I feel like I have not been having the best of luck with hydro overall. Learning lots though. After trying various methods including drip feed and DWC, I am doing a mixture of Kratky, Kratky with air stone and Kratky until the level drops and then keeping it there. I am growing lettuce. Starting EC 1.5 and pH 6. 2 inch net cups and hydroton media.

I am having constant trouble trying to efficiently get the seedling going. I have good germination rate when using a raft over plain water. I use a small cotton pad on top of the clay balls and push the net cups down into the styrofoam raft until the pad gets visibly wet. This seems to work but then when I transfer into the system there seems to be quite a long time for the plants to get going. Also plants raised like this often seem more leggy even if I transfer with just 2-3 true leaves.

Recently I tried to sprout directly in Kratky. Same method and starting with the nutrient solution high enough to wet the cotton pad and putting straight under lights. This has been less successful - about half of the recent batch seems to start to sprout and then die before a leaf was produced. The other half in the same grow bed and same height in the net cup seemed to work though. This means I am trying to play catch up to fill these holes in the grow bed before the level drops which is not ideal with Kratky.

The net cups were about 1 cm deep in the solution and cups were about 3/4 full with clay balls. Not sure if it is the water level was too high and drowning them or the nutes killing them off but I know it isn't the seeds. Dr Kratky mentions in various videos that you can sprout directly in the system but doesn't seem to demonstrate this. If you read recommendations from nutrient manufacturers they usually recommend a dilute nute mix for first few weeks. I'm trying to achieve a routine that is effective and not labour intensive but am failing. I don't mind the idea of a staging area to sprout and then transfer.

I have also done trials with peat/perlite mix but had poor results and found it too messy. Currently I am also trialling the hydroton with a mop thread wick down the centre and seed sitting on top in the hope it might give a bit more height and space for air between the seedling and the water by not relying on the poor wicking ability of the hydroton to provide the moisture.

Anyone got any tips for a better method? Does anyone have good success sprouting directly in their system?

For my DWC setup, I like to scrub the revivor down every couple of months but it's a PITA to disconnect the air lines. Anyone know of good quick disconnects for aquarium airline tubing?

Hear me out.
I need some advice.

Short: Used to do this with aerogarden's all-in-one solution but the price just keeps going up for a jug. Can I mix up a nutrient solution using the flora series, toss it into a 5 gallon bin with air stone and just top up with water as my greens grow? (Think lettuce, bok choy, chard, kale and so on)

Long: I was gifted an aerogarden a few years ago, this started me on the path to where I am now. The aerogarden was too small to really grow lettuce or bok choy or whatever. So I got a couple shallow plastic bins that hold several gallons of water and drilled holes in the top that fit the aerogarden baskets. I made two of these. Then I made some with larger baskets and rockwool/lava rocks. I've been successfully growing various greens.
Bought flora micro/grow/bloom jugs. I've watched the video on how to mix up a batch of solution so nothing precipitates out. Does it really need to be changed every 7-10 days? What's different with this stuff vs the aerogarden's jug where you just top it up with a bit every couple of weeks and add water as it gets low? I'm lazy, I'd love to stay lazy.

I'm just trying to grow a bit of fresh food for myself here folks.

I’ve had a variety of Chinense peppers in DWC for 2 weeks after sprouting them in seed starter mix and waiting for their first set of true leaves.

Seedlings are in Rockwool cubes and 3” net pots with Hydroton. Up until now I have had the nutrient level high enough that the singular root reaches the water, though I think the level of my aeration is keeping the Rockwool pretty wet.

Either way, they has been nearly zero growth of the roots.

Should I drop the nutrient solution an enough that it doesn’t soak the Rockwool and just go to top-watering once a day, and hope the roots pick up speed?

Also, I’ve read that skipping the Rockwool all together and putting seedlings into straight Hydroton in the net pots may be a better route to promote early root growth in seedlings?

