Vegetation: To keep temperature and moisture on optimal levels at around 23°C / 65% I'm using two mechanical timers.
- 24/7 on: Fans and water pumps (+Ventilation after 3.11.)
- Timer 1: Lights and Humidifier
18h on / 6h off
- Timer 2 (BROKEN 3.11.): Ventilation
18h (15min on / 15min off) / 6h off
NOTES:
Everything looks good and the roots have appeared from almost every (11/13) rock-wool cube.
From now on I'll mostly water the plants from bottom by adding the wanted amount of nutrient solution on a plate, and then placing the plant on top of for ~15seconds
This week I'm also starting to prepare the hydroponic systems (2x NFT-GT90, and 1x EBB-flow I think) and stronger nutrient solution since my plants are becoming ready to be transferred. Spreader-mat is the base of my plants when I have transferred them in to the hydroponic systems. DO NOT place more than one layer of the spreader-mat as it is not meant to be used like that! As you're cutting the mat for NFT's, be aware to have some extra for your peace to reach nutrient solution below the tray. That way you won't get noise from water dropping when systems are turned on.
Day 15 (1.11.)
Day 16 (2.11.)
First watering with a bit stronger nutrient-solution (~ EC 0,6 / pH 5,9) than before, starting with 50ml/plant and watering once from above. Slowly increasing EC to 0,8.
I cleaned and assembled 2 out of 3 hydroponic-systems which I'm going to use. I'll do the same also to the last system, but it currently has my plants on top of it so I'm going to do it later.
I want to make sure that my plants have built healthy and big enough root system before transplanting to hydroponics. I'm waiting for the rock-wool cubes to be bursting of roots so they won't drown on their first day in hydro. Also, as the plants are bigger before the transplant, I'm able to fill my nutrient-solution tanks full with correct strength nutrient-solution for Mid-Vegetation from the start, therefore no need for that much adjusting later on.
Day 17 (3.11.)
I noticed my other timer which controls the lights had stopped working... The lights were on when they shouldn't have been, I noticed it an hour after they were supposed to turn off. I think I caught up to it early, but it may have been on for maximum of 2 days straight. No worries there since on vegetation-phase the plants don't necessarily need any sleep (Even though you should avoid quick changes like that!).
Roots have appeared from the bottom of every cube and plants are looking pretty healthy. I think they are almost ready for hydroponics.
Day 18 (4.11.)
Few plants are showing symptoms of nutrient deficiences or some sort of sickness, not certain what exactly. I'll be keeping an eye on it. I'll be transferring in to hydroponic systems in maybe a week, so I don't want to stress my plants more than what's necessary.
Increased my solution strength to 0,9 EC with a bit more Cal-Mag than before, and watered the plants for 50-150ml each plant depending on weight and size. I'll be slowly increasing the strength by around 50% during upcoming week. Thanks for tips!
Day 19 (5.11.)
Day 20 (6.11.)
Plants are recovering well from deficiences and I just transferred all of them to hydroponics. I don't have the water pumps on for 24/7 just yet, at this point I water them a couple times a day by keeping the pumps on for somewhere around 15min at a time. Lights are now set to 60% and I also added a tower fan to circulate the air and shake the plants.
Day 21 (7.11.)
Lights are now set to 70% since the Led's and plants are spreaded wider in the tent than before. Distance to plants stays the same at 75cm.