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Water level for net pots

14 years ago

I've read quite a few different opinions on where to keep the water level while waiting for the roots to come through the net pots. I have four seedlings in a five gallon bucket with two airstones at the bottom. What is the right water level, at the bottom of the net pots, or covering 1/4 of the net pot, or does it matter? I have noticed when the pots are submersed the rockwool stays saturated and I've had a couple of seedlings die.

Also the seedlins that I placed in soil outside are doing better. So I figure I must be doing something wrong.

Botanicare nutes @ 1/2 strength.

Ph 6.0 (Changes daily and have to adjust)

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Comments (4)

corrumpu
14 years ago
People will tell you anywhere from 1-2 inches below the pot.. to part of the pot submerged. IMHO it depends on how much bubble action you have going.. with alot of bubbles they will mist the bottom of the pot and the medium will wick moisture.. helping roots seek out the moisture.

You could just put it at 1 inch submerged and then move the level down as the roots appear.

I personally do a 1 inch below because I have tons of bubbles and the hydroton is quite damp with the misting action.

--chris
kylle221
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for the advice chris, I also have a lot of bubble action. I'll try lowering the water level and see how it works.
What kind of system are you using?
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corrumpu
14 years ago
RDWC (Recirculating DWC)
Home made out of pickle buckets..

I'll have to post some pics. But its a copy of
http://www.cch2o.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_31&zenid=93qgsrf288gbd49go8t5fr4nt1

I sourced the grommets online, used pickle buckets and did an inline pump with sunleaves airpump.

Hope to get some san marzano tomatoes going soon though my heart is in strawberries!

--chris
kylle221
Original Author
14 years ago
This is my second grow, but my first using buckets. I'm using three buckets and changing out the nutes for each one. I have two bell peppers and one roma tomato.
I lowered the water level yesterday and the roots are allready coming out of the pots, there were none yesterday.

I would like to see some pics of your setup, the one from the site was nice but expensive! Good idea though.

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