2 strains
@russrahl, I'm aware of the difference between both. Ironically, the amount of air space in Kratky and DWC isn't too dissimilar (at the start, at least). Kratky is for smaller plants and the idea is, as the water gets used, the nutrients concentrate... so as the plant grows, the strength of the diminishing nutrient solution concentrates to support the bigger plant, and the airspace grows while the plant drinks too. Sometimes you need to add more water - it depends on how suitable the pot size is for the whatever being grown. Far too much opportunity for root rot if you ask me. Kratky is fine for seedlings, but past week 3 I think it makes sense to move to a different method/medium.
I left the air pump on over night. Nutrient strength has gone from 427 to 398, so it's happily eating from the water now! The drooped leaves are still dry-feeling and drooped, so you were right - it was nutrient burn. The new growth is looking much healthier now and she seems to have picked up the pace slightly in growth too. So, unless I see some deficiencies, I'll be leaving her alone for the rest of the week (until 5th node appears, which I intend to top). Roots are still growing like nuts - the tap root has doubled in size over night, so too have some of the side roots which were starting to appear from the basket. She seems to be happy as-is, so thanks for the help!
Really hate how EVERY manufacturer instructs way too high doses of their nutrients. This is 2nd grow attempt (neither seed germinated last time, so I'm not counting that one!), and 2nd time I've burned following nutrient manufacturer guidelines. From now on, less is more. Unless I see a deficiency, I'm sticking at 35% of whatever value is recommended.
BTW - my pot insulation works really well. Lights on at 6am, off at 2am. I keep 2l solution in the fridge all day. At 4/5pm I draw 2l of 'warm' solution, add 2l of refrigerated solution and the temps are sticking between 18-20c (optimal range). It helps that my air pump is outside the tent in a cool room, and that the volume of air being pumped through acts as its own cooling system.
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