2 Questions

[LowRider]

OK i have been all over this forum getting ideas, was thinking hydroponics as it seems simple and not as worry-sum. My question is the pro's and cons of doing soil in house vs hyroponics in house? from what i can take it just seems preference.

another quick question, when keeping a mother plant is it as simple as topping her to keep her short? or is there different ways if so what other things can be done, can't really find an answer to this question anywhere.

[fishcabo]

Hydro is faster period. Takes more care checking ph and ppms almost every day. The system must be water tight as electricity can kill you when mixed with h2o. Use hose clamps on ALL fittings, silicone etc,. Look into lst (low stress training) or scrogging but DO NOT TOP as some will disagree. Removing vegetative matter only slows down the growth. JMHO

[gagjababy]

soil is more forgiving

[Sebstarr]

Hydro is faster period. Takes more care checking ph and ppms almost every day. The system must be water tight as electricity can kill you when mixed with h2o. Use hose clamps on ALL fittings, silicone etc,. Look into lst (low stress training) or scrogging but DO NOT TOP as some will disagree. Removing vegetative matter only slows down the growth. JMHO

The reason most people top is not to speed up the growth, but to increase the amount of bud produced. By topping, you will get 2 fat buds, instead of one medium bud.

[octobong007]

The reason most people top is not to speed up the growth, but to increase the amount of bud produced. By topping, you will get 2 fat buds, instead of one medium bud.
exactly. my rule of thumb has been everytime you top, add a week of vegging...its well worth it. topping dont mean your ladies HAVE to come out shorter, they will recover, and imo...its soooo worth it. if your wanting a quick grow, then dont touch them. hydro vs soil...just my opinion of course, i believe hydro is quicker and more potent...i'm sure some will disagree but whatever...i'm doing both right now, and hydro kicks.

[LowRider]

yeah but for a mother plant you plan on cloning and keeping for months if not years, whats the best way? i mean lst seems good for growing, but for keeping a mother plant short? i just don't see it but then again i don't have experience. topping to me seems the best way. however cutting many times over could that be bad or hurt the plant in anyway in the long term let alone the clones i plan on taking? I'm not worried about stunting her growth cause i wouldn't be doing more than several at a time.

[octobong007]

yeppers, just keep topping her, someday when you put her into flowering you might have 50 tops...that i want a POSTER of. but yes, you can top her to keep her short, lst her...bonzii her ;-)

[Hick]

"topping" will increase the "number" of buds/budsites, THAT does not automatically transform into "increased yeild". Topping "usually" results in "two medium" buds rather than "one huge fat" one.
In "side by side" comparisons, useing identical clones, in identical environmental conditions, there is very little (if any) "significant" differences in yeild.
The reason most people top is not to speed up the growth, but to increase the amount of bud produced. By topping, you will get 2 fat buds, instead of one medium bud.

[octobong007]

"topping" will increase the "number" of buds/budsites, THAT does not automatically transform into "increased yeild". Topping "usually" results in "two medium" buds rather than "one huge fat" one.
In "side by side" comparisons, useing identical clones, in identical environmental conditions, there is very little (if any) "significant" differences in yeild.
if your topping it takes longer, your yield will depend on how much time you want to take. if you want more yield using less space, it will work.
this is what makes growing your own stuff wonderful...nobody's wrong in this case, as long as the ladie dont die.

[LowRider]

thanks for the info guys, that helps alot.

[POTUS]

Bintheredonethat dept.

When topped, no matter how many times or at what interval, MJ will produce almost exactly the same amount of cured weight as one that was not topped if both plants are allowed to grow to maturity in exactly the same conditions, outdoors.

To that extent, Hick is right on. Had he expounded on the subject, he'd no doubt included:

However, if the same project is moved indoors within restricted space, the equation changes to topping being the most beneficial method of increasing cured weight as a result of best usage of each cubic inch of space.

Indoor Hydro rocks.

[Hick]

oops.. and "I'M" in the hydro section???. Musta' stumbled in the wrong door..:p
I've "0" experience w/ water farming,

[SALTROCK]

I disagree that soil is more forgiving. There are alot of things that can go wrong in soil and you dont know how to diagnose the problem. IMO drip is so easy to maintain, comparede to like aero/DWC. Its one container to maintain no switching out containers. I think hydro is better, Hydro is a science not a guessing game if you mess up with hydro you can figure out what you did and diagnose the problem. soil you dont know wheather you overwatered/ underwatered/ mites bugs in the soil, or the soil PH is off over nuted under nuted. Then you panic, flush the plant and may make your soil muddie and you drown the plant. The tools you need for hydro that are important PH meter and ec meter then your set. No more dirty soil pots. Im not hating soil but for my first time it was a pain in my cute little dimpled butt, dirty, got some flying gnats, leaf curled, from watering, nutes i dont know? dont mean to make any soil growers mad.

Thanks
SALT

[SALTROCK]

Oh yeah for a first time hydro grow I definatley would not do DWC or aero takes qiut a bit of work changing out containers and monitoring your PH constantley more often with those two methods. Rockwool is great you cannot overwater your plants once the roots are established and they will let you know if they need more water. For my drip system I check the PH and the EC once a day thats it.

Thanks
SALT

[POTUS]

oops.. and "I'M" in the hydro section???. Musta' stumbled in the wrong door...

Who was that masked man?