Vegetation9d ago
3 cm
Height
18 hrs
Light Schedule
23 °C
Day Air Temp
5.8
pH
No Smell
Smell
230 PPM
TDS
80 %
Air Humidity
50 cm
Lamp Distance
420B3ardman 🌱 Week 2 – First Steps in a Custom 1L DWC
The Rainbow Melon seedling is now entering its second week, and everything is progressing exactly as I hoped. Healthy color, compact growth and no signs of stress so far.
This grow is also the first real test of a small 1-liter Deep Water Culture system that I designed and built myself. The goal wasn't only to grow a healthy seedling but also to create a compact platform for experimenting with hydroponic ideas before moving plants into larger systems.
The bucket is fully insulated to keep the nutrient solution as stable as possible, while all tubing was routed through custom 3D-printed holders for a cleaner layout and easier maintenance. I really enjoy building my own equipment almost as much as growing the plants themselves.
Nutrient Solution
10 L Reverse Osmosis Water
Water temperature: 19–20°C
Advanced Nutrients Sensi Cal Mag Xtra – 5 ml
Advanced Nutrients pH Perfect Sensi Grow A – 2.5 ml
Advanced Nutrients pH Perfect Sensi Grow B – 2.5 ml
Advanced Nutrients Voodoo Juice – 5 ml
Final parameters:
EC: 0.46 mS/cm
pH: 5.8
The nutrient solution remained perfectly stable throughout the week.
The seedling seems very happy with the environment, so now the real fun begins. During the coming weeks I'll continue documenting not only the plant itself but also the evolution of the DIY hydroponic system. This little bucket is just the beginning of a much bigger project that's already taking shape in my workshop.
Happy growing! 🌱
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