Hello everyone I’m an iOT fan and I’m currently in the process of creating a real fully automated hydroponic smart garden from the automated lights height , time and color adjustment depending of the plants cycle also the nutrients balance and the maintaining of it’s mixed status also it ensure the correct nutrients based on the plant current cycle It also predicts the health plants possible problems using cameras and Ai (this feature will be paid extra as a subscription as it requires servers running constantly) The subscription will include a monitoring of the plants from your phone or computer I want to depending on your honest thoughts what should the system be sold at in the retail price and what should the subscription price be (the subscription can include the pre planted seeds but it’s optional) My goal is not to become rich or make tons of money but i wish to make the indoor planting hassle free and accessible for every house

Help

Hi everyone!

I’ve recently come across a smart indoor gardening system called Vext, and I’m curious if anyone here has tried it or heard about it. It seems to be a European brand that uses some fog-growing technology and has an app for controlling light schedules and monitoring water levels.

It looks sleek, and I like the idea of having something modern and stylish that doesn’t take much effort to maintain, I also like the closed nature of Vext as I have a cat which I don't want eating my plants, but it seems there aren't many out there yet, so I wanted to ask.

- What are your first impressions, could it be worth trying?

- How does it compare to other smart gardens like Click & Grow, Rise Gardens, or Gardyn?

P.S. I’m in Europe, so I’d also love to know what other smart garden options are available here.

Would really appreciate any thoughts or experiences you can share. Thanks in advance!

I recently got an Aerogarden and am struggling with what to grow first.

I feel like most things aren't worth the effort in taste and quality to grow over buying at the grocery store.

What are some of your favorites that have been worth it?

So this problem I am experiencing is defined by this explanation below

Any help is greatly appreciated

The top Two jars were an early harvest test…

they are the humidity % seen in photo pictured above, I burped like 30mins twice a day sometimes longer few times a week and the bud doesn’t smell like the bottom 4 jars (2 large/2 twin jars)

The humidity in the bottom 4 jars stated smell so good very sticky and sorta spongey…

But the humidity looks off on it all to me in general

(current early harvest the buds are sticky dry but barley spongey)

Side note I do have 62% moisture paks used for a little while in all the jars only a couple hours then took em out

Any ideas how I can correct this issue I am experiencing?

Hi everyone, I’ve got two outdoor grows under my belt and I’m looking for a 1-2 plant system that i can setup with my vivosun kit. I’ve looked around for some decent one bucket or two bucket sets, but figured I would come ask the pros. If you have any tips or starting points for someone to jump in at, I’d love to hear. Thanks a ton people.

I’m running gen hydro trio on a 5 gal hydro bucket that’s drinking 4 gallons daily. It’s DWC technically but is day 30 of flower and chugging water - running out of nutes and I’m running Athena pro line for all the rest of my plants. Can I just switch this plant to the Athena as long as I maintain the same ppm on Athena bloom as the gen hydro trio? It’s drinking 1100ppm

Hi there! I’m considering a hydroponic set up like Gardyn or Lettuce Grow (open to other suggestions). I live in NC, so the weather fluctuations and my very shaded, wooded lot makes it very difficult to grow vegetables outdoors. I also am challenged in finding space in my small home for a system. Therefore, ideally I’d like an outdoor system that has some lights to supplement my limited sunlight outside. Any suggestions? I have some good space on my patio, but it’s not covered (other than by a tree canopy). I really appreciate any guidance. Thank you! 😊

hello guys I'm new to hydroponic farming and is it ideal to start a business from it,  especially I'm willing to plant wheat and barely

I'm starting my first grow in years of Sweet Zombie and I'm wanting some recommendations for nutrients. I've only ever used Canna and I'm wondering if I should try something else?

I got an aerogarden a while back and now my 75 year old mom wants one. If the company weren't about to close, I think it would be perfect for her- are there any decent brands like it that are a) easy and fairly low maintenance, and b) do not need an app? (Also a plus if it's something easy to troubleshoot over the phone, so I can help as needed since I live far away.)