propagating seeds for hydro?

Hi everyone,

I have a question about the propagation of seeds for a hydroponic setup. Basically, I need to know what happens between germination and the time my plants roots are long enough to reach the water in my hydro system.

So here are my specific questions..

1) Once seeds are germinated I put them in rock wool or rapid rooters, yes? What do I do as the plant matures? Do I just put the whole thing, cube and plant, into the expanded clay in my net pots?

Also, when do I put the plant in the hydro system... once the roots get bigger or once the leaves begin to develop?

2) If this is the case, do I then just keep my res filled almost to the top so the little baby roots get wet?


Thanks!

can anyone help me out here?

I suggest you skim through this thread. You could learn a lot. I belong to this club and these ppl are very informative. Go check out some of the post.
https://www.rollitup.org/hydroponics-aeroponics/141252-dwc-grow-club.html

hey ya tbeezy, how ya doin'?

I might have some help for ya. I germinate in either rockwool or rapid rooters until the roots are showing. Then I put them into a 3 inch net pot with hydroton clay pellets with a diy drip dwc system to veg for several weeks/months. I just got the airhose, water pump and T connectors from the aquarium section at a local pet store. Initially I set a timer on the pump to drip for 15 minutes every 6 hours for the 1st week, then 15 minutes every 4 hours during the 2nd week of veg, then run it nonstop even after the roots have reached the water level. I think it helps to add humidity and aerates the res water below. I also have a three foot air wand in my res.

After I have vegged for as long as I think is enough, I transfer the entire net pot to the Water Farm and feed the root ball down through the hole cut in the center of the top bucket on the Water Farm. The net pot sits in the hole. I do lose some of the lower portion of the plant so that's why I normally veg longer than most. With the net pot so low in the clay pellets I take several clones from the plant at flower time.