Hey all,

I am planning my first hydroponics grow and I have a few questions.

1) I read a thread where someone said they didn't check the pH for 2 days and their plants are dying... Do I really have to check the pH that often? How often should I check it?

2) I also heard/read it is best to use flourescents for the first one & 1/2 weeks, then switch to Metal Halide for vegetation, then to HPS for the flowering. Is this a good idea? Should I run my flourescents throughout the entire grow? I have all three types of light, should I do some type of combination?

3) In my past soil-growing experiences I have germinated the seed first. Should I still do this with my hydro system?

4) Is the Flora Kit a good Nutrient kit?

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

1 not that much but every week

2 you could run flourescents through out but just be costin you money for nothing mate i would just go with what you read, flo 1/2 weeks mh veg , hps flowering .

3 Yes.

4 Yes hope this helps mate good luck post some pics of progress everyone will appriciate

1- Ideally, you should adjust pH two times a day, if needed. Thus, twice-a-day pH checks. There are "probes" for the pH that you dip into your solution. I got my self a Hanna GrowChek (or GrowCheck) that has "in-line" probes. So, the meter is constantly reading the pH, ppm, TDS, etc.

2- Fluorescents should be used for the early stages of a plant's life... soon there after, if you have MH bulbs, GO FOR IT! More energy for them...

If you have a low power HID (MH or HPS bulb), then adding supplemental CFLs will help somewhat. But I would GUESS that if you're running a 400W MH, or a 600, or a 1,000 watter, then extra CFLs would be more or less moot. Just my opinion on that.

3- I don't think I understand your question. If you don't germinate your seed, then, what will you grow?

You can start the seeds for a hydro grow in many number of methods (say, paper towel method), then place the little one into your growing medium (rockwool, hydroton pebbles, lava rocks, etc. etc.)

4- By "Flora Kit", do you mean the General Hydroponics (GH) Flora Series? (I think that's its name)... then, yeah... those are really good.

Best to you homie!,

-turtle420
.

1. every day at least, if not 2wice a day

2. great idea. fluoro, mh, hps. If you only do a grow at a time. You can combine mh and hps during flowering

3. yes, germ your seed as always, I would use rapid rooters or rockwool starters 1"x1" or 1.5"x1.5". then all you have to do is insert into hydroton filled netpot.

4. yes, I assume you are talking about the 3-part kit they sell on ebay...gh* are great nutes.
*as are Advanced Nutrients and Botanicare organic nutrients...I use all 3 companies products

well there are 3 opinions for you...goodluck lw

You should check everyday at the same time..

after your first grow, you can determine if this is necessary

cheers